So you’ve packed your bags, gotten your passport, and looked up all the places you just have to see. But there’s still one thing looming over your departure for your semester abroad: your boyfriend. Saying goodbye to your other half, even if it’s just for a short time, will be one of the hardest parts of leaving. Chances are, you will begin to wonder if you should try and make the long distance relationship work, or if you should just take a break. Well, here is a look at the pros and cons of being in a long distance relationship while studying abroad.
Let’s face it, almost no one wants to hear about all of your study abroad issues. The first time you complain about the exchange rate is fine, but the second, third, and fifteenth time…it starts to get annoying. On the contrary, your boyfriend wants to hear about your life! He’ll be so happy to hear your voice, that it won’t matter if you’re talking about how you took the wrong bus again, how much you miss peanut butter, and that you have serious FOMO from stalking your friends’ Instagram accounts.
What’s more romantic than wandering the street of Paris with the one you love? Absolutely nothing. Take advantage of your (and his) school breaks and schedule a little rendezvous! Then he can actually experience that gelato place you’ve told him about fifty times and have a better idea of what you’re experiencing abroad. Plus who doesn’t want a trip abroad with a free place to stay?
This sounds very cliché, but the longer you spend without someone, the closer you will become. Using your significant other as a confidant while abroad is a good way to develop better communication and learn things about each other that you’ve yet to discover. Plus, while your homecoming will be bittersweet, it will be so much easier when you see him waiting for you when you get off the plane!
Let’s face it, foreign guys are the hot ones, and no girl can resist that sexy European accent. While abroad, you might want to dance with a Brazilian hottie or go on coffee dates with a cute Parisian. Studying abroad is an amazing way to meet new people from different cultures. If you really want the freedom to do with them what you wish, you may want to reconsider a long distant relationship.
One of the most important parts of studying abroad is finding out new things about yourself. You are forced to grow and mature as you make solo decisions, without the help of parents and the friends you’ve relied on for years. It requires you to be very independent and it will change who you are. There’s something about traveling that allows you to find parts of yourself that you couldn’t find at home. This could also mean that the perspective you had of your relationship could change.
Just like back at home, you have to dedicate time to your relationship for it to work. But sometimes, nightly Facetime or Skype sessions can get in the way of doing what you want while you’re abroad. It will get irritating if you constantly have to ditch out on plans with your roommates so that you can spend time talking to your boyfriend. Going abroad is a good time to put yourself first and get the most out of it. If you think your relationship will get in the way, consider if is worth all that you’ll miss out on.
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