Moving abroad? Keep in touch …

Moving abroad? Keep in touch …

If you’re of a certain age, you’ll probably remember a little about life before the internet or cell phones.

We’ve probably all read the memes about drinking from hosepipes or playing out with friends all day but there are other differences which would also baffle the average Millennial.

The difficulties involved in staying in touch with relatives abroad is likely to be one of them.

The good old days?

If you had an aunt living in Portugal, can you remember having to dial the international operator who would make the connection for you, for example?

If you had a beau resident in Spain or a girlfriend in Greece, who stood in a phone box with a sack full of loose change, ramming in another 50p every time they heard the “beeps”?

Other options included telegrams, postcards and long letters sent by Air Mail – but it’s all so much easier these days.

Being able to look at a hand-held screen and talk to relatives living in Portugal was the sort of thing you’d only see on Tomorrow’s World or Star Trek.

It’s a small world

But, today, it’s a reality we take for granted, making the world seem a smaller place and perhaps even encouraging a few to embark on overseas adventures of their own, knowing family is only as far away as the next WiFi signal.

A simple call on FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp or Messenger can be a morale boost when things aren’t going so well or, if you prefer, a regular calendar event.

If you’re more inclined towards the traditional phone call there are even VOIP handsets allowing you to connect via the internet, cutting costs to a fraction of what they might have been even as recently as the 1990’s

But if there’s one simple technique we’d personally recommend, it’s the group chat facility on Facebook Messenger.

The call option is still there if you need it of course but it also allows designated family members to see messages sent by any member of the group in real time.

It doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering; an everyday observation, a comment on a sports event, a meal out or even a rant; the family included in your own private network can see it and either choose to comment or not.

Even if they don’t, they’re aware of the events in your life which have been significant enough to have been captured in words or pictures – and they keep them in the loop and informed.

Maybe we’re preaching to the choir; we’re by no means breaking new ground here so our apologies if this is already routine for you.

But, if you’re considering moving abroad and you don’t expect to see family or friends regularly, communications technology becomes a bigger part of your life so we hope any leg up is welcome.

But there is a flip side; social media and all the apps also make it harder to fly under the radar of those you’d like to avoid so, before you go, don’t be too free and easy with your invitations or when it comes to accepting friend requests!

As ever, though, we’re here if you need us. If there’s anything else you think we might be able to help with, why not have a browse through earlier blog posts or feel free to get in touch.

In the meantime, you may be able to find what you’re looking for on other pages of our website where you can read advice on how to obtain a Golden Visa in Portugal, a Golden Visa in Spain, how to qualify for citizenship in Turkey or to obtain a Golden Visa in Greece. Also, if you enjoyed this post and think others might find it useful, please feel free to pass it on.

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