For many of us the UAE is a second or even a third home. We’ve travelled the world, whether it’s for studying, working, or just for fun. We’ve probably made friends along the way as well, amazing friends, maybe even best friends. The downside to this adventure is that the friends we make oftentimes have adventures of their own leaving us separated by oceans.

1. Skype is your life saviour

You spend a significant part of your time planning a million Skype dates, but your schedules are so different it seems impossible and one of you almost always flakes. But when you do actually have a successful Skype session, it’s the absolute best! 

2. You’re their biggest fan

You instantly like every Insta pic they post, comment on every Facebook status, and watch all their snap stories cheering them on and wishing you were there. The comments mostly consist of “I miss youuu!!!” and “Wish you were here!!”

3. You know EVERYTHING about each other

Because you’re always texting, Skyping, and snapping them, you know EVERYTHING that’s going on in each other’s lives despite the distance. 

And if it’s a busy time and you don’t get to talk for a while you know you’ll randomly get a text in the middle of the night that goes a little something like “OMG GUESS WHAT JUST HAPPENED”.

4. You always seek their advice with all life’s major decisions

“What should I text him back saying?”

“Which dress should I wear tonight?”

“Should I post this pic or nah?”

All the screenshots and questions just go their way.

5. Different time zones are – unfortunately – a thing 

You send them countless texts and pics knowing they won’t reply for at least a couple of hours, but if you’re lucky enough and you’re both awake… ahh that’s magical!

Which brings us to the next point

6. Plenty of sleepless nights

But hey, talking to your BFF is trumps sleeping, right? #Priorities 

7. Jealousy

You get an Instagram notification that your BFF just posted a new pic, obvi cause you have their post notifications turned on, so you go to see it and it’s them with their new friend.

Jealousy strikes

“WHO IS THIS? YOU HAVE OTHER FRIENDS? OTHER FRIENDS THAT AREN’T ME?” you ask, trying to control your crazy.

But then you come to acceptance and you figure their new friends are probably fun and you get excited to meet them.

8. Loneliness

Then there are times when loneliness hits because life just isn’t the same without them.  

9. Reminiscing

You find yourself going through all your pictures and videos with them, and smiling from ear to ear. Or you’d remember something funny that happened and start laughing in the middle of class like an idiot

10. You realise how important they are to you

The more time you spend apart the more you grow to realise how much you really do love them.

11. All your friends here practically know your BFF

Even though they haven’t physically ever met her, but they’ve heard all about her from you and they’ve heard all about your wild adventures together.

You never fail to bring her up in the conversation and you’re often times met with the reply, “Yes, we knowww” 

12. Their sofa > your amazing place here

You keep telling yourself you don’t mind leaving your amazing life in the UAE to go live with them and crash on their sofa.

13. You think of yourself as a child of the world

When you’ve got your best friends scattered across the globe, you know you’ll have a home wherever you go.

14. You live for seeing them again

You’ve finally saved up enough money and have time off to go visit them! It’s the best feeling in the world and you can’t sit still for your entire plane ride. You see their face in the airport waiting for you and you feel relieved, like everything finally fell into place and the world makes sense again. 

15. Repeating the cycle

Your trip is soon coming to an end and you’ll have to say your goodbyes, but you know you’ll see them again, and until you do, they’re only a text away.