My friend is moving to Taiwan to teach English. I’m going to miss her ever-so-terribly. I imagine that there will be a big hole in my life for quite a while. I know she needs to go seek out some adventure and I wouldn’t even think of trying to convince her to stay, but I know that the pain I will feel from her absence will be crushing.
But on the positive side, we do have a week-and-a-half left before she goes!
My advice? Take great pains to keep in touch, no matter what the cost. Long distance friendships have an insidious way of dissipating over time. It’s very sad to see a friendship like that slowly fade away.
It’s nice to have a friend that makes you feel this way. She’ll be back.
I’ve moved so many times that my friends are spread out all over the place. My best advice is, as mentioned above, STAY IN TOUCH! I’ve maintained most of my close friendships- even people I almost never see - with e-mail, telephone calls and good old-fashioned snail mail. There’s something comforting and personal about a hand-written letter. We send packages for holidays and birthdays, too.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll get to visit her in Taiwan. Make sure you tell her often that she always has a place to stay if she wants to come visit you, too! 
I’ve always been pretty good at just letting friendships drift. I suppose I’ve always been of the mind that the people in your life are there for while you are both there together. After all, how can you really help but drift apart if the only joining factor is the odd e-mail or phone call.
But I’ve made up my mind that, if that happens this time, it will be no fault of mine. I’m going to make every effort to make sure that we maintain this wonderful and deeply fulfilling relationship that we have crafted. I mentioned in my “How’s Your Handwriting?” thread in IMHO that she is fond of snail mail and I’m even going so far as to get some books on improving my handwriting so that I can send her mail. Plus we’re already talking about me coming to visit for a few weeks or months in December/January.
Thanks, all, for your understanding and kind words. I suppose, compared to most pain out in the world, mine doesn’t really rank anywhere near the top, but it sure seems real to me.
And today she left. Funny how it took her pending departure for us to express our love for each other.
I hope you succeed in keeping in touch with her, Standup.
Do something nice for her while she’s gone, and send her nice things in the mail!
[sub]P.S. I love your username![/sub]