2021 Ambassador of the Year Emma Bailey Shares Her Resources for Making Connections Abroad

Studying abroad can sometimes feel like a solo journey into the unknown—but as 2021 Ambassador of the Year Emma Bailey (IES Abroad Salamanca, Spring 2020 | DePauw University) learned, forging connections during your time abroad can help transform your journey into the experience of a lifetime. Here, Emma shares her tips for connecting with people while you're abroad. She is currently pursuing her M.Ed. at Harvard University in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology. 

Don’t forget to check below to see Emma’s designed resources to help foster connections of all kinds while you’re abroad!

Studying abroad is one of those rare experiences that exists as a near-perfect memory in my mind. Sure, there were things that didn’t go exactly as planned, but it still remains preserved as one of the great highlights of my collegiate experience—even though the onset of the pandemic cut my time abroad short. I could go on for hours about what to bring and what you’ll learn, or the places I’d visit if I could do it all again. Instead, I thought I’d give you my toolkit for getting the most out of any study abroad experience. 

It all boils down to one word: connection. 

It is hard to imagine a study abroad experience that isn’t saturated with a million connections. At the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, I found some of my best friends through IES Abroad (shoutout to Abbie, Emma, Kate, and Rosie!) I also found myself cultivating deep connections with my host family, my professors, the language, and culture. Most importantly, I found that I was connecting with myself in a totally new, unexpected way: I traveled across Europe, tried new foods, discovered a new love for the world, and became a lot more confident in myself. I fell in love with the spontaneous moments that quickly became a part of my repertoire of stories.

I’ve painted a picturesque view of my time in Spain, but let me back up a little bit: It was not always easy. I didn’t always feel connected, and sometimes I lacked clarity on what I was doing. I started out in a series of routines: wake up, eat what my host mom prepared for breakfast, walk to school, walk back, eat lunch with my host mom, nap, go back to class, eat dinner. It was a hazy time, trying to catch my footing on a seemingly unsolid ground. I had dreamed of living abroad for as long as I could remember, so why wasn’t I enjoying it? Why was I feeling lonely while surrounded by the prospects of new adventures?

It took some time to settle into my new home and feel more like a human than an alien, but luckily, I was able to develop some skills that made creating those connections just a little bit easier. Below you will find my guide to making connections while abroad. It includes ideas for getting to know your host family better, flashcards for conversations with friends, and a guide to connecting deeper with yourself.

It wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it. I cannot imagine Spain without all the connections I made. Even though my time was cut a little short, the connections I created have lasted well beyond my departure date.

I hope this toolkit helps you as you embark on your time abroad. Remember that this journey is yours for the taking, but first it’s yours for the making. Enjoy it for me!

Emma wants to make it even easier for you to connect with others (and yourself!) abroad, which is why she designed these amazing resources. You can easily download or print out these resources at any point of your study abroad journey.

Have questions about your upcoming study abroad journey? Get in contact with a current Student Ambassador. Learn more about IES Abroad's programs in Salamanca and Spain.