5 tips to Handle Homesickness Abroad

Foreign education gives you many things, and apart from all the good things, one of the most dreaded results of this is homesickness. A new city, culture, and climatic conditions often grow on Indian students when they go abroad leading to feelings of insufficiency, loneliness and desolation. While it is easy to get carried away by these feelings, what is important is to not let it get to you.

Says Robby Valecha, an MBA from Australian Catholic University, “I didn’t let such thoughts cross my mind. Studying abroad was a dream and when it really happened, I could not wait to start the journey. I enjoyed my air ride to Australia. Throughout my trip, I was in touch with my parents and siblings so it was seldom that I felt homesick. I always called them up whenever anything new happened to me.”

Such should be a student’s approach when setting sail for newer shores believes Tanushree Bhattacharya, head training and development at the Chopras. “The first month in a new campus is the most difficult because you are finding your way around and often there are not a lot of people to assist you to do that. However, it is important for you to be strong and know that you are here for a purpose and these are just very small things which can be tackled easily by mingling with new people, exploring the new city/campus,” she says.

Aditya Goel, a student at the Nottingham Trent University, has a similar story to share. He says, “I was excited and confident during the initial weeks in my new campus. The foremost concerns were, whether I’ll meet some students from my native country and whether it will be easy to communicate with the local students and lecturers out there. I only feel homesick when I have nothing to do and I have no one around. Otherwise, being homesick is very rare.” He found it easy to acclimatise to the new culture. “I communicated with other students in a good manner and I also got involved in every social meeting conducted. These things ensured that I could meet as many students as possible and make new friends.”

It’s important to not miss the orientation week, adds Bhattacharya. “The orientation week familiarises students with the campus and the new city and creates awareness about the key people and numbers that a student shall need during their stay in the college. Also, many universities have mentoring programmes, where they assign a mentor (preferably) of the same nationality to freshers who take care of the new students and provide any hand-holding that is required,” she says.

5 tips to handle homesickness:

1) Don’t miss the orientation week: Universities hold the orientation, a week or 10 days before the session begins in the varsity. During the orientation, the university takes you around the campus and familiarises you with points of contact for various things you would need at the varsity.

2) Parents must not accompany students to their study destination: Parents must not accompany their wards to the university. “Often parents escort their children for a week or 10 days when their wards move to a new place. It is not advised because then wards will rush to their parents after college without making an effort to spend time with other students or on campus and might miss out on the initial days of camaraderie on campus. They might find it difficult to fit in later,” advises Bhattacharya.

3) Get a circle of friends: Remember that you are not the only one who is alone on campus. There are many more international students who have left their families behind. Befriend as many people as possible. Always remember it is better to be homesick in a group than be homesick alone.

4) Make use of technology: Skype, Facebook has made communication really cheap and real-time for many students studying abroad. You can stay in touch with your family and friends through these media without burning a hole in your pocket.

5) Join clubs: It is believed that Indian students remain in clusters and don’t make friends and don’t participate in activities on campus. This is not true. Understand that you have opportunities which many of your other friends don’t. So, make the most of your time at the university by participating in clubs and sports.