I have a good friend who met someone from another country.  It was a completely by chance meeting, but within moments they hit it off.  One of the biggest things they had in common upon their initial meeting was they were both learning English.  Now, both of them already had a strong grasp of the language, but they were far from perfect, however, it was the only language between them they could use to successfully (well, mostly) communicated.  For the sake of their privacy I won’t reveal exactly where they’re from, but I can tell you they lived worlds apart, one from Western Europe, the other East Asia.

Over the course of the few days after they hit it off, they ended up spending a considerable amount of time together.  I’ll admit, I was a little jealous.  I really wanted to spend time with one of my best friends before she headed home.  We were all international students and we were all from “somewhere else.”  But, I absolutely did not want to get in the way of a blossoming relationship.  So, I didn’t and over the next two weeks their relationship grew.

Then, as these things happen, they had to go their separate ways.  It was devastating to see both of them scrambling to come up with a way to delay the departure, to come up with a quick scheme to avoid the separation, but there was too little time and the inevitable arrived.  My friend nearly missed her flight on the day of her departure, but through a few tears, they vowed to stay in touch, and they tried.

Today, most people are easily connected through the internet, they communicate by email or through social media and for many it’s very convenient.  Unfortunately, there were circumstances at play that prevented this convenience many of has have grown accustomed to and now take for granted.  So, they had to keep in touch the old fashioned way.  By phone (but not the old, old fashioned way, letter writing).  My friend quickly learned and complained to me she could no longer afford to continue to stay in communication with the person she’d seemingly completely fallen for.

It wasn’t surprising.  Making phone calls over such great distances can be one of the most ridiculously expensive ways to communicate.  I had to navigate it and figure it out during my first year as an international student, and to the uninitiated it was nothing short of a nightmare in terms of the bill I was racking up simply talking to my mother in the mornings.  This was my friend’s first experience with what you might call “international love.”  She’d no doubt blush and tell me to hush out of embarrassment, but she isn’t’ here at the moment, so it’s ok.  Anyway, I imparted the knowledge I had learned over the course of my first year abroad.  Because of the internet, many people don’t think to look into calling cards as a way to stay in touch and keep costs low.  They assume that because international calling is so expensive, they should be avoided.

In the past, this was generally true, but due to the highly competitive nature of the industry, as I’ve learned, costs have dropped enough to make it practical.  My friend was out of touch with her burgeoning love interest for nearly a month before she was able to get back in touch thanks to phone cards and let me tell you, she had panic attacks, afraid she’d assume the lack of communication meant she was no longer interested.  Luckily, they were able to develop their relationship further, and unlike many long distance relationships, they stayed together, yet apart.  Eventually, these two were brought back together and I’ve watched, not as jealous as I once was, as they spend every waking moment and many a-sleeping moment together.  They’ll have to go their separate ways again soon, however, but I know, just as much as they know, they’ll be able to keep in touch (and still afford to go to school!), and have a very bright, love-filed future.

Post Script: While they’ve had success using phone cards, there are a few things to keep in mind.  First, not all calling cards are created equal.  Since it’s such a competitive industry, many unsavory individuals and companies have sprung up to take advantage.  If you can, do research on a calling card or service before purchasing it.  This is where the internet can be your best friend, since you can search for the card and find user experiences and reviews.  Luckily, my friend had me in the place of the internet to do the research for her and make a recommendation, so if you know someone who communicates internationally and makes phone calls, hit them up for information!

Andrei Milosevic is an international student, traveler, and writer.  Over the past few years, he has been studying international business and providing advice and insight into international calling.  In his free time he kayaks and Skypes with his best friend back home in Serbia.