Don’t let the distance separate you

Whether you’re moving to Australia or Zimbabwe, the distance and time differences that separate you from the friends and family you leave behind are bound to make you feel isolated. Staying in touch with loved ones can help reduce feelings of homesickness, which is crucial when you first move.

Until recently, moving abroad really felt like the other side of the world with people limited to just a few methods of communication. Today, there are a variety of low-cost, fast, and easy-to-use ways to keep in touch. Here is a simple guide to the technology available to you.

internet phone calls

Expensive international phone calls can be a thing of the past with the development of software like Skype, which allows you to call people over the Internet. It means you can make free calls for as long as you want, and if they have a webcam, you’ll be able to see who you’re talking to. Plus, you’re not limited to specific countries: all you need is for both people to use the same software.

Although it is free to download, using this technology will likely incur a setup cost if you don’t already have an internet phone, webcam, or microphone for your computer. However, if you don’t have access to a microphone or internet phone, you can still use a webcam to see each other while you text.

Instant messaging

Instant Messaging (IM) is a real-time online conversation where you create a network of contacts and write “instant” messages to them. All of these are private and you can invite more than one person to a conversation. Some instant messaging providers even allow you to use a webcam at the same time.

Instant messaging services are hosted by most email providers, including, but not limited to, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and MSN. You’ll usually need an email address with the IM provider, but once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to link up with friends and family who also use the service. However, due to the nature of the conversation, you will need to be online at the same time as your contacts.

social networking sites

Social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook, and Bebo are online communities that allow you to connect with people from all over the world. Depending on the site you join, you can have real-time conversations with your online ‘friends’, send private messages and post comments on your friends’ pages. Importantly, you can also upload photos and videos to your profile page for your contacts to see.

This is a useful way to share photos of you, your family, and your new location. Likewise, you will be able to see images of your loved ones so that you can also be up to date on their lives.

blog

A blog is essentially an online journal that will allow you to write in depth about what you are experiencing. Blogs are very popular with people who travel or relocate and want to update family and friends without having to write multiple emails or letters.

Family and friends can access your blog on their own schedule, which means you don’t need to work out time differences. You can also link to other blogs to stay up to date with anything new for your loved ones. Writing a blog is also a good way to write down what you’re experiencing and how you’re feeling, much like you would with a journal or diary.

Emails

If you can’t familiarize yourself with the other methods, an email is just as personal as a letter, but it arrives much faster! Now that Internet access is a common feature on mobile phones, you’ll also be able to access your emails on the go, which means you won’t need to be sitting at a computer to get in touch with people.

Mobile phone calls and text messages

We’re probably all guilty of taking our mobile phones for granted, but they’re crucial to our world’s 24/7 communications and there’s a good chance you’ll keep in touch with friends and family who use one. You will need to check with your current carrier if you can take your mobile phone with you and if you will need another number in your new location. Either way, you’ll be able to text your friends and family the same way as before. International phone calls from mobile phones can be expensive, but there are specialized phone card providers that offer competitive rates.

With so many options available, it’s worth thinking about what type of communication you’re most likely to use regularly. For example, if it’s going to be inconvenient for you to keep a blog, you’ll quickly lose interest in keeping it. You should also think about the implications for the people you will be communicating with; If you already have a webcam but your friends don’t, they’ll need to get one so you can see them online.

Fundamentally, you should choose whatever method works best for you. Moving abroad can be difficult and emotionally challenging and it is at these times that you will depend on the support of loved ones.