Now that the world is more connected by the media than ever, I have been able to do online language and culture exchanges with native speakers of Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, and Swahili. One particular language partner who I now call a friend, I first started speaking with through Tandem in Summer 2020. She was a high school student residing in Mexico, and just like myself, was looking to make foreign friends. For the last few years we frequently chatted about daily life, and I assisted with her English studies. Last winter she was even able to pass the Cambridge English Exam at the C1 level, and now she is another step closer towards her dream of working in! Another friend from Japan and I joined a language exchange program offered by Clemson University Fall 2022. I even had the pleasure of having tea and a chat before my departure to Japan, and the advice she gave me about their culture and customs was invaluable during my trip abroad.