It’s become increasingly popular for students to study abroad sometime in the four years they are in college. Studying in a different country can help you learn not only a lot about a different culture, but also a lot about yourself. With the growing number of students who choose to study abroad, it is very likely that you will find someone you know taking the plunge into another country for the summer, a semester, or even an entire year.
Here’s the deal: your best friend, who you’ve been inseparable from forever, is going to be living in another country for an extended period of time. This means no cell phone service for your hour-long conversations, living in completely different time zones, and waiting to hear about the experiences of a lifetime that she’s had while you’ve gone through your usual daily routines. It can be tough, but it’s possible to cope with your best friend’s absence in a way that will keep you from counting the seconds until her return.
1. Get her a going-away gift: Don’t forget that it’s probably really hard for your friend to live in a faraway place with new people, a different culture and a foreign language. You might be missing her a lot, but she’s going to miss home, too! Getting her a small gift to remind her of the people who love her back at home is a really sweet way to wish her well on her journey. And who knows – she might bring you back something that will make you glad that she went!
2. Take advantage of social media and Skype: It’s amazing how much closer you can feel to someone just by seeing his or her face on a computer screen. Pay attention to your friend’s tweets, status updates, and photo uploads and make sure you keep your social media profiles up to date with your life as well – don’t forget, she’s probably missing you just as much as you’re missing her! You’ll both feel like you know what’s going on in each other’s lives the way you always have, even though you’re thousands of miles away. Skype is your “best friend” when it comes to communicating with people overseas; you can talk for hours for free!
3. Set aside talking times that will work for both of you: Living in a different time zone from your best friend can be difficult because it’s seemingly impossible to find a convenient time for both of you to talk. Since there will probably be limited cell phone service and spotty WiFi, designating times for you to Skype or instant message is the easiest way to make sure that you won’t go weeks without speaking. Of course, it may sometimes be hard to stick to these times, but at least you’ll both know when the other is most likely to be online.
4. Meet up with old friends, or make new ones: The best way to prevent mourning the absence of your best friend is to keep yourself busy while she’s gone. Catch up with friends you haven’t spoken to in a while, and you might remember how much you enjoyed their company before. If you’re away at school you can take up a hobby or join a new club. This way, you’ll meet new people and be able to introduce them to your best friend when she gets back!
5. Remember that this is a great experience: No girl wants to be without her best friend for months at a time, but remember that this is a great experience for her and you should want her to enjoy herself. Who knows? You might be next to leave the country for a few months, and you’ll want her to have your back too. Your friendship is strong enough to last the tolls of being separated for a while, so don’t worry – she’ll be back in no time!