One of them didn’t know anything about soccer. The other sent her Peter Drury commentary clips anyway. By Sports Day, they were confidently announcing the matches like seasoned broadcasters. “She sent me video commentaries of Peter Drury that I practiced with, and on that day, nobody even knew I was a first-time football girlie,” Priyanka said. “Everybody complimented us for doing a great job.”

That’s just one of many moments that capture the friendship between 2025 MIPD students Vijaya Priyanka from India and Nander Esmeralda Ndam from Nigeria. Priyanka is one of four winners of KDI School’s “Friendships at KDIS – A Memoir” contest, held in celebration of the UN International Day of Friendship. We caught up with them to learn more about their friendship and what makes it so meaningful. 

Priyanka and Esmeralda during sports day April, 2025

Both lawyers, they met during their first week on campus. “For me it was also in the first week. Poppie (Priyanka, as she affectionately calls her) was simply great, and supportive and I just knew,” Esmeralda said. “It’s funny,” Priyanka agreed. “We’ve only known each other seven months, but it feels like forever.” Their bond is grounded in emotional support, honesty, and mutual respect. They celebrate each other’s wins, academic or otherwise, and show up when things get hard. When Priyanka struggled with a Stata course, Esmeralda – also unfamiliar with the material – taught herself the content just so she could help her friend. “It wasn’t even about the grades,” Priyanka explained. “She saw how stressed I was and showed up for me.” That support runs both ways. “Trade class had me in a chokehold,” Esmeralda added. “But Priyanka was always there, cheering me on, even if all she did was make jokes and remind me I could get through it.” The jokes, the ice cream walks, the late-night talks, they became rituals of emotional survival.

The duo in Hanbok at Gyeongbokgung palace

KDI School, they say, didn’t just give them the space to meet, it gave them room to understand each other. They live on the same dorm floor, take classes together, and frequently find themselves organizing events or leading group work. “We’ve clashed before,” Priyanka said, “but we learned how to manage it because we respect each other’s values, even when we don’t always agree.” Whether it’s preparing together for group assignments, stepping up as soccer commentators, or making each other laugh through stressful classes, their bond has become a cornerstone of their student life. “There’s no competition here,” said Esmeralda. “We just look out for each other. Always.”

Trying out bibimbap for the first time at a Michelin star restaurant during their Korean Language & Culture class trip

They’ve also learned a lot, and laughed a lot through their cultural exchanges. “This friendship has taught me so many things about cultures around the world,” Esmeralda shared. “Now I know Nigerians eat uncooked eggplants,” she added, “and I’ve learned so much about the government structure in India just from our conversations.”

Priyanka pointed out how much food has played a part in their friendship. “I now know so much about Nigerian food. I always look forward to Nigerian Jollof,” she said. “And Esme loves the biryani I cooked for her.”

They’ve also found common ground in their values. “We’ve identified so many similar values, like community, respect, and even how dating works in our countries,” Priyanka added. “Esme always has culture shock when we talk about dating. Honestly, I suspect she can only end up with a Nigerian prince because she’s hard to please, and Nigerian men seem top tier.”

Visiting Lovely Runner Kdrama shooting spot in Suwon. One of their favorite kdrama

What makes this friendship meaningful isn’t just what they do for each other, it’s how they see each other. “This made me love myself more,” Priyanka said. “She highlights my best traits.”

For Esmeralda, it’s deeper: “It feels God-ordained. She’s met my family, my friends. She’s a sister now.”

When asked what advice they’d give to new KDI students about making friends, they kept it simple: 

“Be honest. Be kind. Drop the stereotypes. If you’re open-minded, you’ll find your people.”

And for the UN International Day of Friendship, they had this message:

“To all the friends who have loved deeply, supported genuinely, cried intensely, healed with us, filled our space and stood tall with us - we love you, we value you, and we are grateful to have you.”

Priyanka and Esmeralda enjoying Daecheon Beach