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What's the best way to stay in touch with friends who live out of state?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
August 24, 2007 10:07pm CST
Most of my real life friends, online and offline, live far away from me. And, so that limits the ways that we can stay in touch. Although we try to keep each other posted by email, there are times when that seems so impersonal and bland. I've thought about using one of the social networking sites online that's meant just for friends and such, but I don't know which one would be best for this purpose.
Also, I have a chatroom on one of my websites that I have thought about using to chat with my closest friends. But, I'm not sure how they would feel about that. I guess nothing really replaces face to face communication. But, when you can't have that, you try your best to close the distance between your hearts in the best way possible.
Does anyone have suggestions on the best ways to stay in touch with friends who live far away, either out of state, or across the world? Are there specific sites devoted to friends connecting with friends or places where friends from around the country can congregate for chat and such? Would appreciate suggestions.
4 people like this
19 responses
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
25 Aug 07
There's a few things you can do.
1) Is of course, email and IMs. This will allow you to talk with them almost everyday, if not everday. As long as you and your friends can be on then you can keep in touch with them.
2)Send them an actual letter. This is a little more personal then emails. And when you send letters you can send other things along with them. Pictures, lyrics, stories, etc. Whatever you want.
3)Make time to visit eachother. If you feel comfortable doing it, make time ta least once a year (if not more) to travel and see your friend. Of course this is if you can afford to do that. If not, maybe you two could take turns traveling to eachother.
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
25 Aug 07
You know letters are cherished more than I think people realize. Especially if you write a letter a couple days a week, and then send a couple day's worth of letters together in one envelope. It's like getting several days worth of news and thoughts, rather than just one or two moments. Very good suggests, girlie. : ) Sometimes even postcards are an unexpected way of saying hi. And with the wide array of postcards to choose from, your message can range from hilarious to breakthtakingly beautiful.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I agree sometimes receiving a letter can make your day. I have friend who writes to me often and I love it. You can send cards on one of the many varied holidays, a postcard, or write an actual letter. Any of those would probably be much appreciate by your friends. And of course there is always a phone call.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
28 Aug 07
I have some family that isn't online and others that don't like to type alot...for those ppl I resort to phone calls. I've never been big on letter writing b/c my thoughts always seem jumbled up and I have to struggle to get them to come out in some kind of order.
Have a great day!!
AT PEACE WITHIN
1 person likes this
@amitavroy (4819)
• India
29 Aug 07
With the invention and then the development of Internet applications has become very easy and the world is growing small. Nowadays communicating with a friend living abroad is not a big deal. You can mail him if you want. You can keep in touch with him to any social networking site. With these are the ways you can type and keeping in touch. There are other ways also like through few sites provided the service of sending SMS to a particular mobile number for free. And last but not least with the improvement in Instant Messenger is now you can what is shared with your friend so you can easily keep in touch with them with the help of a nice broadband connection without spending huge amount of money on ISD costs. I think this is the biggest advantage of Internet in the second week advantage would be the knowledge that I get from this site is. All in all indirect nowadays is is essential for people living in urban areas.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
28 Aug 07
E-mail is the way I contact them- and by phone- I think phone is the best way if you cannot see them face to face- At least you feel closer by hearing their voice and vice versa- I use the cell phone- I have so many minutes! So its free- IM is also a possible solution- I guess you could ask them if they want to chat in a room- but how often are you on together—you could also get a webcam- so you could see each other.
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I think your chatroom idea is awesome! What a great, neat way to communicate instantly. I guess besides that, there's good old email, snail mail and talking on the phone. Also if you want o see their face, you could use a web cam when you talk.
@mystic_0318 (937)
• United States
29 Aug 07
I normally use the internet...Most of the time I use yahoo to chat with my friends so I can stay intouch with them.. I also use myspace for a few of my friends and relatives...Other than talking to them on the phone and running up a bill it's easier and cheaper to use the internet..
@myNemesis (50)
• Belgium
25 Aug 07
I would e-mail them...and if you want to be more personal, use an Instant Messenger program like Yahoo! and create a video chat. That could be a lot of fun in my opinion.
Well...I would use my mobile phone to send text messsages or call those friends, or play a game together like World of Warcraft lol.
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
25 Aug 07
I also have lots of friends who live in other countries. We keep each other updated through e-mails and through chatting. I believe these are the best ways to keep in touch. Sometimes we do talk over the phone but it's a little hard to have same free time plus the fact that we live in places with different time zones.
@svsaikumar (12)
• India
25 Aug 07
it is common to many, because now a days all r going far due tog globalisation by leaving their parents family members, friends and relatives. The same may be the case of your friend and of course for me too.
the communication systems now a days, r going much rapidly and one can in touch with near and dear even for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
voice chating, instant messages r the best using facilities not only in compuers, they have been extended to the mobile phones also.
websites like orkut, namesdatabaase, and many providing photo, video sharings and etc.
still, for a personal and nice way of communicating a person who is far from us is by means of letters which delivers the sppech of heart.
@andrejuly84 (1047)
• Romania
25 Aug 07
we keep in touch through internet:emails,messenger and a forum we attend most of us
@sandwedge (1339)
• Malaysia
25 Aug 07
i would suggest taking up an activity that you and your "out of state" friends can do together. say a camping trip, you all can meet once a month or two. i keep in touch with my "out of state" and "out of country" friends by golf. every other month we'd all agree to go to another city/state/country to play golf. its works very well for us. doing so, we'd have plenty of time to to catch up on latest news and happenings.
@orbeltadz (506)
• Baguio, Philippines
25 Aug 07
E-mail, so far is the best way. Social networking sites like friendster and myspace also helps. Keeping in touch with them is truly helpful and convenient.
@Ceciliacherry (181)
• China
25 Aug 07
i have the same situation with you. about seven days later or so, my best friend is going to study abroad--US.
i also get confused for the way to get contact in the future. mostly i think email and MSN would preferrable, post your photos to share, with your idea and daily thoughts. of course, nothing is more better than face-to-face,but it is the reality that we should receive our loss.
@laurika (4532)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I am in similar situation like you.All my family and my friends are far away from me.U though I will lose a lot of friends, but I didn't let it happen.Then I find a skype(www.skype.com)
(is free), where I can talk or chat with my friends.I am gonna buy today web cam, so I can also see them and It would be great.I love it so much.My umu is calling now every two days so I know everything , what is going on there.It s great.
Hope it will help you too, it s very is to download and it works very well.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I'm in the same situation as you on that one. My close friends almost all live at least 1000 miles away from me.
I do send out emails and talk to them using IM's most of the time. I call some of them. And most of them are also on Myspace, so they talk to me on there. Even the ones that aren't my friends on myspace, get updates every two or three months through email, if they want them. I send out pictures of my son and let everyone know if he has more teeth and let them know about his height and weight and everything. Most of them are family members so they really like hearing about it. I also include any new things that are going on.
In fact, I'm getting ready to send one of those emails this week. It will be full of pictures and facts because A LOT of stuff has happened within the last couple of months. I will be including pictures that we just had done of our toddler, pictures of our new house, and news about my husband's promotion, along with the fact that my son has 8 new teeth (all within 3 weeks!!) and his height and weight. lol
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
25 Aug 07
It makes me think of MySpace, although I personally don't care for that site.
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
25 Aug 07
The best and easiest way to stay in touch with my friends is the use of cellphones. I usually send sms to them and call them at times. Since I am the one who happens to live out of the city / province where I was born.. From my experience, it's not that easy to constantly stay in touch because each party is busy with their own lives and I am busy too. Also, friendster and myspace helps a lot in staying in touch with my friends. Even with my friends who I haven't seen in years. And yeah, sending letters probably means more than sending an e-mail. But I don't use it nowadays. :)
@kevsgirlalways (5883)
• Malaysia
25 Aug 07
nowadays there are many ways that you can keep in touch with friends who don't live close to you, or even those who does but you're too busy to see each other. there's always email, although the response might be late due to hectic schedule and all. but there's nothing like putting a smile on someone's face, i'm sure your friend will be delighted when he/she sees that there's an email from you :) ..you can also chat with each other via IMs, and also talk to each other by making voice/video call over the net. that should be interesting! make it a point to text and call each other every now and then, and send cards during birthdays, christmas and other special occasion. visiting each other is a good way to keep the friendship alive as well. all the best ;)
@orbeltadz (506)
• Baguio, Philippines
25 Aug 07
E-mail, so far is the best way. Social networking sites like friendster and myspace also helps. Keeping in touch with them is truly helpful and convenient.
