First, remember that just because you are staying in the country does not mean that you are going to have any less of a positive experience during the spring semester. In fact, I might view this situation as a fantastic opportunity for personal growth. A few months away from your friends will give you the perfect chance to venture out from your comfort zone and do things you’ve never done before.

It may be a bit uncomfortable at first, but you may soon feel freer and more liberated than ever before and be able to do whatever you want whenever you choose. This is not to say that your friends are holding you back but rather that without your closest friends nearby, you will have a lot more choice in what you do and how you spend your time.

If you’re feeling sad or anxious, try to remember that the situation is only temporary. The time will likely go much faster if you try new activities and keep yourself amused. Keep in mind that you will only be apart for a few months and that you will all be learning about yourselves and growing during this period of your lives.

If you remember this, then you will be able to send off your friends feeling comfortable knowing that, no matter how often or how little you keep in contact, they will miss you dearly—perhaps even more than you will miss them!

Tips and Tricks

Decide on communication modes beforehand.

Know whether your friends will have an international texting plan or if they will be restricted to Facebook and Skype. If phones are the easiest method of communication for you, consider downloading apps like Viber that allow you to send international messages for free. Figuring this out before your friends leave the country will make staying in touch much simpler from the start.

Plan mini-updates.

With time changes and complex schedules, it may be difficult to line up significant chunks of time when you and your friends can catch up. Suggest that you send each other small, regular updates about what you’ve been up to so that no one feels out of the loop. This could be as simple as sharing a few photos each week or sending a one-sentence summary of what you’ve done each day. Small check-ins will be much easier to keep up with than scheduling a regular four-hour-long video chat.

Have your own adventure!

Challenge yourself to form a few new and genuine (but not replacement) friendships, or even go visit somewhere near campus you’ve never had the chance to see. Forging new friendships outside of an established group and doing things on your own can teach you quite a lot about yourself. Why not make the most of your time and have your own adventures to tell your friends about when they return?