Long Distance Friendships

Three years ago, I was sat in Costa with my best friend from college, when she told me she was moving to Australia. I honestly had no idea what to say or how to respond. I was really upset by it, but she didn't want to move, so I felt like I should try and be positive for her. In the summer, she then moved thousands of miles away to Adelaide. Since, she has come to England once to visit in September last year.

Before this, I had never really experienced something like this, so trying to maintain our friendship was something I worried about, but two and a half years in, we're still as close - maybe even closer than before!

There are so many things out there that talk about being in long distance relationships, but there's it much out there about long distance friendships. I suppose being in a long distance friendship is easier than a relationship, but then again I would be so upset if Beth and I stopped being friends.

We both live really busy lives, and obviously live in different time zones, so there isn't constant conversation like there was before she moved. But that's fine! We do talk regularly, there might be a few messages back and forth between us before I go to bed and she goes to work, or vice versa a couple of times a week.

I think the most important thing is to keep each other up to date of what is going on in your lives. Even if we know  the other person is busy, if something is going on, we will message each other about what is happening and we'll just reply when we can. Another thing to realise is, there may be a week of silence, and that's fine! It doesn't mean the other person doesn't want to be your friend anymore, life can sometimes just be so busy.

I believe the main ways that we manage to keep our friendship strong is by always keeping each other up to date, and to plan to visit each other. One day I will get to fly to Adelaide, but until then, sending each other the most disgusting snapchats, having a gossip over FaceTime, and having a good moan over Facebook messenger will do.