On Friendships

I come from the Georgetown campus in Qatar, where most students who choose to study abroad usually go either to Georgetown’s main campus in Washington, D.C., or to the Georgetown Villa in Fiesole. This semester, I was the only student from my campus who came to DIS in Copenhagen. When I first arrived, the only people I knew were a couple of DIS students I had briefly chatted with online.

Being “the only one” can sometimes feel intimidating and lonely. But at the same time, it can push you outside your comfort zone in unexpected ways. For me, it encouraged me to reach out, engage with people, and ultimately led to many beautiful friendships. Looking back, here are some of the ways I met people during my semester abroad — some more conventional than others.

Classmates

DIS classes are highly interactive and experiential. You share study tours, field studies, group projects, and long discussions with your classmates, which naturally creates opportunities for connection outside the classroom as well.

One thing I learned quickly is that it helps to actively engage in class and put effort into talking to people. You already share at least one common interest: you chose the same course. Sometimes that alone is enough to start a friendship.

Volunteering

One of the hidden benefits of volunteering abroad is the people you meet along the way. Volunteering became not only something meaningful I participated in, but also a way to bond with classmates outside the usual academic setting.

Whenever I found volunteer opportunities I was interested in, I would share them with classmates who I thought might enjoy them too. It ended up being a really rewarding way to spend time together, meet new people, and build stronger friendships through shared experiences.

Online Spaces

Surprisingly, online platforms also helped me connect with people — especially locals. I once read a former DIS blogger’s post about friendship-focused features on dating apps, and I decided to try it myself.

Through that, I met a local friend who introduced me to her social circle and showed me parts of Copenhagen I probably would not have experienced otherwise. It was a really special way to see the city through the eyes of someone who actually lives there.

This became especially meaningful during Ramadan. Since my friend was also practicing it, we attended social events together and shared parts of that experience. Being away from home during a time usually centered around family and community can feel isolating, so having that connection made Copenhagen feel a little less lonely.

DIS Initiatives and Communities

DIS itself also creates many opportunities to meet people if you are willing to take advantage of them. Different housing sites organize events where you can mingle, meet friends of friends, and build connections outside your immediate circle.

For me, the DIS Slow Travel initiative was one of those experiences. Working on the proposal and later traveling together helped me get much closer to two other members of the media team. It reminded me that sometimes friendship begins simply by committing to an opportunity and reaching out to people.

DIS communities like the Muslim Student Association and the Students of Color Affinity Group also gave me spaces where I felt comfortable and understood. These connections often extended beyond DIS buildings and into the city itself through shared outings, conversations, and experiences.

Another meaningful experience was the Visiting Host program. It allowed me to connect with a local host while also bonding with another DIS student assigned to the same host family. It became another reminder that friendships abroad can emerge from the most unexpected places.

Final Thoughts

This semester has been full of curiosity, exposure, and meaningful encounters with people. Through traveling together, volunteering together, and simply navigating the city together, strangers slowly became friends.

If fear of loneliness or not making friends is holding you back from studying abroad, I would encourage you to rethink it. Arrive with an open heart and arms wide open. You might be surprised by the people you find along the way.