I originally thought I would have no problem hanging out with family and friends while abroad. I knew the time difference would be something strange to get used to, but I have been hanging out virtually for like 3 years already now. But I didn't anticipate how busy I would be. The group of students I'm with in my program are so fun and outgoing. We are doing things together all the time, with the bus travel time and classes on top, I have surprisingly little free time.
This has made it difficult to keep in touch. When I'm free for a call, its dinner time back home, or 4 am. But there are so many good alternative ways to keep in touch that aren't just long phone calls. 1. Sending memes. This is my brothers main love language. It gives us something to bond over and lets each other know we're thinking about them. it doesn't take much time to reply, and you can share in a moment together. Plus, when you finally can coordinate that long phone call, you have something to talk about that you've done together, not just the things you're doing without them. This can also apply to sending trip photos. I have a group chat with my family that I send photos to so that they can be in the loop of what I'm up to. 2. Texting A lot of people harp on younger folk for never actually talking to each other, but with busy schedules and time differences, a text is really convenient. They won’t wake anyone up, and they can wait until the other person is free. I can send a text when I wake up, and my friend will see it before they go to sleep. There also less pressure for your friend to drop everything to chat, and a response can be as long or short as they desire. 3. Snail Mail I've bought some postcards that I am so excited to send out! When I was at school mailing letters back and forth was one of my favorite ways of communicating with my aunt. It is similarly convenient to a text in that you write it when you can, and they write back when they can, albeit a letter is much more poetic/romantic. It has a better vibe. These methods are a great way to keep in touch when busy, but nothing hits quite like a long chat with your loved ones. Make sure you set aside regular time to chat, and don't forget your friends! I am still playing D&D with my pals, calling my girlfriend everyday (even just for 5 minutes!), and chatting with my parents. These relationships have helped keep me stable and make me feel like I'm not missing out on the home semester as much.
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About LaurenHi! I'm a senior at SU and I'm studying abroad in Marburg, Germany during the fall 2022 semester. I'm an art history major, a museum studies minor and I'm super excited to share my experiences on my blog! Please follow along to learn all about this incredible experience! Archives
October 2022
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