Building Friendships

Going into this experience, I felt anxious about being the only student from Mizzou and meeting new people. However, I approached it with the mindset that it would help build my confidence in being social and forming new friendships. Soon enough, four women from Michigan invited me to hang out, and we quickly formed an amazing friendship, sharing countless new experiences. I’m forever grateful for meeting these wonderful women. I also pushed myself to connect with local students in Cape Town, and I’m thrilled to have made friends across different states and countries. This is a significant step toward my goal of creating a supportive social network worldwide. I completely understand the fear of being alone abroad, but you’re never truly alone. Push yourself to socialize and meet new people.

Managing Money

I didn’t create a budget before this experience, telling myself that every purchase was justified because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—and I deserved it! But my money quickly dwindled. In South Africa, the exchange rate made everything seem like a great deal compared to Chicago, so it was easy to overspend. However, it’s crucial to create a budget because you’re more likely to spend when things seem cheaper. While I don’t regret how I spent my money, I realize now how important it was to save, especially since I was there for two months.