It can be expensive to maintain contact overseas, but there are now many cheap and fun options. Some are even free.

• Email - quicker than the postal services.
• Instant Messengers - Real time chat contact with a variety of popular services, useing webcam, webphone and even games. See Instant_messengers
• Vonage - VoIP service and equipment (Voice Over IP) www.vonage.co.uk
• Skype - Internet phone services www.skype.com

For more fun, you could try online game services, like Final Fantasy or Lord of the Rings.

Many people keep in touch via blogging on sites like www.MySpace.com or www.livejournal.com where you can post family news and pictures.