With all of the social media available today all over the world more friendships are being made then ever. Most of these friendships are long distance. When the other half of your friendship is in another country you have to learn somethings to have a successful friendship. My best friend lives in Singapore. We have been best friends for almost three years. During this time, I have learned a few things that someone who doesn't know anyone in a foreign country may not know.
1. You become a master of time zones.
Because when it's 11:00 a.m. here it may be midnight there. After a while you can calculate the difference in under a second. It becomes second nature.
2. You miss them at random times of the day, but you know they are sleeping so you can't talk.
Even though they are your best friend and would be happy to wake up at three in the morning to talk, you know they enjoy their sleep so you suffer in silence until they wake up.
3. But sometimes you spam them with text because something amazing happened.
Because even if they are sleeping they need to know about the amazing thing that happened at your family lunch. So waking up to a spam of texts is sometimes worth it.
4. You know that Skype is one of the best things ever.
My bestie and I call our Skype calls "Skype Sleepovers." Video calls are the best because you finally to get to see their face, even if planning the call took days.
5. You get lonely.
When your best friend is millions of miles away it gets lonely. You can't just call them up and meet at the mall or just grab a hug whenever you need it.
6. Sometimes you can't talk about your favorite show or movie because it hasn't been released in their country.
Just because you know what happens to Iron Man at the end of "Civil War" doesn't mean they do. So you wait and wait and wait some more until they can finally see it. Then you both go crazy texting each other reviews and fan theories.
7. The horrifying moment when they don't respond for 24 hours and you think they might be dead.
Are they dead? Have they been kidnapped? Where are they? It's hard because you can't just call the police like, "Hey my best friend hasn't responded to my text in 24 hours. They live in Singapore. Can you help?" The police won't like that call.
8. Them being confused by the slang in our country.
One time I referred to a neighborhood as "sketchy." and my friend had no idea what I was talking about. Apparently they don't refer to things as sketchy in Singapore.
9. They don't understand your excitement for certain things because it doesn't happen in their country.
I live in Oklahoma, which means I love my Blue Bell. And during the summer of 2015, known to BB lovers as "The Great Blue Bell Famine of 2015," I was lost without my yummy ice cream treat. So when they announced the comeback, I had to tell my best friend. Well, they don't have Blue Bell in Singapore so she had no idea why I was so excited for ice cream.
10. When they want to talk, but you have work/school so you can't reply.
Because of time zones sometimes you can't always talk. They may wake up ready to talk, but you have work or school. You feel bad because every minute you can talk are precious.
11. When you have no service and can't talk to them.
You go on vacation, but what is the point if you can't contact your best friend and tell them all the amazing things that happened?
12. You make plans to meet them in person.
You spend hours talking to your best friend every day, but you can only do so much over text. They live miles away so you can't just call them up and meet at the mall. But plane tickets are pricey so for now you settle for Skype.
13. The moment your dreams come true and you finally meet face to face.
The moment has finally happened. Your best friend is finally here. You can finally hug them and squeeze them and thank them for being the amazing best friend that they are.
14. The saddest moment ever when they have to go home.
At some point they have to go home, no matter how much you beg. You send them off and as soon as they get back you start planning your trip to visit them.
15. You know that you have a lifelong friendship that even distance can't stop.
Even though they are miles away, your best friend will always be there for you. You know you can text them anytime and they will be there for you. They love you and you love them. You know they will be your lifelong friend, and nothing not even distance can separate you.
