Living abroad as an FS family is the opportunity and an experience of a lifetime. New cultures, languages, people, and seeing the world from a different perspective. However, having these opportunities and life experiences also come with some challenges—most notably, living far away from family.
The longer we’ve been in the FS, the more familiar I’ve become to finding ways to stay in touch with our friends and family while at post (that go beyond a regular video call). Here are 10 creative and unique ways to stay connected with your loved ones.
1. Video calls—but make them fun
All too often, everyday life gets in the way and finding time to call those who are important to you gets more challenging. So, first, I’d recommend setting up a regular appointment to call your loved ones. But, as I’m sure we all have a bit of ‘Zoom fatigue’ at this point, l’d also recommend making each of those calls fun! Make everyone on the call wear costumes or dress as a theme, do an activity together (like a bake-off), or play a game. This keeps things fun and gives everyone something to look forward to.
2. Friendship lamps
Friendship lamps are a unique way to connect with people you love no matter where they are in the world! You can let your loved one know you’re thinking of them by simply tapping your lamp—theirs will turn on too!
3. Care packages
If you’re abroad, chances are there are a few treats from back home that you miss. And if you’re living in a country your loved one has never been to, chances are there are some *new* treats you’ve found that your loved one may love too, but have never tried. Make a plan to send each other care packages filled with local goodies and a handwritten note.
4. Social media
I’m going to bet that you’re already on social media (and if you are, make sure you connect with me and an entire FS community by joining Toolbox for Foreign Service Families!), but are you really using it to your advantage? Create a ‘close friends’ list on Instagram and share the details of your day-to-day life abroad. On Facebook, make sure you’ve got them marked as ‘Favorite’ so none of their posts slip through the cracks. You can also create a Facebook group for your family, or close groups of friends from your last posts, so everyone can stay up-to-date on what’s going on in each other’s lives in a cozier, more private social media setting.
3. Surprises!
Let’s talk about all the ways you can surprise your loved ones overseas. If possible, showing up at their doorstep is always a treat! But, more feasibly, you can send them a little gift via Amazon, like a book you’ve just read and loved or a silly novelty item, to let them know you’re thinking of them. Or, you can even send them a Cameo and have a celebrity tell them how much you miss them. Check out this Cameo LeVar Burton recorded for our U.S. History Abroad students!: www.ushistoryabroad.com/levar
The longer we’ve been in the FS, the more familiar I’ve become to finding ways to stay in touch with our friends and family while at post (that go beyond a regular video call). Here are 10 creative and unique ways to stay connected with your loved ones.
1. Video calls—but make them fun
All too often, everyday life gets in the way and finding time to call those who are important to you gets more challenging. So, first, I’d recommend setting up a regular appointment to call your loved ones. But, as I’m sure we all have a bit of ‘Zoom fatigue’ at this point, l’d also recommend making each of those calls fun! Make everyone on the call wear costumes or dress as a theme, do an activity together (like a bake-off), or play a game. This keeps things fun and gives everyone something to look forward to.
2. Friendship lamps
Friendship lamps are a unique way to connect with people you love no matter where they are in the world! You can let your loved one know you’re thinking of them by simply tapping your lamp—theirs will turn on too!
3. Care packages
If you’re abroad, chances are there are a few treats from back home that you miss. And if you’re living in a country your loved one has never been to, chances are there are some *new* treats you’ve found that your loved one may love too, but have never tried. Make a plan to send each other care packages filled with local goodies and a handwritten note.
4. Social media
I’m going to bet that you’re already on social media (and if you are, make sure you connect with me and an entire FS community by joining Toolbox for Foreign Service Families!), but are you really using it to your advantage? Create a ‘close friends’ list on Instagram and share the details of your day-to-day life abroad. On Facebook, make sure you’ve got them marked as ‘Favorite’ so none of their posts slip through the cracks. You can also create a Facebook group for your family, or close groups of friends from your last posts, so everyone can stay up-to-date on what’s going on in each other’s lives in a cozier, more private social media setting.
3. Surprises!
Let’s talk about all the ways you can surprise your loved ones overseas. If possible, showing up at their doorstep is always a treat! But, more feasibly, you can send them a little gift via Amazon, like a book you’ve just read and loved or a silly novelty item, to let them know you’re thinking of them. Or, you can even send them a Cameo and have a celebrity tell them how much you miss them. Check out this Cameo LeVar Burton recorded for our U.S. History Abroad students!: www.ushistoryabroad.com/levar