How to cope with homesickness
You may feel the most homesick in the beginning, when you are still adjusting to your new environment, make sure you have support when you most need it.
Make friends – Making friends in your new environment – whether they’re locals or fellow international students (preferably both) – will help you settle in to your new location.
- Be brave and ask an acquaintance to grab a cup of tea/ coffee. You may learn that you have a lot more to talk about than you think.
Join group activities or some of the ITT Clubs and Societies if you can – this will make it easier for you to meet new people. You may also find integration support between local and international communities at the Tralee International Resource Centre.
If you’re really far away from home, making friends with some locals can help you get to know your new environment.
Stay engaged – Maintaining a busy schedule helps keep homesickness at bay. If your days are packed with exciting new activities, studies and time spent with new people, then it’ll be hard to spend all of your time thinking of home. Here are some ways to stay engaged:
- Join a club or an activity. Try joining a group activity that you are interested in;
- Immerse yourself in your studies. Try to really enjoy what you’re studying or doing and take pleasure in all of the new things you’re learning. It’s even better if you join a study group or get to know the people you’re working with;
- Keep a calendar where you can write all of your engagements. This will give you something to look forward to.
Get out of the house/ accommodation – Make a goal of spending a lot of your time out of the house..
- Stay active. Exercising outdoors will help you feel more healthy and positive;
- Study outside of your room. Go the library in the college or town.
- Explore. Taking long walks through new parts of the town can be a great way to get to know your environment and to find things that interest you.
Talk to someone – If you are experiencing periods of homesickness about being away from home, make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a new friend, someone in your mosque, teacher, the IMCP/IPCP Castel Education Programme Manager or host parent.