Staying In Touch Back Home

When studying abroad, especially if you are going to be away for over a semester, it can seem very difficult to stay connected to home. Leaving behind loved ones, being constantly busy, and dealing with different time zones can feel like a nightmare at times, no matter how great of an experience you're having. Luckily, there are many ways to help you stay linked into your inner circle, no matter how many miles are between you.

The easiest method of staying connected is through technology. Sending regular updates to your friends and family of what you're doing, how classes are, or what trips you may be going on, is a basic yet vital communication practice that can be easy to overlook when abroad. E-mails and texts are easiest since you don't need to worry about timezones, but phone calls and video chats are the better choice if you can manage it. I would highly recommend arranging weekly call times with your loved ones to maintain a normal flow of conversation in your relationship. This all may sound quite obvious, but you'd be amazed how much time flies when studying abroad, which makes it too easy to neglect your personal relationships back home.

If you're someone who gets homesick very easily, there are lots of other creative ways to keep your loved ones close. You can bring with specific mementos of theirs, such as a signature fragrance of theirs that reminds you of them (this works really well for romantic partners.) You can do other things like have them make you a music playlist for when you miss them, or take with pictures to hang in your room. You can also keep your loved ones in mind by getting them souvenirs and gifts from your travels to bring back to them when you get home.

Lastly, a classic way to stay connected is to send and receive mail while abroad. While care packages are of course a fantastic surprise, they can also be incredibly expensive. A remedy to that is to send hand-written letters back and forth, which are notably cheaper. Naturally, this is a process that requires time and patience, but it can be a highly personal way to maintain your most cherished relationships. Plus, coming back from class to find that long-awaited letter in your mailbox is one of the best feelings you can have when missing home.

While there are countless more ways to stay in touch with the people you miss most, the main takeaway is to make the effort to stay connected. Things like scheduling in Facetimes, bringing pictures from home, and sending letters, are all things that require premeditated effort during a time in your life where you will be busier and more distracted than ever. But making the conscious choice to commit to these things shows your loved ones that you still want to be involved in their day to day lives, and helps them to stay involved in yours.