Sincere Friendship Across the Miles

Cary Krumdieck, California Mu

The journey through college is always slightly different than we expect, and that's true for almost everyone's experience. But sometimes, the best thing that can happen is for college to differ from — or exceed — our own expectations. For Pepperdine University students, our journeys and expectations often involve living and learning abroad. We have the opportunity to participate in one of the most extensive study abroad programs of any university in the country.

IVY MOORE and CAROLINE CHANCE studied abroad in Lausanne, Switzerland where they got to travel across Europe to see highlights such as the Colosseum.

As the women of Pi Beta Phi are some of the most involved on our campus, many of our sophomore members are based on one of Pepperdine's international campuses. Balancing this valuable academic opportunity with our Pi Phi member experience isn't easy. With so many of our members living outside the country, it can be challenging for California Mus to get to know one another. Our chapter has truly embraced this system by creating an environment of respect and Sincere Friendship to keep our members close, no matter the physical distance between us.

To support the women abroad, help them get acquainted with our new freshmen members and strengthen their relationships with our juniors, we send boxes of letters and goodies across the world to the different cities where our sisters are studying: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lausanne, Switzerland; Florence, Italy; Heidelberg, Germany; and London, England. In response, we've received many thanks back on campus. We can see friendships beginning to form, especially between our freshmen members and the sophomores returning the following term. This growth and development of friendships has been wonderful for our entire chapter to experience. The bond between those studying at our international campuses and those on our main campus in Malibu is difficult to put into words, but so special to experience first-hand.

MEGAN OFFUTT spent her year abroad in Heidelberg, Germany where she also got to visit places like Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris.

As spring rolls around, graduation grows near and our sisters abroad return to Malibu, emotions are bittersweet. On one hand, around 25 members who have been our "pen pals" for the past year are back home; on the other, the seniors who have had such an impact on our chapter are graduating. During their time at Pepperdine, our seniors have touched the lives of many with their kindness, generosity and humor. Many of their little sisters are the sophomores studying abroad. The return of our sophomores and the commencement of our seniors completes a cycle of our chapter that we hold close to our hearts.

From left: JESSIE ARNOLD and LEXI JOHNSON are studying Spanish at Pepperdine. What better way to immerse themselves than to spend their summer in Spain?

Our California Mu family completes our experience as members of Pi Beta Phi. As part of a sisterhood that extends far beyond our chapter, we enjoy recognizing the Personal and Intellectual Growth and Sincere Friendship being created among our sisters at Pepperdine despite the challenges outside programming may cause. And because friendship, Integrity and loyalty are the foundation of our unique sisterhood, our members are able to embrace all the opportunities our campus and our college journeys bring our way.

From left: Seniors SAM PASSMAN, ELLE HARDING and MICHAELA WALL spent their sophomore year in Buenos Aires, Argentina where they became best friends.