(This piece was originally written for MBA-social.com by Kellogg School of Management alumna Farina Situmorang, an Indonesian native and tech marketer. For more stories like it, click here. To follow us on Twitter, click here.)

Ah, the first few weeks in business school. You’re meeting new friends (all 500 of them) and they will all ask you the same questions: pre-MBA occupation, hometown, and for those hoping to get lucky, relationship status. In my case, the following conversation ensued.

“So, when did you first come to the U.S.?”

“Just before school started.”

“Where were you before?”

“Jakarta, Indonesia. I moved here for b-school.”

“You have no accent! Your English is very good.”

“Well, thanks, so is yours!”

I understand where people are coming from, and so it doesn’t hurt my feelings when people ask me about my accent.

I realize that people have assumptions about me as I have assumptions about them. But what if these assumptions stop us from getting to know another person in the first place? Could my accent, if too thick, prevent people from conversing with me? While my classmates were not that narrow-minded, I think other assumptions could have stopped them from talking to me.

I consider it a “missed opportunity” if you don’t build your international network during the two years you’re at business school. When else are you going to spend two years with people from all over the world who are smart, successful, driven, fun, and different?

Business school is one of the easiest places to make friends and build connections. Here are some tips to build your international network, making that $150K investment worth a gazillion more:

* Trust the system and don’t judge. The admissions committee somehow is able to create an amazing, diverse class and somehow everybody in it has something remarkable to offer. Believe it. Reserve all judgment until you know the other person; there’s very little risk that your newfound friend would be a crazy sociopath. There’s always something interesting that you can learn about, so get excited and be open!

* Leverage the MBA warp-speed time bubble. Faster than your typical dog-year, for some magical reason, time really flies in business school. When you’re hanging out with somebody for just a quarter, it’s almost like you’ve been friends with him/her for years. You have lunch once and suddenly you’re best friends. Use this time bubble to your benefit – it doesn’t take a lot to be friends in business school! Rotate your lunch buddies, ask different people out for drinks, attend social events (e.g. go to the European Business Club social event even when you’re not from Europe), start talking with different people, and don’t forget to add them on Facebook. Small investment, high returns.

* Learn to balance. Look, you can’t be best friends with everyone and I’m not telling you to. You obviously need a core group of friends who will be your BFFs. Don’t let these people go. Spend time and energy with those who matter, but stay on the lookout for potential new friendships. It will all work out at the end and you’ll be a master networker in no time.

* Reciprocate. Whether you’re an American learning to dance Bollywood-style or a Korean learning the rules of flag football, it’s great that you’re learning new things…but give back! Teach your friends something they don’t know about. For example, lead an informal session on how to negotiate in your country. The more you share the more chance that you will graduate as a global MBA with friends from 72 countries.

Two years and 500+ connections later….

I feel fortunate to have three wedding invitations in Portugal, Japan, and Mexico, and a New Year’s celebration in Brazil, courtesy of business school. Build and diversify your network! You won’t regret it.