YouAlberta
As an international student who has been away from home for three years, I have been homesick on countless days. Homesickness, although common around holidays, is not something that needs an occasion to be felt. I feel homesick on so many random days.
Home is a support system that we need a lot of times, like during the start of a new semester, midterms or simply when we are having a good or a bad day. When that system is not around you, things can become harder than usual. Students living away from home in such situations don’t have the option of going back home, however, they certainly can bring home closer to themselves!
Over the past three years, I have explored several different ways that have made me feel closer to home, which in turn help me cope from homesickness. So, here are some ways that can make you feel closer to home as well:
Put up family pictures on your wall
I have a huge collage of family pictures on one of my bedroom walls. Whenever I miss my family’s presence, these pictures make me feel stronger as they help me recall the good old times I’ve spent with my family. Although not physically present, I still feel that my family is around me through the pictures. So, even if your family cannot be physically present with you when you’re feeling homesick, having pictures of family around you could definitely make you feel closer to home.
Cook the food you used to eat back home
Let’s admit it that the taste of home-made food is hard to find in any country. So, I try to recreate the taste of home-made food closer to me by cooking some of my favorite dishes from back home. All you have to do is, pick up a dish that used to be your favorite back home, and cook it! If you don’t know how to cook, ask your mom for the recipe and you’ll feel much better! You could even try planning a video chat where you can cook a meal alongside a family member.
Schedule a video call
Video calls have made me feel closer to home. When I see my parents on the video call in my house back home, I feel that I am just right beside them. Looking at your family doing the very mundane things on a call is an effective way to feel the presence of your family around you.
Go for a walk and recollect your thoughts
Sometimes when I am homesick, I prefer not to interact with my family as they express their concerns about me and it makes me miss them more. During one of those days, going out on a walk really helps. Sometimes all you need is some time with yourself to recollect how you are feeling and what you should do to adjust how you are feeling. Self-talks are an amazing way to get the strength that you need when you are missing the emotional support from your family.
Recreate an activity you used to enjoy with your family
Recreating an experience you used to enjoy back home can make you feel closer to your family. Watching a movie you used to enjoy with your family can recreate a joyful experience you used to have back home. I remember watching Home Alone and White House Down with my dad on countless Sundays and recreating the experience of watching those movies makes me feel better.
Go to a place of worship and connect with your community
Fortunately, Canada has a lot of places of worship for people following different religions. Going to a place of worship of my religion makes me feel closer to home as I see people from my community simply being just like how people used to be back home. Looking at how everyone from the same community prays together and eats together, makes me feel closer to home as it helps me recall how I used to go to such places with my family. Such places feel like back home because of a vibrant community presence around you.
Hang out with friends and share how you’re feeling
The only solid support system that we have away from home is friends. On days when I miss home, I hang out with my friends. We usually go out to eat, watch a movie or just chat. Being around my friends who care creates an environment that feels like home, and sometimes that feeling is all that you need when you miss your home!
Keep yourself busy
This one’s harsh, but sometimes this method is the only one that works! Sometimes drowning myself into work, assignments and other volunteering activities keeps my mind occupied and away from feeling homesick! Although, keeping yourself busy can help distract your mind, but make sure to take care of yourself and don’t overwhelm yourself with work.
Adopt a pet
Pets can swiftly become family. The way my kitten, Marcus, provides companionship to me makes me feel at home. Even if you do not want to adopt a pet you can visit your friends who have a pet! I have so many friends who visit me just to play with my kitten.You can also look into fostering options like Laura and Valentina did!
About Gurbani
Gurbani is a fourth-year software engineering student at the U of A and has been writing for YouAlberta for the past two years. As an international student she tries to communicate her experiences and learnings through her passion for writing. She is also the Vice President External of the International Students' Association (ISA). When she's not studying or writing, she works on strategies to manage her time appropriately. She also spends time programming, learning Zumba, and reading "not-cliche" young adult fiction, if she ever finds that time to do so.