communication

The courses are over for now. It's project time until mid April next year. A sense of emptiness comes around, especially last week when we had no courses and I couldn't work at the office due to delayed administration work. I found myself hanging on FB and Kaixin001 (a Chinese networking site) a lot. Without all the assignments, readings, and exams occupying my mind, I suddenly forgot how to spend my time otherwise. I was almost craving for talking to people. But once I started talking to people, I easily run out topics after talking about each other's recent situation. It's like calling mom. We really miss each other. But we can talk not more than 15 min on the phone. Our phone conversation ritual normally starts by her asking questions such as "what are you doing? what did you eat for lunch? what are you going to do?" Then after I give her the answers, she often says, "All right, we are all fine. Don't worry. Go and do your things." This doesn't feel like we are really communicating. First I thought she is afraid of the seemingly expensive long-distance call. But now since my dad has retired and subscribed to broadband Internet, we often talk over Skype for free. Mom is still like that. Every time I need to find something to say to keep her stay on the phone. Somehow I feel she is used to a life without me. She is not curious about my life in Sweden. She never asked what I've learnt at school, whom I hang out with. Although sometimes I tried to tell her about my life, she sounds disattached. As long as she knows I'm somewhere doing ok, she is happy. I really need to do something to improve our communication. Communication is indeed a skill, but I never thought I'd need to apply it when talking to my mom.