And that made me think about a topic which is quite important for travelling people: how to stay in touch when your friends are across the continent or the whole globe?
Well, of course, you can sit and sing about it (I admit I do it sometimes. Don't believe me? Fine, I'll prove it. Proof.).
Buuuuuut, I believe there is also a better way how to deal with it. Sure, it's sad that you or your friend had to go, but let's face it: the other person's thirst for travelling was probably one of the characteristics you liked (there's that sense of freedom in people who constantly travel that you just can't resist). Every traveler goes through the same phase when he/she has to leave for another country. Every traveler has his/her own ways how to deal with it.
I'd like to talk about some things what you can do, so it would be less sad or frustrating that most of your friends are in other countries and you don't have enough money to visit all of them (yes, I know, Ryanair is cheap, but not when you want to visit ALL of your friends. It adds up, my friends, it adds up... Not to mention it doesn't fly to every town)
- Don't talk to people. Don't make friends. If you don't make friends, there will be no one you miss from that town, right? Ok, that's a bit too harsh, sorry. Because we all know that part of the travelling is meeting and getting to know people. But hey, it is one of the steps what to do so that your friends wouldn't be around the globe. But it also eliminates the possibility of getting friends as well.
- Persuade your friend to:
a) move to your country;
b) continue traveling with you together.
This only works if the traveling person does not have hard traveling plans and is open for everything. - Get their Facebook, e-mail, address, skype, phone number... Anything that you can stay connected. Now every time you miss them, you are just one message away! Sure, I know, it's not the same thing as seeing person live, but this can keep the friendship alive until one of you decides (or gets enough money) to visit each other. The crucial thing to remember is to keep in touch. Friendship takes time and it takes attention. Sure, there are people that can continue the conversation even if you haven't talked in a year, but most people require attention.
The important thing when you meet or get to know somebody in another country/town is to stop thinking that you will never see each other again. You always meet again. Maybe after two or five years, but you do. You might bump into him/her on your next trip or at a party.
So my best advice would be not to feel too sad when your leaving the country and your new friends. Don't say goodbye, say see you later. Because the odds are that you will.
