Studying abroad is widely regarded as one of the most transformative experiences in life. It offers a unique blend of academic challenges, cultural immersion, and opportunities for personal growth. However, under the facade of a postcard-perfect scenery, there is another, less obvious truth. It is about the early sense of isolation of travelling in an unknown city, the sense of quiet exhaustion of cross-cultural conversation and the inability to create a substantial social network on the ground level.
Here, international student networks are not necessarily useful, but they are vital ecosystems that may not only survive but also prosper. They logistically bridge the distance between solitude and a social life and turn a shocking shift into a designed journey of intercourse.