International student shares her methods of staying in touch with friends while at home

As an international student, it is always difficult to say goodbye to your university friends when the term ends, especially when you are used to spending so much time together. But thanks to technology, keeping in touch with your friends is easier than ever before. With the Easter Break approaching, here are some of the ways that I stay in touch with my university friends while visiting home. 

Video Calls

Whilst at university, we used video calls to stay connected with our families. When away from university, video calls switch roles and can be used to stay connected with your friends. You can use platforms such as Whatsapp call, Zoom, Skype, or Facetime to have virtual face-to-face conversations. With video calls, you can catch up with your friends, share what you have been up to, or show them your native place and even play games together. It is always fun to see your friends' faces and hear their voices, especially when you are miles apart. We usually FaceTime to make each other jealous of all the amazing homemade food we’re having at home.

Social Media 

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help you stay connected with friends. You can share updates about your life, post pictures and reels, and leave comments on their posts. Social media is an excellent tool to keep up with what your friends are doing, even when you are not physically together. You can also create a group chat on platforms such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to stay in touch with multiple friends at once. My friends love creating reels, it's a great way to reminisce about the good times. 

Online gaming

Online gaming is a great way not only to pass the time but also to spend time with your friends and converse. There are many multiplayer games that you can play with your friends, such as Minecraft, Among Us, or Fortnite. Currently, we are hooked on pool! Online gaming allows you to have fun together and even compete against each other. It can help in creating new memories and having fun with your friends, even when you are not together in person. 

Care packages

Sending care packages is a fantastic way to show your friends that you care about them. You can send them something that reminds you of them, such as a book, a favourite snack, or a handwritten letter. Care packages are a thoughtful way to let your friends know that you are thinking of them and miss them. I’ve been asked to send Mumbai’s famous street food. By now one can guess, we are a bunch of foodies! 

Virtual movie nights

Organizing virtual movie nights is a great way to stay connected with your friends while also enjoying some downtime. You can use platforms such as Netflix Party or Amazon Prime Video Watch Party to watch movies or TV shows together in real-time, no matter where you are. You can even prepare some snacks and drinks to make it feel more like a real movie night. 

Virtual workouts

Engaging in physical activity together can be an effective way of staying in touch while prioritising your health and wellness. You can organise virtual workout sessions with your friends using platforms like Zoom, where you can follow along to a fitness video together or take turns leading your own workout. This way, you can stay motivated and hold each other accountable. We are hoping to start ours once our jet lag stabilises!

Collaborative online projects

Collaborating on online projects, such as creating a blog post or a podcast, is a fun way to stay connected with friends and also develop new skills. You can work together on a topic that you're all interested in, and then create content that you can share with others. You can combine your passions and creativity while staying in touch with your friends. We usually work on extra-curricular activities like society proposals and planning. 

I hope that these tips were useful for you and I hope that you are able to use some of these methods during your next visit home.