Dunbar's Number

Dunbar's number. A number which British Anthropoligist Robin Dunbar suggests is the maximum number of people a person can hold a meaningful relationship with. Although 150 is often used in reference to this evasive number, Dunbar never claimed to have found an exact number where the human brain reaches a so-called tipping point. Rather, he acknowledged and asserted that this tipping point does exist.

Over a month into my experience here in Granada, I find myself questioning this number, and, if I were being perfectly honest, being afraid of it. I constantly wonder, "What is my number? When will I not be able to make anymore new relationships? Will I start to let go of people who mean a lot to me without knowing it?"

A large part of being a study abroad student involves (as it should!) meeting a lot of people from a lot of different places. This process is arguably the most important learning aspect of the study abroad experience. That's why we went abroad right? To learn different cultures and languages. To be better citizens of the world. To be a less stereo-typically ignorant Americans. I have met 75 people in my program plus the staff plus countless others throughout the time that I have been here. I feel myself forming relationships with many of them. I feel myself forming meaningful relationships with them. That's what I want, right? Right?

It's funny how we try so hard to form these relationships in the beginning. We really want to belong and identify with people when we are in a foreign place where we know no one, with good reason! We try so hard that we fall into a good rhythm. But then we forget. What about all the other people in the world? What about the people I have left at home? What about all the people I have yet to meet? My hope is that, throughout my time here AND throughout the rest of my life, I create my own number. A number that could potentially be infinite.