long-distance friendships

[rookie]

How often and by what method do you keep in touch with locals (or other Europeans you met in another country, ie. a Spaniard in the UK) you've met in Europe? I'm talking about the ones you actually care about and would want to visit again.

A) phone regularly

B) e-mail regularly and the occasional phone call

C) e-mail rarely, but will phone/snail mail on special occasions

D) e-mail only on special occasions

E) I don't keep in touch, but I know they'll always be there if the opportunity arises

What do you think? Do you like to keep in constant touch? What is constant to you, monthly? Or does there come a time when too much is too much, and memories are better left back in Europe until the next meeting? Have there been instances where you thought you'd always keep in touch with a friend, only to never hear from them again?

I'll tell you my experiences, but am first interested in yours.

[Tracie]

I tried to keep in touch with a bunch of people that I met but it has slowly melted down to a few. The ones I keep in touch with are almost exclusively through email. There are a couple that I phone (from other parts of Canada) and I have received and sent a few postcards.

[Mikka]

it is really hard nowadays to keep the long distance friendship. Just like Tracie says, you starts it with a lot of people that you met during your travels but end up with a fews. We are moving around the world more than before (compare last decade). I do sometimes think what/where the hell are they doing? ;D ;D

I still have a group pf people that I keep in touch. Mostly by email, msn, and phone. I am lazy and spontaneous so I sometimes jsut pick the phone even just to say hello.

Oh, I just go a mail from a friend that I met in heilderberg 1998 after losing contact for 5 years. She is Paris now. I cant wait to tell her I am going to Paris this summer.

[CuriousToronto]

While I studied in Paris I met a bunch of friends from all over the world. Only one of them stayed in Paris (she had just moved back there to do her Uni) the rest took off to other parts of the world.

Most of us knew each other from the sameplace and were all friends. We have an email list that we keep going more than a year after meeting. There's a couple of us that are particularly tight and also email each other separately really regularly. I can't say there's much phone calling going on but there is lots of card swapping and stuff.

So far one of them (from Leicester, UK) has visited me in Toronto. Another friend from South Carolina will be coming to Victoria next year.

Also, this year I'll be heading back to Paris (YEAAA!!!! CT is going back to study in Paris this summer!! WAHOO!!! ;D )
and two of them will be there. A Danish friend of mine is working at the embassy and another friend of mine from England will be working there. In addition those who find it possible to do so will be heading out to Paris for a reunion. VERY cool!

It is hard. But if you have enough in common and if they're really important you'll find a way!