12 Tips for dealing with Homesickness

No matter how excited you are to be studying in a new country, it’s natural to feel a bit homesick sometimes. It’s a huge transition to be living away from home with the added pressures of studying in a foreign country. Just know that you are not alone. There are other international students around the world who are feeling the same way as you.

Each person will deal with the challenges of studying abroad differently. The experience can be eye-opening, confronting, exciting and scary all at once. Don’t let these emotions overwhelm you. Try following these tips and tricks for dealing with homesickness so you can make the most of your time in Australia.

1. Don’t be hard on yourself

If you’re feeling homesick, it’s important to remember that it isn’t a weakness. Travelling to new countries affects everyone on some level, and people deal with this in their own unique way. You could end up negatively adding to your emotions if you also have feelings of guilt about being homesick.

2. Don’t spend too much time in your room

Retreating to your room might seem like a good idea, but it can simply end up making you feel worse. If you isolate yourself, there’s a high chance your feelings will become more intense and you could fall into the trap of only thinking about what you’re missing from home.

Getting a part-time job, joining a social sporting team or club, mixing up your study routine with trips to the library, spending time outdoors and orgainsing day trips to local attractions are all great ways to force yourself out of your room.

3. Keep expectations realistic

Don’t be fooled by the movies – not every day at university is carefree and full of parties. All the Facebook and Instagram posts might make you think that everyone else is having fun or you’re not doing something right. But try not to compare yourself with someone else. Do what works for you and makes you happy.

4. Bring home comforts

It doesn’t matter if it’s a fluffy teddy bear, something as basic as a key ring, or the blanket you’ve had since you were a toddler, we all have certain items that just make us comfortable. Feel free to bring them with you to your homestay, or even to uni if you need too.

5. Stay positive

Now this is a little easier said then done, but keeping a positive mindset and attitude can really help with any feelings of being homesick. By staying positive you not only keep yourself happy, you also become more pleasureable to be around. This can make it easier to make friends and prevent you from being lonely. Staying positive doesn’t mean you lie about feeling unhappy or having a down day, it just means you try to find the positive in all situations.

6. Ask for help

Just ask. It’s that simple.

It’s all you have to do. Talk to your homestay host, friends, university lecturer or professional counsellor if you need help with homesickness. Your local AHN office and homestay host are always available. You can also investigate the student services you can access on campus.

7. Explore your new surroundings

Before you arrive, take some time to research the area, the attractions, places to eat, natural wonders and topics of interest to you. Local tourism websites are a great resource. Start with the Tourism Australia website and Insider Guides then work your way towards more local content from there. We’ve also put together 10 Bucket List Experiences for International Students in Australia which might give you some inspiration. Your homestay hosts will also help you figure out where things are and what to do in your new city.

Taking some time to sightsee around the city centre will make you more familiar and comfortable with your new sourroundings.  Particularly love coffee? Burgers? Soccer? Whatever your interest a quick google search will provide you with plenty of local top 10 lists and the best things to do and places to see. Exploring these destinations will soon take you from a tourist to a local.

8. Keep in touch

Technology makes it super easy to stay connected – even when you’re on the other side of the world. Text messages, Skype and social networks give everyone the opportunity to stay in touch.

It’s important that you keep the connection to your friends and family back home while you’re away. But be mindful of how much contact you’re having as too much can really make you feel like you’re missing out on things. Take the opportunity to visit them – or even ask them to visit you – during semester breaks and holidays.

9. Stay healthy

If you’re feeling down it can be easy to retreat into a bag of chips or tub of ice cream. However, keeping your body active is a sure-fire way of keeping your mind happy. Social networks are full of low-cost fitness ideas, most universities have fitness centres on campus and gyms can be found in every suburb of every city these days.

If you don’t like formal exercise routines, a daily walk or jog is a good way to stay healthy. Simple things like taking the extra-long route to uni or getting off public transport one stop earlier can have a massive impact on your health.

10. Food

Missing your favourite foods can not only make you hungry, it can also add to your homesickness. A fantastic way of getting through is to immerse yourself in the local cuisine. Maybe your new favourite food will become Vegemite on toast, a sausage sizzle or a meat pie. You won’t know until you try them. It’s ok not to like something, but don’t be afraid to try something.

Due to the multicultural nature of Australia, you’ll find plenty of foreign foods in speciality markets, resturants and  supermarkets. One of our top tips is to organise a cooking class with your host family. Show them how to cook something from your homeland that you can all enjoy together.

11. Turn off the tech

As mentioned, technology is a great way of staying in touch with family and friends abroad. It’s also a way of connecting with your new friends in Australia. Fear of missing out (FOMO) on things can really amplify feelings of homesicknesses. Taking some time to unplug and look up from the screen will help refresh your mind. Perhaps your host family has a ‘no phones at the dinner table’ rule; embrace this as an opportunity to practice your language skills and share your cutlure. The latest tweets and posts will still be waiting for you once you’ve eaten.

12. Connect with your new homestay family

Getting to know your host family and feeling comfortable around them is the best way to combat feelings of homesickness. You can actually use some of the above tips as a way of connecting with your hosts. Maybe your host mother enjoys evening walks, join her. If someone in the family loves to cook and try new foods, teach them how to make one of your favourite meals from home. Any positive interactions you have while in homestay will help you build a solid relationship with your host family so you are relaxed, happy and open to talking with them about your experiences.