100 Days in Madrid: Finding Community While Abroad

As I continue this 100 days in Madrid series, I think it’s definitely worth talking about finding community while abroad. People arrive at their study abroad sites in a variety of situations. Some have a full-formed friend group studying with them. Others arrive not knowing a single soul in their host city. For me, I was somewhere in the middle. I’d met and been around a few people going to Madrid with me, but by no means did I have any close friends tagging along. Each situation has its own positives and negatives, and I truly don’t think there’s a wrong path. For me, I knew I was going to have to make new friends in Madrid, and I was lucky enough to meet some cool people! Here are my big takeaways on making friends abroad:

Almost everyone is looking for new friends. I will never forget my first week of orientation and classes—it was like the first day of college all over again. I couldn’t count how many people introduced themselves to me, how many hands I shook, and how many names I forgot ten seconds after learning them. It’s a fun week, full of random activities that are perfect for getting to know your classmates for the semester. 

You may not find your “people” at first, and that’s okay! While I made friends during my first few weeks abroad, I remember feeling so anxious because I hadn’t found a ton of people that I totally clicked with. Eventually, I realized there was no need to panic. I started spending more time with myself, growing more comfortable exploring Madrid on my own. Once I made that choice, I just so happened to start meeting more like-minded people naturally. On a random IES Madrid excursion, I met students in the IES Abroad Business Program that I really liked. One day playing basketball at a park, I randomly met and played with two locals that I now consider some of my best friends in the city. Once I started to let go and spend time doing what I wanted, friends naturally appeared. 

It’s okay if you don’t make your best friends for life out here. I’ve found some great people in Madrid that I know I’ll stay in touch with long after this experience, but it’s also not like I have a new, completely formed friend group. And that’s okay! After all, time flies abroad. My biggest priority this semester was exploring Europe. I completed that, and was lucky enough to find some fun people to hang out with along the way. That was more than enough to make this an amazing experience, and I can soon return home to the communities and close friends that are waiting for me. 

Don’t be afraid to befriend some locals! As I mentioned, some of my best friends here are from Madrid, and most locals are excited to meet students studying abroad. Just like how I was excited to learn more about life in Madrid, city residents have been equally curious to learn about my life and what it’s like to be an American studying in Madrid. Not to mention, many Madrid residents speak great English, which makes it a lot easier to keep a conversation going when I inevitably forget how to say a word.

Everyone has their own experience with making friends while abroad. No matter where you’re coming from, or who you’re coming with, there are plenty of opportunities to find community in your new city.