How to Battle Homesickness in a Foreign Land

 

Flying abroad becomes a part of everyone’s bucket list, mainly for food, travel, and exploration. Staying for a week or two may not be enough to have a full-hand visit so some wish for an opportunity to live in a particular country. The thrilling imagination can ignite the urge to pursue the dream. However, once you are in the country of your dreams, will you be ready for everything if it can affect your mental state?

Homesickness

Homesickness refers to a strong longing for home or a person associated with home. It feels  similar to grief due to the periodic feelings of nostalgia but it can also be an overwhelming emotion that interferes with adjustment and normal functioning. Homesickness is not a mental illness, and does not require treatment. However, in adjusting to new environments such as living abroad, therapy can be a great help to avoid the exacerbation of certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. If you are new to the country, here are some ways you can try to avoid being homesick.

Explore you surroundings

Once you find a place to live, don’t just stay there for the whole day. Have some sightseeing around your neighborhood to familiarize yourself and meet new people. It is better to explore your surroundings to discover its beauty than stay inside your place, wallowing your home. In this way, you can learn more about the area you are living in.

Find a community

Thinking back home can never leave your mind but with a good company, longing can be a shared experience to learn from each other. After exploring your place, there is a high possibility of encountering new people. If you are lucky enough, these people can invite you to some gatherings or community groups to help you familiarize yourself in the place.

Keep in touch with your loved ones back home

Communication with your loved ones is still the best way to cure the missing part in your mind. Since time varies in every country, schedule a convenient time for you and your family or friends to have a call or video chat. With this, you can share your new encounters and gain invaluable support from them to keep on exploring and living life in a new land.

Find food of your country of origin

There is a common saying that if you are sad, eat it out. If home always visits your mind, try to find places you can connect with your country. In this sense, search for grocery stores that sell the food you like so you can still have the taste of your homeland even from afar. Have some me-time to cook your favorite food in a foreign country.

Learn something new

A meaningful way to make your stay much more exciting is to learn something new. Be it a sport, a skill, or an exploration, it still counts. With the community you are part of, try to seek assistance from your closest friends to help you learn a particular skill. If football is not your thing, maybe it is time to kick those feet and run free.

The deserted feeling of living away from your loved ones and the environment you used to live in can be a traumatic experience. But it is normal and should not be neglected by any means. All you have to do is assess yourself of what you can do as of the moment of the adjustment then seek professional help later on.

Written by Karisma Primero

Karisma Primero is currently a Digital Marketing Intern of PS Media Enterprise, and a 3rd year Broadcasting student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila.