Moving half-way across the world can be difficult in more ways than one, physically, emotionally, etc. When you add in the fact that you’ll be far away from family, however, it makes the whole process seem even scarier! But thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than ever to stay connected with the ones that you love. With the large variety of apps available on smartphones, staying in touch has never been easier, or more fun! Here are just a few of some great apps that you can find for free on the app store, that’ll be sure to make you feel at home once again. Of course, you could always do snail mail and write them a letter the old fashioned way. While you’re waiting for that letter to send, however, make sure to check out these apps!
Skype: best for video calling
Skype App
Skype has been around for a while now (since 2003 to be specific), and with it, many updates have been done to the popular video chat service to help it match its many competitors like google hangouts or apple’s facetime. What makes it such a great app, however, is that it’s free to make a call with anyone who also has the app! This helps cut down heavily on phone bill costs, especially overseas where rates can be sky-high. Using Skype’s video calling can be especially helpful for when you miss your relatives. All you have to do is log in and call the person that you want to get a hold of! Now, this makes the moving process a lot easier, as anyone who has moved across the world before knows. Saying goodbye to your friends and family that you’re leaving behind can be the hardest step of them all! Thankfully, with Skype, you’ll be able to have video calls with them and send them messages, all for free if you both have a smartphone or smart device! If you decide to buy a subscription, you can even make calls to cell-phones, and send SMS messages as well. This makes it a great alternative to traditional phone usage. Skype has been around for more than a decade, and because of that, it has become a refined service that it is sure to please!
More about skype: https://www.skype.com/en/
Whatsapp: unlimited free messages
Whatsapp Mobile App
This great little app, started up in January of 2009, not only is a travels best friend, but it is also a great tool for those trying to keep in touch with those overseas. Whatsapp works similarly to Skype, in that you and someone else who has the app can talk free of charge. However, this app also allows you to use your phone number, making it easy for people to find you and message you! For example, if you were travelling in Europe and you had Whatsapp, you would be able to use it to message someone in the states! (As long as you both had an internet connection). On top of this, there’s no more having a remember a username or any kind of ID, as your ID is simply your current phone number. This makes it not only easy to remember but also easy for your friends and family to find you and send you a message. Bottom point, if you’re moving anywhere overseas, you’ll want Whatsapp, as it’s the world’s most popular communication app, and is great worldwide.
More about: https://www.whatsapp.com/
Facebook Messenger: the all-in-one solution
Facebook Feed
With the popularity that Facebook has, it’s no wonder that using its communication Messenger service is sure to be easy and fun to use! Messenger is an app in the app store that you can download, free of charge, to your smartphone device. This enables you to be able to talk to anyone who has a facebook account, and that includes any of your current Facebook friends! Not only this, but Messenger also has a video and audio call, and as long as you have an internet connection, work great! This is great not only for those who travel a lot and can’t depend on phone service to be able to send a quick message. It’s also great for those who are moving overseas and want a quick and easy way to stay in touch with their loved ones. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this app for anyone who wants an easy way to connect with their family, and stay connected with them!
More about Facebook Messenger: https://www.messenger.com/
WeChat: China’s number 1
China’s number 1 messaging app has certainly gained popularity over recent years. This app is a must-have if you’re moving anywhere in China, or anywhere for that matter. On top of the services that apps like Facebook messenger can offer, such as video chatting and messaging, Wechat also has a payment service. This is easier than ever to transfer funds from one person to another! As someone who has done a lot of travelling, I know that it can be a pain to transfer funds to someone overseas. With this app, however, it makes the process so much easier. With easy to follow guidelines and an overall great, streamlined service, it’s no wonder it’s become so popular!
More about WeChat: https://www.wechat.com/en/
Conclusion
With these great apps and so many more available on your smartphone, keeping in touch with loved ones from far away is as easy as picking up your phone! With apps like Skype and Facebook’s messenger, saying goodbye is so much easier, knowing that you’ll still be able to see them! Everyone knows that the hardest part of leaving overseas to move is saying goodbye to your loved ones, and with these great apps (and many more), it makes the hardest part much more bearable. With technology making more and more strides in communication, it’s like you never left!
Of course, eventually, even facetime just doesn’t cut it; that’s why you should be honest with your emotions, and plan trips back home every now and then. This is to help prevent disconnecting from family back home, or forgetting loved ones. Of crouse, at first, you and your loved ones could always meet in the middle and plan a reunion in a city that is equal distance from your city and theirs, in order to ease the process more. In the end, what matters most is a healthy connection to your old home, and making sure to tell them you love them as much as possible!