Travelling abroad is one of the most enriching experiences you can give yourself, but it is undeniable that maintaining relationships with people becomes more challenging the longer you are gone. How can you stay in touch with loved ones when travelling abroad? The logistical burden of distance has been reduced by modern technology, but how can it help with missed birthdays, graduations, and other significant life events?
There are several methods you can stay in touch with your loved ones and combat the inevitable case of homesickness. Try these strategies to stay in touch and share your unforgettable experiences from your travels to avoid letting travelling damage your relationships.
Apps for Face Time
There are more ways besides merely using FaceTime on your iPhone when you want to spend quality time with loved ones. The following services and applications can be used for free over wifi or data. Each person has their own preferences, so you might find yourself employing a blend of these depending on who you’re speaking with.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app outside of the US. There are several phone plans available nowadays that don’t give you unlimited SMS texting. With the help of the free WhatsApp software, you can use your data or wifi to send texts and make free audio and video conversations.
Zoom
Most of us have grown to know Zoom very well thanks to the pandemic. But it’s useful for more than just business conferences! With Zoom’s free plan, one-on-one meetings are limited to 30 minutes, while group meetings with three or more people are limited to 40 minutes. If you wish to give a brief presentation about your experiences living abroad so far, you can even host up to 100 people at one time.
Skype
Even if Zoom has largely displaced Skype in the business sphere, Skype is still highly handy for daily catch-ups. In my opinion, Skype is useful for making voice calls to landlines and cellphones in the US. You might be wondering, “Who has a landline these days?”. Grandma, who is 87, does! I can call US numbers indefinitely using Skype’s international calling package at $3.59 per month. These plans are affordable monthly options for all nations in the world.
While you’re away from home, staying in touch with friends and family can help you overcome homesickness as well as share your exceptional experience and let them know you’re missing them. Try to keep in mind that although if everyone likes to hear about your trip, they could get annoyed if the talk is only about you during these crucial interactions.
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