How to beat homesickness when studying abroad
January 9, 2012
Traveling to another country to pursue your education can be an exciting adventure, but sometimes being so far from home can be difficult. Even if you think there's no way you'll miss the familiarity of being home, you may find that you were wrong once you actually arrive at your destination and get settled in. The best bet is to be prepared to deal with homesickness, even if you think you'll be fine.
There are a number of things you can do to help curb the longing to be back home in your own bed or surrounded by loved ones. First and foremost, keep in touch. Hearing a familiar voice, whether it belongs to a parent or a friend, can go a long way to making you feel less homesick. However, long-distance charges can be expensive, so you might want to bring along a few international calling cards. This way you can call home without running up a big phone bill.
Since you don't want to spend all of your free time on the phone, you can always talk to other international students about home. They're likely feeling the same longing for their loved ones, and sharing stories about families and life back home can be therapeutic for everyone.