The ways to solve missing parents far away:
Many of international students would miss their parents, and it is hard to go back and also hard to get visa to come back to study! Everyone that lives away from home is missing parents as well.
Here is what you can do:
1. Go to any a local electronics retailer store (Circuit City, Best Buy or Wal-mart, or Fry’s) to buy a web camera, (one of the best brand is Logitech and I recommend the Clicksmart 510 ((or greater)) which has a very clear image or picture on Internet), and also buy a microphone, then install both of them to your computer. If necessary, purchase them for your parents and mail the items to them. Be sure to explain to them or have someone assist them in the installation process. Then, download MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger and install them. After both are set up this you can talk with your parents each day, meanwhile you can talk face to face its just as good as being there, just like Chinese saying: 海内存知己 , 天崖若彼邻 !
2. Purchase a video camera (recomending JVC’s Everio) to make a video of your daily life: eating, drinking, sleeping, work out, shopping, playing, dating your boyfriend or girlfriend (I am not sure about this part), studying, surfing sweetlife’s (甜蜜生活) site, and all your activities, and mail the video cassette to your parents every few months, meanwhile they will doing the same as you and mail to you of theirs.
3. Also consider using YouTube.com’s service, you can upload videos of yourself to the internet and email your parents links for them to watch, this will save you money on postage. I don’t know if Chinese government content filters block this service or not.
4. I am still thinking and will let you know later。
