Finding a Home Away from Home

When I first boarded a plane from the U.S. to Shanghai for my study abroad experience, excitement and fear surged. I had dreamed of traveling abroad, but nothing quite prepares you for the moment when familiar language, food, and routines disappear all at once. Coming from a Brazilian background, where conversation and shared meals are part of daily life, I worried about how I would handle the cultural shock of living in a city so different from anything I had known. 

Shanghai was overwhelming at first. The pace was faster, the streets louder, and the language unfamiliar. Simple tasks like ordering food or navigating public transportation made me feel out of place. I missed the comfort of hearing Portuguese spoken and the casual friendliness I had grown up with. At times, the distance from home felt heavier than the actual mileage. 

Feeling at home is less about geography and more about connection.

Yet, slowly, that began to change. What helped most was meeting new people—especially students from all over the world who, like me, were learning how to exist between cultures. Through shared confusion, laughter, and curiosity, we built a sense of community. We bonded over getting lost together, celebrating small victories, and helping one another adapt. In those moments, I realized that feeling at home is less about geography and more about connection. 

Unexpectedly, pieces of Brazil began to appear in Shanghai. One afternoon, while walking through the city, I heard familiar Brazilian music playing softly from a shop. The rhythm instantly transported me back home, reminding me of family gatherings and long conversations over food. In restaurants that served Brazilian cuisine, the flavors felt like a warm embrace, comforting in a place so far away. These moments reminded me that home can exist in small pieces, found across the world through sounds, tastes, and memories. 

Perhaps most meaningful was meeting other Brazilians while touring famous sites in China. Running into someone who shared my language and cultural references felt almost surreal. We exchanged stories, laughter, and advice, briefly turning a foreign experience into something familiar. These encounters reassured me that no matter how far you travel, parts of your identity travel with you. 

By embracing the unfamiliar and remaining open to others, I learned that finding a home away from home does not mean recreating everything you left behind. It means allowing new experiences to coexist with old ones. Shanghai taught me that when you make the effort to learn about others—their culture, food, language, and stories—you often find reflections of yourself and your identity in unexpected places. 

Ashley S. | Georgetown University | IFSA Shanghai: International Business | Fall 2025