Most students have experienced at least some sort of homesickness at one point or another.
Sometimes, to feel more connected, all you need to do is show your loved ones you’re thinking of them.
When you hear stories of students spending time abroad, it’s usually rife with the rich experiences, stories of the amazing people met, and endless adulation about their adventures.
What you don’t always hear about is the homesickness that can pervade. Whether they admit it or not, most students have experienced at least some sort of homesickness at one point or another. It’s no wonder; travel means a loss of schedule, stability, and familiar faces — it can be quite the shock to a student’s system.
While it can be difficult to adjust to a new environment without your normal support system of family members and friends, always remember that homesickness is temporary.
Ease the ache with these five tips:
1. Keep yourself distracted.
Letting yourself wallow in your room is only going to make the homesickness more potent. You’re traveling for a reason, so get out there and see a new world and try new things.
You don’t want your transient homesickness to affect a trip that could provide beautiful memories for the rest of your lifetime.
Become a yes person and take any opportunity sent your way. You’ll be amazed at what you experience by establishing this habit.
2. Send some gifts home.
Sometimes, to feel more connected, all you need to do is show your loved ones you’re thinking of them.
Think of that warm, fuzzy feeling when you find the perfect gift for a friend or family member.
Doing this while you’re far away can give you a reason to head out and check out local stores and immerse yourself in the culture, and will also keep your family updated on your travels with a tangible reminder of your love.
This is perfect for any special occasions you might be missing; send something along for Father’s Day or have a cake delivered for your sister’s birthday.
3. Keep up with holidays and traditions.
If you’re missing out on special occasion back home, don’t feel like you can’t still take part in the celebrations.
Keeping up with your own traditions while abroad will provide a bit more familiarity and help dull the sting.
You can also have fun introducing new friends to your traditions and occasion they might not have celebrated before. Your exchange program likely has students from all over the world; plan a party and ask everyone to wear something that reminds them of home and bring a traditional dish to share.
For you, it might mean ordering something funny like American flag shorts from Tipsy Elves and putting together a delicious macaroni and cheese dish for your friends, or incorporating another “American” food you want to share.
4. Don’t overdo it with communication.
When we miss friends and family our natural inclination is to communicate, and this can be very soothing when battling homesickness while abroad.
However, there’s a fine line between regularly checking in and using your phone so much that you’re missing out on your present situation.
While it’s a great idea to have a weekly Skype date with your parents, significant other, or best friend, it’s not a good idea to miss out on events going on with other students in favor of sitting in your room and talking to someone who is thousands of miles away. In order to enjoy your time, you need to be present.
There’s also something to be said about excessive social media use. The problem with social media is that it can contribute to greater anxiety about what you’re doing and more importantly, what you’re missing out on. Seeing photo after photo of friends from home having fun can feel like a punch to the gut on a hard day, but remember that they’re probably just as envious that you’re on the other side of the world getting to experience new things and meet new people.
5. Have a good old-fashioned cry session.
If you’re feeling sad, allow yourself to feel sad.
Bottling up your emotions time after time will only result in a big blowout.
Instead, let yourself cry if you need to.
Need some help? Queue up your favorite tearjerker movie, pour a glass of wine, and have a good cry. You’ll be amazed at how much pressure it releases and you’ll feel much better the morning after.
