Finding a new best friend from half a world away

Having known each other for only a few months, there’ve already been a few odd occurrences in developing friendship between Sai Aneesha Maruboyina and Varshitha Yedla. One is that they traveled half the world to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne not knowing each other or that their homes in India are located just 5 kilometers apart. That’s a little more than 3 miles to most of us in the U.S.

Then there’s the job that Maruboyina took in the TRIO Upward Bound office. The spot was open because Yedla had chosen to become a resident assistant in Student Housing, so someone was needed to fill in when she was unavailable. Yedla had no idea her new roommate Maruboyina was applying, either.

“So I come to work and I hear them talking about ‘V,’” Maruboyina said. “I was like, who’s ‘V?’ She always calls me Neesh and I call her Varsh, but when I finally figured it out, it was quite the coincidence.”

Obviously, they rarely talk about work at home; this is how a lifelong friendship is made, through laughter and shared experiences. Keep in mind, neither knew anyone on campus when they arrived in Fort Wayne. Yedla, as she describes it, was dumped into the cold of January, and Maruboyina, into the heat of the summer on July 27.

Imagine the courage required to travel to a place where you are a total stranger, everyone speaks a different language, and everything else like food, transportation, money, and even the quality of the air we breathe is different. An early task for each was to google what dimes and nickels meant. 

“Here, everyone greets everyone and goes out of their way to help you,” Yedla said. “Initially, we had to stop and think for a second, ‘Wait, do I know this person?’”

Imagine standing totally on your own and finding your way, which is what more than 350 international students experience on the first day they step on campus. It’s not easy, though the university does a great job of helping them feel comfortable.

Encouraged by her parents, Maruboyina always coveted a Purdue degree, while Yedla dreamed of a master’s degree in America.

“No matter how many movies you watch, you are still not prepared enough when you get here for what it’s really like,” Yedla said. “My entire life, I felt like high school here was just like in the movies.”

Somewhat, life here is better than expected.

“Though life back home was great in many ways — the opportunities that are available here are worth all the hard work and sacrifices,” Yedla said. “However, we would give anything to have a transporter like Star Trek for a quick visit and have some good street food.”

There are all kinds of things they noticed that most Americans take for granted.

“There’s so much freedom!” Yedla said. “Freedom to try new things that I wouldn’t have done back in India due to the fear of ‘What would people say?’ Things that help me develop as a person.”

Maruboyina nods in agreement. 

“It is this zeal of exploration that made me think about making this move to study abroad,” Maruboyina said. “I feel traveling is like therapy, and the U.S. has such beautiful places to traverse. Gratitude and appreciating the little things is what keeps me grounded. 

“I experienced diversity as part of the Purdue Fort Wayne dance team, and I am excited to be working as the international student orientation leader for the upcoming spring semester. I will get to share my experiences with them and help them feel like PFW can be home.”

And it’s as much about making a home as finding one.

“It is hard sometimes, keeping up with academics, work, friendships, family, and social life,” Yedla said. “I am, however, feigning perfect normalcy because, ‘Fake it until you make it’ is what I believe in. I do feel homesick sometimes, but the student communities have my back in this one.

“As the vice president of the International Student Organization, I try my best to create that sense of ‘home away from home’ for all the incoming international students, because only with a sense of belonging can you call any place you live a ‘home.’”

Despite any initial anxiousness about moving a world away and attending PFW, Maruboyina and Yedla are thriving as students, sharing a desk as TRIO employees, and especially as friends.