Friends...?

Having been here for two weeks now I feel inclined to let anyone thinking about studying abroad the process of making new friends in a foreign country. Depending on what program you choose, there could be between 20 people from South Carolina attending the program or none. I am in the none category.

I chose Liverpool because I wanted to branch out and meet people that I did not already know, ones that I could not just walk to 5 points and see on the weekend if I wanted to. When I first got here though, I felt a sense of regret for not choosing the same place as everyone else because I felt alone not knowing another American student let alone a person from USC. But soon after I got over the initial wave of fearfulness and regret I met so many people from all over the world.

I live with eight other girls who are all incredibly welcoming and are just as excited to meet new people and learn about new cultures as I am. For some insight into all of the different people studying here from other places here is a list of where my roommates are from.

• France x 1

• Italy x 1

• Chile x 1

• Australia x 1

• New Zealand x 2

• Birmingham x 1

• York x 1

Making friends in a place where you do not know anyone is difficult, it feels like you are a freshman in college again and are starting over completely, but after only having been here for two weeks it already feels worth it. You just have to make yourself open to talking to anyone and everyone and then it is smooth sailing! I know so much about other countries, and things going on around the world. I cannot wait to meet more people and become a more well-rounded person throughout this experience!

Bye for now,

Ainsley Porter

xx

Chilean and Australian friends!

some of my cute roomies

it snowed! here's me freezing!