Taking a break my from the tour of Tokyo already, I thought of something today that may be of concern to a number of you considering studying abroad. As young people, you will have certainly by this time begun to develop relationships among your peers. Some of these may have taken a romantic turn. If you’re headed around the world, you may be worried about what your darling at home will do while you’re not around; if you’re that darling, you’ll certainly be all a-fuss about your new long distance relationship. This is generally tougher on the part of the team staying home, since while you’ll be out exploring day and night, they’ll be left with nothing to do but count the days. It’s not easy. What to do with this new arrangement?

Fret not! Cell phones and Internet are, in fact, everywhere. Failing that, the old school method of letter-writing is still an option—with the mail system today, a letter coming from New York City will reach Tokyo in a few days. Regardless of where you are, your school will take every measure to find you a way to keep in touch with your family and friends, as well as your smoochy-muffin.

I can tell you right now, the worst case scenario is mine, in which the time zones are so different that everyone I know and love is sleeping during the time that I am awake, and vice versa. You are literally on the other side of the world, where you don’t know anyone, and if you did, they probably don’t speak your language. You feel very cut off for a few days.

You will be lonely at first, and this is a part of culture shock that you just have to ride out. It’s not the end of the world. If you keep up your phone calls and e-mails, you’ll feel better quickly. It’s not as though you’re gone forever, and all that bull pippy about distance making the heart fonder—while not on anyone’s fun list—is generally true. You just have to stay up a little late to call home. Plus, getting cards and packages from home is extra cool.

As for your snuggle-bunny, do your best not to drive them up the wall. A vet of the long distance game, I can tell you, if you bother your significant other daily about how many boys/girls they talked to or why they were late calling, you are guaranteed to be ruining a relationship. Just relax. If your babykins is going to come home to you, they’re going to come home to you—there’s no sense in making them miserable. The universe will unfold as it should.

As for the condition of being in Japan, make sure you know that we have two Valentine’s Days. One is the actual day, February 14th, on which girls give guys chocolate or cookies. The other is White Day, on which the tables are turned. So if you forget, guys, send your gal the goods by March 14th, or you really won’t have an excuse. Don’t forget birthdays or anniversaries or any of that nonsense either, per normal relationships—but if you forget your lady while she’s in another country, you’re in so much more doo-doo than you know.

One last thing. Don’t fight with your significant other long distance. It’s the worst thing in the world to yell at each other across time zones, and the make-up is equally as painful, and twice as difficult. If you want to stick together, then save your qualms for later. Just make sure your loved one knows how much you want them to come home at the end of term, and you should do fine.

Until next time, and minus the shmoopy baloney, mata ne.