3 Simple Ways to Maintain Long-Distance Friendships While Studying Abroad

Studying abroad offers the chance to meet new people and explore different cultures, but it can also be hard to maintain friendships with those back home. Finding the right balance between nurturing old friendships and building new ones becomes even more important when you're navigating a new environment with student roommates and shared living situations.

Keeping your long-distance friendships strong takes effort, but as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." With the right strategies, you can stay connected while still focusing on building new relationships abroad through roommate matching and student housing communities.

3 Simple Ways to Maintain Long-Distance Friendships While Studying Abroad

#1. Set Regular Catch-Up Times

Staying in touch with friends back home requires intentional planning, especially when you're adjusting to new time zones and busy academic schedules. Set up regular video calls or text check-ins to maintain your bond. Having a structured approach to communication helps ensure that distance doesn't weaken your important relationships.

According to Therapy in Barcelona, students who maintain regular communication schedules with friends from home report better emotional well-being while studying abroad.

Platforms like Platuni also help you form new friendships by matching you with like-minded students and compatible roommates, adding to your support network abroad. When you're living in shared housing, your roommates can provide the daily social interaction that complements your scheduled calls with friends from home.

Finding roommates who understand the importance of maintaining long-distance relationships can make your living situation more supportive. They can respect your need for privacy during calls and might even share similar experiences of staying connected with friends from their home countries.

#2. Share Your Experiences

Involving your friends in your new life abroad can strengthen your connection and help them feel part of your journey. Share photos, stories, and updates about your experiences, including the new friendships you're building and the dynamics of your shared living situation.

Your friends back home are often curious about your new lifestyle, including how you're adjusting to roommate relationships and the cultural differences you're experiencing. Students who actively share their abroad experiences with home friends maintain stronger relationships and feel more supported.

Platuni can also help you build new friendships that complement the ones back home, creating a rich social network that supports your growth. As Henry David Thoreau said, "The language of friendship is not words but meanings." The meaningful connections you make through thoughtful roommate matching can become friendships that last long after your studies end.

Consider introducing your friends from home to your new roommates through virtual hangouts or group video calls. This helps bridge your two worlds and can create interesting cross-cultural friendships that enrich everyone's experience.

#3. Stay Engaged in Shared Interests

Continue sharing the interests and hobbies that first brought you and your friends together, even if you're far apart. Whether it's a shared love of music, books, or fitness, maintaining these connections can bridge the distance and provide common ground for conversation.

Your student roommates might share some of these interests too, creating opportunities to blend your old and new social circles. Living in shared accommodation often means discovering new hobbies and interests through your roommates, which you can then share with friends back home.

Consider starting virtual book clubs, watching movies together online, or sharing workout routines with both your friends from home and your new roommates. These shared activities create ongoing connection points that go beyond just catching up on daily life.

Many successful student housing arrangements include roommates who support each other's need to maintain friendships from home while building new ones together. This balance is crucial for emotional well-being and helps prevent the isolation that some international students experience.

Conclusion

Maintaining long-distance friendships while studying abroad can be challenging, but with regular communication and shared experiences, those bonds can remain strong. The key is finding the right balance between nurturing old relationships and embracing new ones.

When you're looking for roommates or just exploring shared living options, consider how your living situation can support both your need to stay connected with friends from home and your desire to build new friendships abroad. Platuni can help you find compatible roommates who understand this balance and support your social needs.

Remember, the friendships you maintain from home and the new ones you build abroad can complement each other beautifully. Your old friends provide continuity and emotional support, while your new roommates and classmates offer fresh perspectives and shared experiences. Together, they create a comprehensive support network that enriches your entire study abroad experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I maintain long-distance friendships while studying abroad?

Maintaining long-distance friendships requires consistency and effort. Schedule regular video calls or text check-ins, even if they’re short. Apps like Platuni make it easier to stay emotionally balanced by helping you build new, supportive friendships through shared housing and roommate matching, so you never feel alone abroad.

How long should breaks or pauses in communication be before a friendship weakens?

Every friendship is unique, but going too long without meaningful communication can create distance. A weekly or biweekly check-in often works best. Platuni encourages social engagement through events and shared community spaces that help students sustain old and new friendships alike.

How do I balance making new friends abroad while keeping old ones close?

It’s all about balance, dedicate time to both groups. Use social platforms like Platuni to meet compatible roommates and local friends who share your interests. This support system allows you to thrive socially while maintaining your long-distance relationships naturally.

What are the best ways to stay engaged with friends from home?

Share your study abroad journey through photos, stories, or virtual hangouts. You can even host online activities like virtual movie nights or group challenges. Platuni’s community features help you stay socially active and connected, both locally and internationally.

How does Platuni help students maintain friendships while living abroad?

Platuni is more than a housing platform, it’s a shared living and networking ecosystem. It helps students find compatible roommates, build meaningful friendships, and connect with like-minded individuals around the world. Whether you’re maintaining long-distance friendships or forming new ones, Platuni gives you the community you need to thrive abroad.