Staying in touch: how to make a plan and stick to it
This is a requested post by one of my best friends (who I talk to often, even while abroad)! I have always been of the opinion that if both people don't try and reach out in a friendship it won't work. No one-sided relationship ever works and the same goes for friendships. However, this can often seem like a huge task when you're embarking on a year or a semester abroad so it's so important to have patience and know that both people are willing to keep the friendship alive. I know some people who always blame their lack of keeping in contact on being 'bad at reaching out' but I don't think that's a very good excuse, if you want to you'll make it work no matter what kind of friendship it is.
That being said I do think all relationships have different ways of interacting and some relationships just don't need as much communication as others and will still always be there. But if you're like me and start getting FOMO while being abroad it's nice to have best friends that understand and always put in the effort to keep you included. I don't think relationships have to suffer just because one person is abroad.
I have maintained, grown, and thrived in many of the relationships I've had while abroad. I've been in a romantic relationship the entire time I've been abroad, grown in my relationship with my parents, and kept up with my three best friends as if we haven't even been apart! Like I said, there are relationships that don't take as much work either and are still as strong as ever, which I've had a few of as well. I've reconnected with three friends who are abroad and have/will be meeting up with them where they live in Europe, and periodically texted a few of my friends back home when we see each other on social media or remember a funny memory and for some friendships that's plenty to keep up our friendship from across the ocean.
While none of this is easy and I miss all of my friends and family at home incredibly, it has been worth it. I keep up with my boyfriend and best friend by keeping weekly FaceTime calls to catch up on everything. While that's certainly not enough time to keep up with my two best friends, we always text during the week to keep each other sane and share funny stories. Me and my other girl friends are constantly tagging each other on social media, texting when anything of importance happens, and calling in dire times of need! The hardest thing about being abroad is thinking that life is going on at home without me. It was really hard to come to terms with that but I realized that I didn't have to be sad about it. Whenever I wanted my friends were there to talk so I wasn't in it alone! I think the biggest takeaway from learning to keep in better contact was that even if I don't have anything at all to say, still reach out. It might make yours and your friends day!
That being said I do think all relationships have different ways of interacting and some relationships just don't need as much communication as others and will still always be there. But if you're like me and start getting FOMO while being abroad it's nice to have best friends that understand and always put in the effort to keep you included. I don't think relationships have to suffer just because one person is abroad.
I have maintained, grown, and thrived in many of the relationships I've had while abroad. I've been in a romantic relationship the entire time I've been abroad, grown in my relationship with my parents, and kept up with my three best friends as if we haven't even been apart! Like I said, there are relationships that don't take as much work either and are still as strong as ever, which I've had a few of as well. I've reconnected with three friends who are abroad and have/will be meeting up with them where they live in Europe, and periodically texted a few of my friends back home when we see each other on social media or remember a funny memory and for some friendships that's plenty to keep up our friendship from across the ocean.
While none of this is easy and I miss all of my friends and family at home incredibly, it has been worth it. I keep up with my boyfriend and best friend by keeping weekly FaceTime calls to catch up on everything. While that's certainly not enough time to keep up with my two best friends, we always text during the week to keep each other sane and share funny stories. Me and my other girl friends are constantly tagging each other on social media, texting when anything of importance happens, and calling in dire times of need! The hardest thing about being abroad is thinking that life is going on at home without me. It was really hard to come to terms with that but I realized that I didn't have to be sad about it. Whenever I wanted my friends were there to talk so I wasn't in it alone! I think the biggest takeaway from learning to keep in better contact was that even if I don't have anything at all to say, still reach out. It might make yours and your friends day!
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| Me and my three best friends the day before I left for my year abroad! |
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