Homesickness is a feeling of anxiety, sadness, or stress that comes to you any time you’re far from your loved ones. Feeling homesickness is normal, particularly for international students. Often, finding yourself away from the people you love, your pets, and your customs can pose serious challenges. This is aggravated by the fact that you’re residing in a different country, with a different culture, language, and people.
Luckily, there are strategies to help you cope with homesickness as an international student. Here are some of these ways:
1. Find a Place you’re Comfortable within the Host Country
Some individuals develop a feeling of homesickness not only because they’re missing people but also places they like. For instance, if you prefer to reside in a serene area with all the necessary amenities, you can find such a place in the host country. The Reserve at Orono Umaine housing offers an excellent student living experience for local and international students studying at the University of Maine.
You can also find a place you’re comfortable with, such as a cafeteria where you can take coffee and lunch, especially on the weekends. Although relocating to a different country can be devastating initially, finding favorite places where you can relax can help you handle homesickness.
2. Speak and Engage with New Individuals
Often, this is simpler for some while it’s challenging for others. However, forming new relations in the host country can help you cope with the feeling of homesickness. Remember that several other international students may be looking for ways to cope with homesickness. Therefore, you can use that opportunity to talk to different individuals and learn about their experiences.
Additionally, you should find out if your institution has clubs or social activities, including games that you can participate in. Engaging in such activities will keep you occupied and allow you to interact with individuals with similar hobbies and interests like you. Eventually, this will help you deal with the feeling of homesickness.
3. Maintain Contact with People Back at Home (But Limit It)
Once in a while, you should contact your friends and family through WhatsApp, a letter in the post, or a phone call. This will help reduce the gap and allow you to feel you’re taking part in what’s going on back at home.
Nevertheless, maintaining contact too often can contribute to the feeling of homesickness even more! The secret is to avoid communicating with your friends and family back at home more often than you do with other students on the campus.
4. Exercise Self-care
Treating yourself in small ways can contribute to your overall contentment and mood! Self-care differs from one individual to the other. For some, tasks like meditation, cooking favorite meals, or taking a relaxing bath can help them calm down. You only need to find what works for you and use it to handle homesickness as you study abroad.
According to the New York Times, exercising helps your brain increase serotonin production, a hormone that regulates feelings, mood, energy levels, and happiness. Thus, engaging in activities that you like can help you tackle the feelings of homesickness.
5. Tour Your New Environment
The new and strange surroundings you find yourself in might be one of the reasons you’re feeling homesick. That’s why you need to find time to tour your campus town or city to familiarize yourself.
For instance, you can decide to go for walks, volunteer for local community works, or go sightseeing on your campus and its surrounding areas. Ultimately, finding time to explore your new surroundings will help you familiarize yourself and feel more at home.
Final Word
The feeling of homesickness when you join a foreign university for international studies is expected, and the feeling is often short-term. Nevertheless, it would be best to find ways to tackle this feeling before it advances to other issues, including stress and depression.
Tips to help you cope with homesickness include practicing self-care, staying in touch with family and friends, and talking to new people. You can also find time to explore your new environment and find a place to stay that you’re comfortable within the host country. Ultimately, you can learn to cope with homesickness as an international student using these tips.
Author Bio:Â Â Hannah Gilbert is a freelance writer who offers ghostwrite, copywriting, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.
