Staying Connected
While you are abroad it is very easy to lose all contact with those you knew and loved at home. Remember that just because you are the one abroad, they are going through this with you. At some point you will come home, and the better you’ve stayed in contact, the less “talking” you’ll have to do!!!
Put together a travel journal and e-mail it out to all your friends and family. Let them know where you were last weekend and where you are going. You could also create an online blog so people can check what you are up to whenever they want. This will also help you to express your feelings and what you are going through better. When you get home, print everything out. Someday when you are old and gray you will want to read everything you wrote.
Send the people who helped you get abroad (teachers who wrote letters or recommendation, people who loaned you money) a postcard. A simple “Thank You” goes a long way!
Keep up on local news events in the US. We have compiled a list of links to help you stay connected:
- The Orion: http://www.theorion.com/
- USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/
- New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
- San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/
- Chico ER: http://www.chicoer.com/
- Sacramento Bee: http://www.sacbee.com/