"Long Distance Friendships" by Matheus V.

Dear Year 7 Student,

I’m writing for you so you can help me with my problem. In the last few months, I keep having problems with opening with my friends. 

Before I went to Canada we were super close, we all study at different schools, so we meet just a few days a year. We would talk every single day in our group chat, we would talk about our school gossip, about our friends and everything. But when I arrived in Canada, with the change of the time zone, It was barely impossible to talk to them, because when I texted them about my day in Canada at night it was 3am in Brazil, and in the morning they would be in the school, so it was difficult to text them and to follow with their life and news, so I started to stop texting frequently.. So when I came back It was difficult to start talking about my life, my friends and my problems to them. I know they are there for me but I still feel bad by not sharing my news and my life with them. Hope you can help me with advice.

Thank you for reading and trying to help,

Anonymous

Dear Y9 student,

I read your problem and be calm that I will help you. I understand that you are having problems with your friends because of the time zone. So I think it might work if you try talking to them, for example talking about your trip to Canada. 

I really think that the time zone is a problem. In your case it is a huge problem because this long distance and time zone can make you sad by “losing” friends. According to the courier “Having moved around a lot over the past few years, I’ve ended up with most of my friends living in different countries, if not different continents, and with most people moving to university, a lot of people are in the same boat having to leave their friends back home”. If you move around, you will end up with most of your friends. Based on that I have some advice for you. My advice is I think you and your friend try to find a time so it stays good to everyone and also why don’t you call them? I never suffered from long distance friendships but in my opinion it is not nice at all.

Getting farther away from friends is not nice because if you like your friendship with the person I think it is not nice to finish your friendship. “Try to find a time where the both of you can meet and catch up as regularly as you can, whether it’s visiting each other in your new homes, meeting up halfway or planning a weekend away” according to young scot. If I were you, I would try to find time to talk to my friends. According to what you said, I will try to talk to them again, and talk about your trip to Canada. In my opinion losing or even getting further away from friends is not nice and not healthy in a way of feeling. For example, if you lose a friend, you get sad.

So again to solve this you can think of a time to talk with them, and try to talk to them again. So if everything fails you can try to schedule with them to see each other or you can get therapist help. I hope I could help you.