When I started college it was only 200 miles away, so every other weekend I was back home with all my friends while my mom still did the laundry and the grocery shopping. That was soo freakin nice.

But now I moved out west for grad school, it was only 2,252 miles though. Sucks doing laundry and paying for groceries. What sucks even more is now I have to go out and get some friends, not that its hard, but it takes effort and time.

but it is only for 8 months for you so it isn't too bad. You'll notice the family calling a lot at first, couple times a week, then it will slow down to about once a weekend. I haven't got past the once a weekend yet so I don't know how it progresses.