Are you thinking about studying abroad but worried about leaving your friends and family behind? Don’t stress! Thanks to social media and modern technology, it’s never been easier to stay connected to your loved ones wherever you are in the world.
Choosing to study abroad is a big jump but one that you will not regret making. This could be the most exciting adventure of your life, so it’s natural to feel nervous at first. And while you may feel as if you’re leaving everyone you know and love behind, you will have the opportunity to form new friendships with people from all over the world. Even if you miss your friends and family, they are only ever a phone call away. Read our top tips for staying connected with your friends and relatives back home while you study abroad in Rome.
1. Use Social Media to Connect with Loved Ones
Social media is an excellent tool for staying in contact while you study abroad. You can use Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat to share the amazing experiences you’re having and to catch up on what everyone is up to back home. For example, did you just eat the best pizza of your entire life at a little hidden family restaurant in Trastevere? Buy a beautiful new scarf at a cute Italian boutique? Tell the world!
2. Schedule Video Calls
Thanks to video call applications like Skype and FaceTime, it’s easy to have a face-to-face chat with your best friend, parents, or sibings for free, even if they’re on the other side of the world. Catching up using video call apps can help you feel much more connected than you would through a simple text. The only difficulty is the time difference! Schedule video calls in advance so that you don’t accidentally try to call home at 3am when everyone’s asleep in bed. Italy is six hours ahead of Washington DC time, so catch-ups are best scheduled at lunchtime or on weekends. Most phones have the option to add other time zones to your phone, so you can easily check what time it is back home.
3. Send Letters and Postcards
With social media, phone calls, and FaceTime, it can be easy to forget to send traditional letters or postcards. Sending a handwritten note can feel more special than a quick text. At John Cabot University, all students have their own mailboxes, so you can even receive letters and packages from home. Also, you can send beautiful postcards as you travel around Europe. Your family will appreciate the variety and beauty of stamps from the different countries, and they can decorate the house with them while you’re away.
4. Use Group Chats to Stay in Touch with Everyone at Once
If you have a big family or a big group of friends, it can be difficult to keep in touch with everyone individually. One solution is to create a group chat for your friends or family so that you can stay in contact with everyone in one place. You might already have a group chat, so you can use this to share any big life updates and check in on how everyone is doing.
This will also make it easier for everyone else to stay in touch with you!
5. Your Study Abroad Experience Won’t Last Forever – Make the Most of It While It Lasts!
The few months that you spend studying abroad will fly by and could be over before you know it. For this reason, it’s important that you make the most of your time at John Cabot University. While it’s important to catch up with friends and family occasionally, it can be distracting to spend too much time on social media and talking to people from home. Try to immerse yourself in the experience by focusing on forming new friendships in Rome and getting to know your new location. Before you know it, you’ll be back home!
Do you want to find out more about attending an American University in Italy?
Contact John Cabot University for more information!
