Maria Abroad

How to keep in touch with family and friends when studying abroad

Posted on 16. May, 2009 by MariaAbroad in Living Abroad, Study Abroad

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

How to keep in touch with family and friends when studying abroad

Keeping in touch with your family and friends while you study abroad is often harder than it seems. First, there is the time difference. Then, there is so much to do and explore. And third, a combination of both: You finally have a few minutes to squeez in for your loved ones at home… and you realize its 3.00 AM back home right now.

Here are some ways, how you can let your parents know that you are alright and keep your friends up to date about your adventures while you study abroad:

Skype
Skype is a great way to call your friends and family and even videoconference with them. As Skype is for free to register and Skype users call each other for free, make sure that your friends and family have an account and know how to use it, before you go. If you study abroad for a longer period and your grandpa, parents or even friends are not that tech-savy or don’t have internet, consider buying a SkypeIn number with you local home area code. Then your “ol-fashioned” acquaintences can just call that number, pay the local fare and you answer the call on your computer.

Twitter

Twitter is a Microblogging portal, where you can leave short notices up to 160 characters in length. You can tweet your family that you are still alive and tell you BFF about the date with the hot Italian guy.

Blogging
If you like to write and post pictures, blogging can be a great way to share your stories with you family and friends and lets you keep in touch while you study abroad. Of course, you can set up your own website on your own domain (which is easier than you think), but for newbies there are many easy to use blogging sites out there, such as Expat Blog. Just register and start writing. I wrote my own China-Tour Memoirs at TravelBlog.org and I still look at my entries and pictures and think of the amazing times I had in China.

Flickr
Flickr is a great way to share your pictures with your family and friends. Just upload them and everyone back home can look at you and be jealous of your adventures abroad.

No matter which option you choose, always remember that keeping in touch is important while you are living abroad. Otherwise you will come home to some very angry and mad family members and friends. Remember, they are excited for you and want to know, what you are up to and what you are experiencing. And they worry a lot and think about the things that could happen to you, so let them sleep better and let them know you are alright!

More from MariaAbroad:

Tags: Study Abroad