Relationships are one of the most essential aspects of our life, yet we frequently overlook how critical they are for our physical and emotional health and well-being. Overview People who have a stronger social connection to their family, friends, or community are happier and healthier. Strong bonds with family and friends help us to express our emotions and feel that we are understood. They allow us to share experiences and provide us with emotional support, as well as the potential to help others. Thus, maintaining contact with family and friends can be critical for the well-being of international students who study abroad. However, despite the use of technology, time difference and physical distance might make it difficult to access home social networks. Joining new groups and forming new relationships can be a powerful way of staving off the negative effects of social isolation and increasing our sense of wellbeing. Although cultural and language differences can make forming new friendships and connections seem a little more difficult, the University of Edinburgh and a lot of universities in Northern Europe and North America are vibrant multicultural hubs that offer multiple opportunities for connection. Theoretical perspectives Theoretical perspectives Many international students experience problems of loneliness and isolation, particularly in the first months of their time overseas (Wawera & McCuamley, 2020). Because social networks from their home country are often difficult to access, international students can feel that they must work harder than domestic students in order to integrate socially with their new community. Furthermore, the social networks that international students previously had access to may be considerably different to, and in certain respects incompatible with, those in the host country, partly as a result of differences in culture, communication, and language (Ng at al., 2008). For instance, international students may feel that they need to be more cautious with how they express themselves, as the appropriate levels of direct vs indirect communication styles may vary between cultures. This can make it more difficult to communicate with others at a deeper level, making it harder to build close relationships. Joining new groups and forging new relationships and communities of belonging can mitigate the negative effect of isolation on wellbeing during international students’ transitions (Daddow aet al., 2020). Although creating new relationships may seem hard at first, an open and active attitude can help international students branch out of their comfort zone and create meaningful connections. References Daddow, A., Cronshaw, D., Daddow, N., & Sandy, R. (2020). Hopeful cross-cultural encounters to support student well-being and graduate attributes in higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 24(4), 474-490. Ng, N. W., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., & Cruwys, T. (2018). “How can you make friends if you don't know who you are?” A qualitative examination of international students' experience informed by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 28(3), 169-187. Wawera, A. S., & McCamley, A. (2020). Loneliness among international students in the UK. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(9), 1262-1274. Context for Scholars As African international students living abroad, Mastercard Foundation scholars can experience an array of positive emotions associated with the creation of a new home through forming new relationships with others in the host culture. Despite the social and emotional support that family members and home friendships can continue to offer in the scholars’ new environment, new relationships can become sites of great strength in their new contexts. An advantage scholars might have in comparison to other groups of international students is that they are part of a tightly knit community of talented students with whom they’ll have the opportunity to connect and closely interact throughout their studies. Many alumni have described the Mastercard scholars’ program as ’a family away from family’. Hopefully, during your studies you will have the chance to experience this first hand, as your connection with the community of Mastercard Foundation scholars will help you adjust into your new life as an international student. Practical suggestions Remember that it’s not just the number of friends you have, but the quality of your close relationships that matters. Join a club or society. Thankfully, there is a society for everyone at the university, from sports teams and theatre to gaming and dance. These can provide you with the ideal opportunity to meet other people who might be looking to make new friends Try volunteering. Volunteering isn’t only a great way to make a positive impact and gain core skills and experiences, but also an excellent way of meeting new people and connecting with your community. Attend as many events as possible. Take advantage of the first few weeks of university. Perhaps not all students have travelled thousands of miles for their studies, but most likely the majority will have left home for the first time and will be just as eager as you to meet new people. Stay open-minded. Don't let any preconceived ideas hold you back. University is full of people from all sorts of different backgrounds, and you'll want to avoid making fast judgments about anyone before getting to know them. Be brave and adventurous. University is all about new experiences, so put yourself out there and start trying things that might even be outside of your comfort zone. Mastercard Foundation scholars’ experiences Listen to the Scholars’ Podcast: Relationships We shared our personal stories and experiences of what supports and hinders our relationship building with others in our new spaces/environments while highlighting the associated barriers and challenges in sustaining relationships in these new spaces as well as back home in Africa. Because I'm a Mastercard scholar, I started with a community, which was great because I didn't have to go through the whole period of who should I talk to? Mastercard scholar Food, language, movies, it doesn't have to be anything super big, just the little things that you can bond over. I've met people, and we've had the most random conversations about things that we both liked. Even though that was the first time meeting some of these people. Having that little bit of connection to that person made a huge difference. The little things that you can bond over. Mastercard scholar Useful links Below are links to different pages at the University of Edinburgh where you have a chance to get connected to build community. There will be equivalent pages at other universities. Student life and support Clubs and Societies Volunteering Sport and exercise New students This article was published on 2024-06-24
