When people talk about studying abroad, they mostly talk about the fun parts. You travel, meet new people, and live in a completely different place. But after studying abroad in Greece for a bit, I’ve realized something no one really prepares you for. Missing your college friends hits you in a very real way. It’s not always constant, but it shows up in small moments that feel a lot bigger when you’re far from home.
The Moment It Hits You
At first everything abroad feels exciting. New food, new routines, new streets to get lost on. Then out of nowhere it hits you that your friends are all still together. They’re still doing all the same stuff we’d be doing together. And you are watching it all online. It feels strange to have two lives happening at once. One that you are living and one that you are watching from a distance.
Trying to Keep Up From Across the World
The time zones make it even more complicated. I am getting ready for bed while my friends are getting ready to go out. I then wake up to a dozen texts and photos that already feel old. FaceTimes turn into scheduling events instead of something casual. Sometimes there are missed calls. Sometimes I forget to respond. It becomes easy to feel like you are drifting, even though you care just as much as before.
The Little Things You Didn’t Expect to Miss
It is not always the big moments that make you emotional. It is the little routines. It can be something as small as walking to class together, hanging out in someone’s room for no real reason, or running into people on campus knowing you’ll probably cross paths again before the day’s over. Abroad shifts all of that. Everything takes more effort, and sometimes you wish you could just sit on your friend’s couch and not think about anything at all.
Who Actually Stays Close
The distance ends up showing you who stays in your life. You notice the friends who check in even when you are six or seven hours ahead. The ones who send you updates, voice messages, or random memes just to keep you close. It feels good to know that certain friendships don’t fade just because you are far away. If anything, they start to feel stronger.
The Part No One Talks About Enough
There are days abroad that feel perfect, and then there are days where you miss home more than you expected. Missing your friends does not mean you are not grateful for your trip. It just means you care about the people you left behind. And it is normal to feel pulled in two different directions, even when you are having an amazing time.
What You Bring Back With You
Being abroad teaches you a lot about the world, but it also teaches you a lot about your friendships. You learn that some connections do not break, even when you are far away. So when you finally go back to campus, everything feels a little sweeter. You have new stories, new memories, and the same people waiting for you.