Living away from home in a foreign country can be difficult, especially when you’re living alone. You miss your friends; you miss your family, and most of all you miss the comfort of being home. Homesickness is an absurd feeling. All those grand occasions go by without you. You wish there were a way to make your family feel your presence. In this fast-paced world, with studies and work commitments, people have little or no time on their hands. But, staying in touch is essential when it comes to your family. Yes, it is going to be tough, but if you don’t make an effort, your relationship has lesser chances of survival. There are tiny things that you can do to maintain a long-distance relationship with your family.
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Although being an expatriate in a foreign country means most of the time you will face the issue of time zone, and with frequent home visits out of the picture, your only option is video calls. However, there still are many things that you can do to show your family that you care and that you are there for them no matter how far. In this article, we will provide you with some useful tips on how you can show affection to your family despite living away.
Texting can be a Blessing:
To state the obvious, parents especially when they are old, are not super into texting. Apps can be tricky for them to navigate, which is why they prefer calls, and that is a good way to communicate as well but if you’re dealing with time zone challenges, then texting is a great option. You can tell them about your day-to-day life, whatever you do in college or office, or just the general news from your hometown and they can tell you whatever is happening back at home. You can share pictures with them, share a joke, a song, or anything that can keep you connected to them. You can even make a family WhatsApp group where you all can talk like you would at home. Showing interest and making an effort can keep your relationship with your family strong.
Always send gifts:
Gifts can help you stay in touch. They can convey your love and devotion to your family. It is proof that you care and that you’re trying to be in touch. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. You can send hand-crafted stuff, handwritten notes, clothes, candies, makeup, or some collectible souvenirs from your country. No matter how big or small a gift is, it’s the thought that counts!
Remember Special Occasions:
Sometimes on grand occasions, you might want to send home a cake to let your family know that you’re thinking of them. Gifts can be sent on any occasion but special occasions require cakes. Although it can be surprising and a heartfelt gesture, sending edible items too far away can be a hassle. There are many ways it could go wrong. So, if you are planning on any such surprise for your family, you might want to take a look at Cakes Overseas services. They are a cake delivery service that delivers high-quality, freshly baked, decadent cakes almost anywhere around the globe. You can even add a customized note with your cake for a more personal touch. Cakes Overseas are best at what they do. They offer delivery to around 200 countries, and they take 2-3 working days so with their International Cake Delivery, your sweet package will be up and running in no time. In order to make it happen, try to remember important dates. Everyone knows remembering dates can be hard but, you can always mark your calendar or keep a reminder on your phone. This action will definitely make your family feel loved.
Make schedule for calls:
Only texting is not enough. Your family would be even happier to be able to see you, to be able to listen to your voice. Video or even voice calls can be a luxury if you are dealing with different time zones. But if you go by planning, you can easily overcome it. What you can do is check your schedule, decide a time of the week when all of you are available, and stick to it. In your busy routine, this can easily slip your mind, so it would be better to set a backup time as well. Schedule and when it’s time, show up, it will be worth it!
Connect through shared interests:
Whether it is a sport, a video game, a TV series, or a cooking show, if you have a shared interest with any family member, you can bond over it. Talking and sharing updates about your favorite things can keep the conversation flowing. This way you will always have something to talk about. To give you an example, some people like games, and thanks to the age we live in, a large number of online games are available on the internet that you can play with your friends and family with no time constraints.
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It is impossible to be available at all times but, if you are trying, then it is more than enough.
The key is to try!