Every friendship certainly goes through many stages. A different environment and different interests as well as growing experience can lead to change in friendships. The relationship between two people never stays the same, because each person depends on too many things that have impact on the person and therefore on the friendship.

  As a stranger that suddenly came into a different culture and that was given only one year to experience as many different things as possible and make as many friends as at home, it was hard in the beginning to stay true to one’s opinions, beliefs and non-beliefs.

  But the realness of one´s behavior is what makes a friendship strong. In the beginning of my American school year, I wanted to make as many friends as possible, as if every person is a possible best friend and can possibly mean a good time.
In the end though, it’s not about having tons of people that say “hi” to you in the hallways. It´s not about the people that you hang out with once and then not talk to anymore.

  It’s about the two or three serious friends that need some time to actually build up trust and true care for one another. Serious friends don’t have to pretend that they are totally exhausted when they see you every time you walk by. Best friends are the only ones that you can be silent with, or really loud. Best friends will still be there after one year of separation. You don’t have to be the one to call every time. Best friends will call you.

  After several months of trying, succeeding and failing, finding new friends and losing old ones and one cultural shock after the other I can say that it´s letting go the pseudo friends and keeping the good ones that really matter.