The thought of traveling across the world is both exciting and nerve-racking! There are so many unknowns. One thing is for certain though, we will be able to interact with many different people during our time in Malaysia. I know that many of us have the goal of not only meeting new people, but also establishing lifelong friendships. So how exactly can we set ourselves up for success when making connections?

Before Arriving in Malaysia:
● Print business cards that share your personal information: name, address (with
full postal code), phone number, and email address
● Develop a short introduction for yourself that explains who you are and can
easily relate to others

While In Malaysia:
● Collect personal information from individuals that you meet (Potentially start an
address book where you can capture an individual’s: name, address, phone
number, and email address
● Give individuals that you meet the business cards with your personal
information
● Connect with individuals that you meet on social media, if possible
● Be present in conversations with everyone that you meet
● Keep a journal that includes the name of each person that you meet and
highlights of the discussions that you have with them

These are just a few things that I will be doing to make sure that I am being intentional in developing positive relationships with those I meet while abroad!