Homesickness is one of the worst feelings when studying abroad. I myself am an international student, more than 10,000 km away from home to Scotland. Cultural differences and distances from my family and friends really put me in a hard time when I first came here. But now, after some personal experiences, I’m here to share with you all the tips that I know and the ways I used to make myself feel better in those hard times. It’s important to note that you’re not alone on this journey so let's overcome it together!
Accept and embrace your feelings
First of all, you need to know that homesickness is a very common feeling for anyone who is far from home, especially for international students. It is completely normal to experience this emotion, and there is no shame in acknowledging and discussing it.
Call your family, friends and loved one
The quickest and easiest way to cure homesickness is to reconnect with your family. Seeing each other virtually and hearing their voices can make you feel better. If there is a time zone difference between your current location and your home country, consider establishing a mutually suitable time each week to call and have a conversation with your family, friends, or loved ones. I schedule some time to call my parent and my close friends back home every weekend and it helped a lot being able to tell them about my week and hearing updates from them. So try it out sometime and see if that helps you too!
Let it out!
Talk to your flatmates or friends as they maybe experiencing the same problem. Talking with someone that is in a similar situation to you can help you feel more understood and comforted. There are a lot of international students in the university who are going through the same thing. You can meet them through your friends circle or in the University’s societies and clubs. Stay tuned to our blog for upcoming articles where we will showcase the societies and clubs available at the University of Dundee for international students.
Use this time to understand yourself more
Spending time alone may seem quite the opposite of what we’re trying to do. But try to spend some time with yourself to think and process your feelings. Maybe try establishing a routine, for example, you could try out healthy recipes that have been in your saving folder on IG for way too long, work out and build that healthy body you’ve been wanting to, focus on your studies, learn a new language, go back to the hobby you put away because you were too busy, etc. The sense of structure will help you feel more settled and at home. Look at this as an exciting time to get out of your comfort zone, see what you really like and connect to your inner self!
Explore your surrounding places
Familiarising yourself with the new area you’re living in is also a good way to get your mind away from homesickness. Create a challenge to try out all the local cafes in your area, explore your neighbourhood, and have a taste of the country’s cuisine, etc. These activities seem small but can help you feel more connected with the place you’re living or studying in. If you want to know interesting restaurants, cafes, destinations and activities you can do in Dundee, stay tuned for more blogs from the University of Dundee School of Business Student Blog that will be in your email box every week!
Homesickness is not an easy emotion to tackle and if you feel like your feelings are much more serious, remember that the university offers a counselling service. You can always book a session and speak with a professional about what you're going through and your concerns. For more information, you can visit the university's website here.
Just know that you’re not alone and you can reach out to someone anytime you need to. Your feelings are valid and there is no shame to express and work on them every day.
Lastly, to all the international students, I wish you all the best with your new journey at the University of Dundee and I hope that you make the most out of your time here! If you found this article helpful and would like to see more advice posts like this, please give it a like. If you have additional tips or experiences you'd like to share with others who may be dealing with homesickness, please leave them in the comments below. Kindly follow our blog for more exciting posts coming up next! Thank you and see you in my next article!