Guide to Staying Close to Family and Friends in Hong Kong when Living Overseas
Living far away from your loved ones can be challenging, but with the right tools and gestures, you can still maintain strong connections with your family and friends in Hong Kong. In this guide, we will explore various ways to stay in touch and offer thoughtful gift ideas for special occasions, helping you bridge the distance and keep your relationships strong.
1. Communication Tools:
Video Calls: Utilize video calling platforms like Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp to have face-to-face conversations with your loved ones. Schedule regular catch-up sessions to keep everyone involved in each other's lives.
Instant Messaging: Stay connected throughout the day using messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, or Line. It allows for quick and casual conversations, sharing updates, and sending multimedia messages.
Email: Although more formal, email is ideal for longer updates or thoughtful messages that you wish to convey. Share stories, experiences, and be sure to ask about their lives too.
2. Social Media Engagement:
Facebook Groups: Create or join private Facebook Groups where family and friends can share photos, videos, and updates about their lives. It helps foster a sense of community and makes it easy to stay updated in real-time.
Instagram and Snapchat Stories: Share snippets of your day-to-day life by posting stories on Instagram or Snapchat. Engage with your loved ones by viewing and commenting on their stories as well, fostering a feeling of inclusion despite the distance.
Online Games: Play multiplayer online games like Words with Friends, Among Us, or Scrabble together. It creates a fun and interactive way to spend time with each other virtually.
3. Celebrating Special Occasions:
Personalized Video Messages: On birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions, record a heartfelt video message and send it to your loved ones. It adds a personal touch and lets them know you are thinking of them.
Virtual Celebrations: Organize virtual parties or celebrations using video conferencing platforms, where everyone can join in the joyous occasion despite the physical distance. Play games, share stories, or have a virtual meal together.
Thoughtful Gifts: Send gifts to mark special occasions. Consider these ideas:
Care Packages: Assemble a box filled with their favorite snacks, teas, or small gifts that remind them of your shared experiences.
Personalized Photo Albums: Create a digital photo album of cherished memories and have it printed and shipped to your family or friends.
Subscription Gifts: Gift a subscription to a local magazine, coffee or tea club, or even a streaming service to keep them entertained and connected with your world.
4. Regular Visits:
Whenever possible, plan trips to Hong Kong to spend quality time with your loved ones. Taking the effort to visit in person strengthens your bond and shows your commitment to the relationship.
Remember, maintaining strong relationships takes effort from both sides. Keep an open line of communication, be attentive to the little details, and always let your family and friends in Hong Kong know how much they mean to you despite the distance.
