I was wrong.

The first weeks were quiet — too quiet. I’d smile at classmates, expecting a return smile, but often got nothing back. It wasn’t rudeness — just unfamiliarity. So I started looking for connections online. Facebook groups, local community pages, “Nigerians in UK” chats — that’s where I found Ben. 

Ben lived in London. We started talking online, then met for coffee. That first meeting felt like a homecoming — someone who understood directness, humor, and the absurd challenges of adaptation. After that, friendships began forming, slowly but surely.

Aanu introduced me to her church community in Manchester, where people greeted newcomers with genuine interest and helped us build a circle. Odigo shared how she had to make the first move — not waiting for friendships to happen, but actively starting them. 

I learned friendships abroad don’t grow spontaneously the way they do at home. You have to initiate, persist, and nurture them. And when you finally find people who stick around — it feels like discovering a new form of belonging.