In this week’s WhereverFamily newsletter, our feature article is about staying in touch with family while abroad. It gives a quick outline on ideas to stay connected, from either getting an app for voice or video calls to sending invites to important people in your life even if they can’t make it to make sure they feel included.

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As most of us travel consistently throughout the year, we are bound to miss birthdays, family reunions and minor holidays. Most of our family is understanding of our needs, but sometimes we still feel lonely on both sides of the equation!

The greatest and most convenient tech that solved a lot of my problems is FaceTime and even Facebook video for non-Apple users. I can chat with my mom while in Hong Kong and give her a virtual tour of my hotel, along with seeing what she is making for dinner. While my boyfriend and I both travel frequently, we make sure to set aside 20 minutes each night to catch up, despite how tired we are or what time zones we are in.

This article reminded me how important communication is while we immerse ourselves in business and travel. What do you do to stay connected?

— Carly Allen, executive vice president