By Chrysa Keenon | Echo
Taylor students are not only encouraged but expected to spend time in another country at least once in their four years here. It's a rite of passage to serve God in a mission field or increase your knowledge through a special studies program. Studying abroad can be the best time of your life, as you get to have whole new life experiences that will last for the rest of your life.
But what about those of us who aren't going anywhere special next semester? While a great number of my good friends are going to be living in distant lands over J-term and spring semester, I will be stuck in the Midwest, trying not to cry over my breakfast cereal about how much I miss my friends.
If you are in the same situation, do not despair. Here are some ways to get yourself through the tough times of temporarily losing a friend and surviving the semester without your best bud.
- Write a physical letter to each other once in awhile. There is nothing more exciting than receiving mail at college. It doesn't matter whether it's just a blank envelope with a smiley face on the inside or a ten-page down-low on what is going on in your life. Breaking out the old pen and paper can be incredibly refreshing and fun!
- Have a long distance book club! Obviously this can apply to more than books; watch a TV show together so you can both gush about it at the same time. Being obsessed with the same thing is great because it's another topic you can instantly bond over.
- Memes. Send those memes. Funny captioned cat photos or that hilarious new YouTube video you found could brighten a friend's day. Take a few seconds to send out something that could make your friend smile, and soon you'll be smiling, too.
- Set up days to Skype. Even if it is just for a few minutes to say hello, it'll be worth it to see your friend's face and hear her voice. Skype is one of the best ways to contact a friend from another time zone because it allows you to see her timestamp and when she is online.
