With everyone back home for the summer, it’s always a bit of a shock to realize that your UC Berkeley friends aren’t just a 20-minute or less walk away from you. The friends who you meet up with on your way to classes, to that new cafe you’ve been wanting to try or even for a spontaneous night out are now miles apart. If you’re lucky, maybe they’re a 30-minute drive away rather than multiple states over. That home-away-from-home sickness begins to set in. But don’t stop talking to your UC Berkeley friends cold turkey once break hits — here are some ways for you to keep in touch that are both consistent and convenient throughout the summer.
1. Let’s “BeReal”; it’s hard to stay in touch
Get ready to download this app to sustain daily contact with your long-distance UC Berkeley friends. If you enjoy connecting with friends while getting that additional dopamine rush for maintaining a streak, this is perfect for you! Designed to ping and notify you daily, remember to snap a selfie of yourself and what you’re currently doing within a two-minute window and interact with your friends’ BeReal posts. BeReal gives you a sneak peek into your friends’ summer activities and vice versa. It’s perfect for catching candid summer moments on camera, but be prepared to be caught red-handed still in pajamas mid-afternoon.
2. Real friends send Reels
Who knew staying connected with friends was so easy? I, for one, love doomscrolling on Instagram and TikTok, and there’s no better feeling than sending and receiving Reels that make you think of someone. It’s just a little reminder that even though you and your UC Berkeley friends aren’t face-to-face, you still saw something that made you think of them — whether it’s a DIY activity that you want to do together once you get back to UC Berkeley or even a funny meme that brought a smile to your face. Maybe you’re swiping, and a comedic reenactment of a certain “Love Island USA” couple pops up — make sure to click send to your fellow Love Island enthusiast!
3. Chat it up after hours
Get ready for the incessant ping of notifications, especially at 2 a.m. You can’t go wrong with a good old group chat with your favorite Golden Bears. A laid-back and fun way to still stay connected, you can send links, random texts and updates about your summer. There are always the friends who respond immediately, the ones whose read receipts show “read” four hours ago and the ones who take several business days to reply right before you send an “are you still alive?!” text. With a designated group chat for the summer, you’ll easily be able to stay connected with your friends and stay updated on summer drama.
4. Let’s jump on a quick FaceTime call
The best part about FaceTime calls, in my opinion, is that they usually 1) occur unplanned, 2) have no purpose and 3) almost always end in laughter. If you’re missing your long-distance UC UC Berkeley friends, FaceTime is the closest you’ll get to being face-to-face. If you enjoy spontaneity during the summer, make sure to FaceTime a friend. Sometimes the most fun happens when you guys have nothing to do and spend the next couple of hours doing talks around the house or even syncing up a movie to watch together. The amazing (and a bit absurd) thing about FaceTime is how even if you aren’t talking to each other 24/7 during the call, it feels like you and your friend are almost side-by-side. Tip: Pull out a bag of extra crunchy chips or carrots while on call for that added layer of ASMR.
5. Ready for the weekly photo dumps?
If you don’t have the time or want to send daily photos, weekly photo dumps are a perfect alternative for staying connected. Peruse your camera roll at the end of the week and assemble snippets of your favorite moments. It’s also a great way to find some treasured candid memories that you forgot you took. These photo dumps will help you feel a sense of proximity to each other and provide a glimpse into your friends’ summers despite being apart for the next few months. I love photo dumps because they don’t have to be curated nicely or with an aesthetic in mind. Instead, you can just slap together photos that have no connection whatsoever to each other — perhaps a picture of you with your pizza followed by a flash photo from a night out with friends (basically, there are no “rules”).
Now with a variety of apps and ways to stay in touch and connected with your long-distance UC Berkeley friends, hopefully your home-away-from-home sickness will ease a bit. Choose the method that feels the most natural and convenient for you, whether it’s in the form of photos, reels, text messages or calls. Don’t let the distance stop you from keeping your UC Berkeley friends close to your heart!