Just because you are moving to another country doesn’t mean you have to lose contact with the people you love and care about. In fact, it’s important now more than ever that you remain in touch as you’ll benefit from the support and comfort they can provide you in your new home.
One of the first things we recommend you do when you relocate is to get to know your new neighbours, discover the other expats around you and make an effort to localise yourself, but it’s equally as necessary that you phone home. Common causes of homesickness are the fear of missing out on things going on at home and worrying that you are not being missed, which is why keeping in touch with family and friends can help you begin to feel at ease and settle in. You don’t need to talk every minute of the day, but sending emails that you can pick up as and when you have the time or scheduling a regular phone call is a great idea.
Luckily, today’s technology makes it easy for us to touch base with people from all over the world no matter where we are, in a matter of seconds we can be talking to and even see the people we miss the most. The majority of people prefer to have a conversation face to face, which Skype and FaceTime enable you to do. Scheduling a time of the week when you sit down and devote half an hour to Skyping your family and friends will ensure you keep in regular contact and is unlikely to interfere with your new lifestyle. It should be at a time of day and day of the week you know you will more than likely always be free to chat.
Of course, sometimes life surprises you and you might prefer to be a little spontaneous and not want to feel you are tied down to an agreement, so why not set up a blog? By keeping a regular blog online, you can update your family and read their comments and messages to you as often as you like. It needn’t be a public blog that anybody could read, but just a private one between friends and family, and it can be as useful as keeping a diary. There is also the option of setting up a family website where you can all share photos and messages, some great memories can be kept there.
You are not alone in worrying that you might lose the closeness you have with your family and friends when you relocate, it is a concern many expats have, but it shouldn’t be. Rest assured that technology and perseverance will enable you to remain as close as ever!
