Tips and My Experience Becoming Best Friends with Someone from Another

1. Start with a Smile and Say Hello

This sounds simple, but it's actually the most important thing! When Rosie's family first moved in, I was shy and nervous. What if she didn't like me? What if we couldn't understand each other? But my mom encouraged me to just go over and introduce myself.

I knocked on their door, gave a big smile, and said, "Hi! I'm Candice. I live next door. Welcome to the neighborhood!"

Rosie smiled back and said, "Hola! I am Rosie. Nice to meet you!"

That's it. That's all it took to start. A smile really is universal – it means the same thing in every language.

2. Don't Worry About Language Barriers

Okay, I'll be honest – at first, I was worried about Rosie's English. She spoke it pretty well, but sometimes she'd pause to think of the right word, or she'd say things in a slightly different way than I would. And I definitely didn't speak Spanish (well, except for "hola" and "gracias").

But you know what? It didn't matter as much as I thought it would. We found ways to communicate. Sometimes we'd use our hands to gesture. Sometimes we'd draw pictures. And sometimes we'd just laugh at ourselves when we got confused.

Plus, Rosie taught me SO many Spanish words, and I helped her with some English slang that confused her (like why we say "cool" about things that aren't actually cold – she thought that was hilarious).

Tip: Download a translation app on your phone if you get really stuck. We used one a few times and it helped!

3. Ask Questions (But Be Respectful)

I was super curious about Spain. I wanted to know everything – what her school was like, what foods she ate, what games she played, if she'd been to a bullfight (she hadn't, by the way).

Rosie didn't mind my questions at all. She actually seemed happy that I was interested! She told me about going to the beach in Barcelona, eating churros with chocolate for breakfast, and celebrating Three Kings Day in January.

But here's the important part: I tried to ask questions in a nice, curious way – not in a "wow, that's so weird!" way. Because, honestly, some of the things she told me about Spain DID sound different from what I was used to. But different doesn't mean weird or bad. It just means... different!

Tip: Instead of saying "That's weird," try "That's interesting! Tell me more!" It makes people feel good about sharing their culture with you.

4. Share Your Culture Too

Friendship is a two-way street! While Rosie was teaching me about Spain, I made sure to share things about my life and American culture too.

I introduced her to mac and cheese (which she'd never had before – can you believe it?!). We watched a Fourth of July fireworks show together and I explained why we celebrate it. I showed her my favorite TV shows and took her to a baseball game.

Rosie loved learning about my world just as much as I loved learning about hers. It made our friendship feel balanced and special.

5. Try New Things Together

One of the best parts of being friends with Rosie is that we get to experience things together – sometimes for the first time for both of us!

Rosie had never been to an American mall before, so we went together and it was hilarious watching her reaction to how HUGE it was. I'd never tried paella (a Spanish rice dish), so her mom made it for dinner one night and we ate it together.

We also started a tradition of teaching each other phrases in our languages every week. Now I can say things like "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?) and "Eres mi mejor amiga" (You're my best friend!). And Rosie can understand all my weird American expressions.

6. Be Patient and Understanding

Moving to a new country is really hard. I can't even imagine how brave Rosie was to leave all her friends and family in Spain and start over here.

There were times when Rosie seemed sad or homesick. Sometimes she'd talk about missing her old school or her cousins back in Madrid. When that happened, I just listened and tried to be there for her. I didn't try to fix it or tell her "everything will be okay" – I just let her feel her feelings.

And you know what? She did the same for me when I was nervous about middle school starting. That's what real friends do.

7. Celebrate Your Differences AND Your Similarities

Here's what surprised me the most: even though Rosie and I grew up in different countries, we actually have SO much in common!

We both love reading (she introduced me to some amazing Spanish authors). We both hate waking up early. We both get nervous before tests. We both love animals and want to be veterinarians when we grow up. We both think our little brothers are annoying (but we love them anyway).

Yes, we have differences – she drinks hot chocolate for breakfast and I think that's a dessert. She thinks American football is confusing and I don't understand soccer (sorry, "fútbol") rules. But those differences make our friendship more interesting, not harder.

8. Stand Up for Your Friend

On the first day of school, a kid in our class asked Rosie why she "talked funny." I saw her face turn red and I could tell she felt embarrassed.

I spoke up right away: "She doesn't talk funny. She speaks TWO languages fluently. How many languages do you speak?"

The kid got quiet and Rosie squeezed my hand under the table. Later, she thanked me for standing up for her.

If your friend from another country faces teasing or rudeness about their accent, their culture, or anything else, be brave and support them. They're probably feeling vulnerable, and knowing someone has their back means everything.

9. Make New Traditions Together

One of my favorite things Rosie and I do is blend our cultures together. For her birthday, we had a party with both American birthday cake AND Spanish tarta (which is like a fancy European cake). We sang "Happy Birthday" in English and Spanish.

We also created our own "Best Friend Day" where we celebrate our friendship by doing something from each of our cultures. Last month, we made American s'mores and Spanish tortilla española (which is actually a potato omelet, not what I thought a tortilla was!).

Creating these special traditions has made our friendship feel even more unique and meaningful.

10. Remember: Friendship is Friendship, No Matter Where You're From

At the end of the day, being best friends with Rosie isn't that different from being best friends with anyone else. We laugh together, tell each other secrets, have sleepovers, help each other with homework, and sometimes get annoyed with each other (but we always make up).

The fact that she's from Spain just adds an extra layer of coolness to our friendship. I'm learning so much – not just about Spanish culture, but about being open-minded, brave, and curious about the world.

My Final Thoughts

Before Rosie moved here, I was so worried about starting middle school. I thought I'd be lost and alone. But meeting her taught me that sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected places.

If someone from another country moves to your school or neighborhood, I really encourage you to say hello. Don't let fear or shyness hold you back. You might just make the best friend you've ever had.

Rosie tells me that in Spanish, there's a saying: "Un amigo es un tesoro" – which means "A friend is a treasure." And she's absolutely right. Our friendship is a treasure, and I'm so grateful that her family moved in next door.

Who knows? Maybe one day I'll visit her in Spain, or maybe she'll stay here forever. Either way, I know we'll be best friends for life.

Do any of you have friends from other countries? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below!

¡Hasta luego! (See you later!) – Candice

February 26 2026 Candice's Adventures LLC