Friendships are beneficial to us in more ways than we may know. Often times we would have heard or made reference to this quote – “Friends are the family we choose”. This is true because it’s done of our own accord. We find that in our little communities, we keep friends for different reasons; either they we have a similar taste in books, movies, music, fashion or the likes of things. Friends benefit us in many ways and this is a known fact, but does the same stand true of friends that we make from different cultures?
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
So why are friends from different cultures important?
1. You’ll learn about another culture first-hand
No matter how much you read about another culture, there is nothing quite like talking to a local about their experience. It’s a way of seeing another culture live and breathe. You really get to see what is behind the façade.
2. Networking opportunities
As economies become increasingly globalized, professionals need to adapt. One way is to establish relationships with professionals in your field that are working in other countries. Understanding your industry in a global context will widen the scope of opportunity. Moreover, it’s always good to meet and befriend international colleagues. It helps you understand your field.
3. You’ll have a greater sense of empathy for the world
It’s easy to care for and consider the people in your daily life – your neighbors, your community members, the people that surround you. Even though we like to think that we care about what’s happening to people outside our borders, these issues can feel so far from our own reality and our circles, we sometimes turn a blind eye to important global events. Making friends from different parts of the world can stretch our sense of empathy beyond our own communities and country. Making international friends makes you realize that we are all human beings who pretty much all can agree on one thing – we want peace. Opening up your heart and mind to someone from a different cultural background will change you for the better.
4. You’ll widen your circle of friends
Once you start making friends with people from different cultures, it becomes easier and easier to continue to make connections with people from many different backgrounds. You become good at establishing connections with people on the international circuit, so you have access to a much more diverse group of people.
5. The sweet couch surfing opportunities
The best way to travel is crashing on the couches of the interesting people you’ve met from different parts of the globe. By living with a local you’ll have a much more authentic experience. You can meet their friends, explore their neighborhood and try the local grub, not to mention, it tends to be a lot cheaper than traveling like a typical tourist.
6. You can make language buddies
If you don’t practice speaking a foreign language, you’ll never learn it – no matter how much grammar and vocabulary you memorized in school. Making friends with people from different parts of the world who speak foreign languages allows you to practice in a friendly and relaxed environment. It’s the kind of opportunity that lots of people pay good money for.
7. The cultural exchange
Sharing your own culture’s music, food and customs with another person is an incredibly rewarding experience. You start to see your culture from a different perspective while also learning about where someone else comes from. Learning how to appreciate and savor these differences (sometimes literally) will make you a more cultured, open-minded and international person.
8. Multi-Culturalism
Having friends from different cultures promotes multi-culturalism. It helps you accept people from different races and ethnicities for their uniqueness and shows how to practice beliefs different from yours.
9. Personality Development
Traveling they say, helps one gain different experiences and which influences a one’s personality positively. But not everyone is opportuned to travel, thus having friends from different cultures helps to give some experience too. When you interact and become friends with people from different cultures, you leant about their practices, language, habits and so on and without realizing, you’re taking on different situations in life which help you develop yourself personally.
Knowledge and Experiences: One of the main advantages of making friends from different cultures is the amount of knowledge you gather. You learn about their world, beliefs, practices and more. The possibilities are limitless if you only just think about it.
10. Open and Accepting
Growing up, we learned about culture and practices that are specific to us. We mostly learn about other cultures from interacting with people from various cultural practices. There could be several things in their culture that are different from yours and it is not always that we agree with them, but we learn to become more accommodating, accepting and more broad minded of others’ differences. This makes us broaden our horizon and get away from a particular mindset.
Spread the Kindness
