Hear from our students and follow along with their journeys abroad. Get inspired as you plan your study abroad experience with CEA CAPA.
Anglo American University As a student, you will have loads of future friends readily available., I knew exactly one person who lived abroad before I came to study., We were friends from high school but knew very little about one another., Jennifer, a local expat, I met through Prague’s InterNations community Best of luck to all those on their abroad journey, especially when it comes to making international friends., She interned abroad in Prague and used her Go Again discount to study abroad in Galway with CEA., Making Friends Abroad: Prague Edition
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2018/07/10/making-friends-abroad-prague-editionLeaving home can difficult, especially if you are leaving friends behind as well., Making new friends has been so interesting and rewarding, especially here at school., This is what makes friendships really special here, your friends will become somewhat like your family., For most of us here we have been able to meet not only friends within our same university but also locals and other students from surrounding universities., Overall, I think one of the best things about my studying abroad in Shanghai experience has been getting to know other people and learn something from them, and what else can be better than creating memories around the world with your new international friends!, Making International Friends in Shanghai, China
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2013/12/11/making-international-friends-in-shanghai-chinaOther than your family who is your No. 1, friends can come next., When it comes to the friends I made studying abroad, they became the people who made my experience everything that it was., That is one of the many great things that study abroad offers you, getting to meet people who you otherwise would not., I left my study abroad experience not just with great pictures and souvenirs; I also left with great friends and memories that will last for many years to come., She studied abroad with CEA in Rome, Italy, during the Summer 2012 term., Making Unlikely Friends Studying Abroad
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2013/12/02/making-unlikely-friends-studying-abroadHow Family Dinners Became the Best Way to Make New Friends Abroad in Italy When I applied to my study abroad program in Florence, Italy, I didn’t know anyone from my school also studying abroad there., But the thought of not making any friends was gone almost immediately after arriving in Florence, because I got introduced to the Italian customs of inviting and sharing., My flatmates and fellow CEA CAPA students from next door started making “family dinners” as a means to connect with one another on a deeper level and create a space for genuine connection., Since none of us really knew each other yet, it was a wonderful way to start to make new friends while studying abroad., Then we invited more friends over for dinner and now they’re a tradition., Making Friends While Studying Abroad: Connecting Over Dinner
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2023/11/22/making-friends-while-studying-abroad-connecting-over-dinnerHow to Make Friends While Studying Abroad My luggage was checked, my passport was in hand, and my backpack seemed to only get heavier as I continued to navigate Newark International Airport in search of the correct gate., Interestingly though, making friends abroad has been different than making friends at home in the United States., Below you will find all of my new found wisdom on making friends while studying abroad. 3 Ways to Make Friends During Study Abroad 1) Your affiliate program (CEA CAPA in my case) will be where you meet your first friends in your host country., While abroad, every student has the same few goals., Take advantage of that and meet as many people as possible because having met too many friends abroad won’t be something you will regret at the end of the semester., How to Make Friends (Study Abroad Edition)
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2014/09/30/how-to-make-friends-(study-abroad-edition)From Strangers to Mates: My Aussie Study Abroad Friendship Odyssey G'day, mates!, Studying abroad in Sydney, Australia, wasn’t only about academics abroad but also embarking on a thrilling journey of friendship., Friends and wild companions—overnight adventure at Taronga Zoo., Friends in the wilderness—group expedition to the Blue Mountains., Conquering the unfamiliar—group adventures with friends., Making Friends While Studying Abroad in Sydney, Australia
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2024/02/07/making-friends-while-studying-abroad-in-sydney-australiaAfter a few minutes of introduction and lots of laughs we started making a huge list of the places we wanted to go., Coming into a semester abroad, having an open mind is your key to success., There is no time for shyness or fear of making new friends., Make sure that you are not only looking out for yourself but for your new friends., I know that twenty years from now I will still be able to call my study abroad friends some of my best friends, my family, and my support system., How Study Abroad Friends Turn Into Family
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2014/03/05/how-study-abroad-friends-turn-into-familyI must admit that I was nervous about making friends before coming to study abroad in Dublin., I became very good friends with Louis, one of the French guys on my floor, and he introduced me to some of his friends from Paris who were also studying at ISB., With a few friends made at my apartment, the next step was to make friends at school., After orientation, I was fortunate enough to have made a few friends who were able to introduce me to a few more friends., I now play soccer once a week with some of the friends I made during that trip., My European Friends
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2014/11/18/my-european-friendsWhere to Go When Friends and Family Visit While Studying Abroad in Florence, Italy I knew that I wanted to study abroad my entire life!, I’ve always been quiet, independent, and serious, and making friends hasn’t always been easiest for me., My parents have also been so encouraging of my dreams to travel and study abroad., However, as I mentioned, making friends was always hard for me., Studying abroad transformed my identity from an individual who dreamed of traveling and learning to a student actively traveling and studying across the world with the ability to share that experience with her family and friends old and new., Where to Go When Friends & Family Visit While Studying Abroad
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2024/06/26/where-to-go-when-friends-and-family-visit-while-studying-abroad-in-florence-italyMaking My Favorite Study Abroad Memories through CEA CAPA Excursions in Grenoble, France Over the lake and through castle ruins, on CEA CAPA excursions we go!, Studying abroad has been a blast., In the midst of my schoolwork and time spent with friends each month, I get to experience fascinating locations near Grenoble with my stellar CEA CAPA staff and fellow students!, My friends and I visiting Musée-Château d’Annecy overlooking the beautiful old town of Annecy, France., By that point in the semester, the group of CEA CAPA students studying in Grenoble had become my friends , making the trip a wildly fun adventure., Making Memories through Study Abroad Excursions in Grenoble
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2024/08/23/making-memories-through-study-abroad-excursions-during-a-semester-in-grenoble-franceIf you asked me to pinpoint my favorite part of study abroad, it would be almost impossible to choose just one thing… but can you really blame me for that?, This was the tradition my small group of friends from the states formed at the beginning of the semester., Making friends with locals is a strange experience, but strange in the best way possible., Studying abroad has let me meet the people that I’ve come to consider my closest friends., All this to say, when you actually arrive in your new country, fight the urge to stay in your bubble of study abroad students., New Friends in New Places
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2018/01/29/new-friends-in-new-placesI think it has something to do with everyone being mutually confused and excited, but people aren’t joking when they say your friends from study abroad become your friends for life., There is just something special about every study abroad experience; only the people that were there with you really understand where you are coming from., The cool part is that this includes your CEA study abroad leaders and directors, too., After being in Costa Rica for three months, I left thinking of Maggie and Leo more as friends than separate authorities., Something to keep in mind if you’re about to go abroad or something you already know if you have returned from a program: While they are not in the same boat as you in terms of immersion into a completely new culture, your CEA leaders are still interested in having fun and making friends from other cultures!, Onsite Team: Fun, Friends & Family
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2014/08/15/onsite-team-fun-friends-familyAnd to add even more pressure, this time I was spending my birthday studying abroad in Paris, France., I started making my way toward the restaurant around an hour early so I could wander into bookstores and take my time strolling through parks – my two favorite Parisian pastimes., With a hodgepodge of students, I had spoken to only a handful of times, we spent the evening in the charming Marais of Paris forming new friendships and making plans for the study abroad semester that lay before us., It was a quiet venue with a mix of locals and tourists just spending a chill Thursday night with friends., When the events of my birthday came to a close, I paid one last stream of calls to my friends back in the States., Birthday in Paris: Making the Most of a Birthday Abroad
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2021/09/10/birthday-in-paris-making-the-most-of-a-birthday-abroadThere are several reasons why I chose to study abroad in Granada, and boy did I make the right choice., Choosing a place to study abroad can be extremely difficult, especially when you haven’t been anywhere and want to go everywhere., A good friend of mine studied abroad through CEA in Granada in the Spring of 2015., Luckily, a few friends and I have become regulars at the cutest cafetería right by school., I have loved every moment here thus far and making connections and stepping out of my comfort zone has really helped me settle in and feel like this is place my home., Making Connections From the Get-Go!
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2016/10/04/making-connections-from-the-get-go!Choosing to study abroad is a huge, life-changing decision., It is safe to assume that you will be leaving a mix of family, friends, or a significant other at home while you enjoy your experience abroad., FRIENDS Friends from home (who are also in college) may be more difficult to find time for., SIGNIFICANT OTHER With a significant other at home, there may be a hesitation when choosing to study abroad., Assuming that you want to talk to your partner every day, setting up a schedule will help with making sure there is time every day to at least say hello., Study Abroad: How To Stay Connected With Family, Friends & Significant Others
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2019/05/22/study-abroad-how-to-stay-connected-with-family-friends-significant-othersCapturing Paris and Connecting with New Friends while Studying Abroad My photoset illustrates the ways I integrated into Paris while studying abroad with CEA CAPA., What I Captured A major theme in this photoset is making new friends while studying abroad., Connecting with others in the Paris study abroad program was what made my semester studying abroad in France more exciting., That’s where I met more friends that have a similar passion for style., I liked going there with my friends after class to complete homework in a productive place., Paris Unfiltered: Capturing Paris and Connecting with New Friends while Studying Abroad
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2023/07/03/paris-unfiltered-capturing-paris-and-connecting-with-new-friends-while-studying-abroadThe Spanish component is the reason I am here studying abroad in Spain, and I couldn't be more glad that my major requirements include a semester abroad!, Long answer: Studying abroad IS progress, no matter what., For me, that has happened with making music in Spain., This gathering, called a timbalada, is basically a big group of friends who get together to play guitars, drums, harmonicas, and even kazoos!, Singing with the Chorale was a great way to get to know the music of this region, as well as become part of a group of friends at the University., Making Music in Spain
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2014/03/17/making-music-in-spainMaybe I’m biased, having studied abroad in Galway last year myself through CEA, but the culture is steeped in warmth, friendliness and loads of craic (which loosely means “fun”), making it the perfect getaway., Edinburgh, Scotland Before the COVID-19 began to spread, I was planning a trip to visit my home college friends in Wales and Italy, and the ones who I met while abroad last year in Ireland., Making a trip to Andorra to explore its beautiful skiing and hiking trails will certainly score you bragging rights among your friends, who may have not even known of its existence before you got to travel there., It was a treasure to feel at home and forge a greater connection to my chosen study abroad destination., Deep dives like this can make your study abroad program experience unique!, Making the Most Out of Your Tourist Visa: Fall 2020 Study Abroad Tips
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2020/04/27/making-the-most-out-of-your-tourist-visa-fall-2020-study-abroad-tipsStudying abroad is one of the best decisions you will ever make., Go All Out While you’re abroad, forget about home!, While I was in San Jose, my friends and I went to a neighborhood fair, farmer’s markets, and art fairs., My friends and I traveled to local restaurants one Saturday in search of the best chifrijo, a popular local dish., By remembering to laugh at yourself, go all out, and try everything while abroad, you’ll be able to make the most of your time abroad!, Jumping In: Making the Most of Your Time Abroad
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2016/08/31/jumping-in-making-the-most-of-your-time-abroadWhen coming to study abroad in Rome, I had no idea what to expect from my apartment., At first, I thought it was "extra" to bring my own pillowcase, but some of my friends who have studied abroad said it was a game changer., Before I arrived, I printed out a bunch of pictures of my friends and family from home., All of the little tips and tricks of bringing a few little things from home definitely help with making a new place feel like home., The connections you make while you’re abroad are truly what make it feel like home., Making CEA Housing Feel Like Home in Rome
https://www.ceastudyabroad.com/blog/content-creator/2019/02/22/making-cea-housing-feel-like-home-in-rome