Strategies for Coping with Homesickness

You survived the trip to Tennessee, the visa interview, the packing, the farewells. It’s been a nerve-wracking journey but you’re here. Everything is new and exciting. Even normal activities like going to the store can be an adventure. But what happens when you get tired or sick? What if you just want a big bowl of your favorite food and a hug from your miles-away family? These feelings are bound to come to you. In fact, even your new American friends may be having the same feelings. If you can’t touch your family it doesn’t matter if they are 150 miles away or 150,000. Although you can’t escape these feelings there are actions you can take to stay positive.

o Keep a journal. Write down one thing that happened every day. This will serve as a memory jog for you when you want to recall your activities and their order. Taking time to write out your thoughts will help you process your feelings.

o Make friends. Even recognizing a staff person or student that you can say hello every time you go to class or to their office will help you feel more connected. No matter where you are someone there will share your taste in music, food, or sports.

o Stay healthy. Being in a new place means you have to think hard. Or think about things that used to be second nature. And you can’t think well if you’re tired. So get plenty of steep. In a new place your body is also fighting off similar yet different germs or allergens. This is another reason to eat healthy and get lots of rest. Until you learn what to look for in the grocery stores, you might want to bring your own vitamins or supplements with you.

o Keep in touch with your family at home. Via technology, it is much easier now to talk—and see—your contacts in real time. But don’t talk to them too much. Set specific times that you will talk to them. Have an agenda in mind. Your family wants to know how you are doing but they cannot completely share your experience. You don’t want your thoughts of home to so overwhelm your present life that you do not have fun stories to share each time you talk to them.

o Plug into a community of faith. Whatever your faith, even if you have no faith, attend the religious service of your choice. A spiritual community will provide a familiar atmosphere and a network of people who can help you both spiritually and physically. Practicing spiritual disciplines will help you keep a positive perspective.

o Get involved. Student Life staff organize events throughout the year. These are a good way to see new places and meet people you might not meet in classes. Campus clubs focus on a range of interests. Improve your English by singing in a choir or run for an office in your student government. If possible, find a place to volunteer. Helping others will make you feel better about yourself and also make the greater community in which you live feel like a home away from home.

o Finally, don’t be afraid to get help. Colleges and universities everywhere have counselors on staff that are available to talk with you. No matter how strong or capable you believe yourself to be, sometimes you may need another pair of eyes on your situation to help you find the right lens through which to view your situation. These professionals will not tell you how to solve your problems but they will walk you through options you may not have thought of and help you create a plan. Having a plan will empower you going forward.

These are some basic ways to take care of yourself, not just during hard times but throughout your academic career. Creating balance in your life and good social networks is a blessing to you in good times and a strength for you during future hardships.