Hasta la Raíz: Missing Old Roots While Growing New Ones

It’s been almost two months since I left New Jersey for Santiago, Chile. Weeks filled with laughter, exploration, excitement, and of course—adaptation.

The first time I experienced homesickness was about a year ago, when I left home to attend college in Boston. I was the first to ever leave home, so I hadn’t known a life without frequent familial interaction. With three siblings, countless tias, and my grandparents living a block away, family was a constant in my life.

When I left for Boston, I was excited to be independent, live on my own, and "discover myself”. The honeymoon period lasted for a few weeks, but once classes got underway and extracurriculars began taking up so much of my time, I missed home.

The same feelings apply to my experience here in Santiago. I’ve had such unique adventures: exploring Cerro San Cristobal, visiting South America’s tallest building (La Costanera), and witnessing the beauty of the Andes mountains every single time I leave my homestay. But the homesickness has started to seep in, and it’s heavier than I anticipated. Unlike before, I can’t visit home halfway through the semester; 5,000 miles separate me from all the people I love. 

Plus, there’s another home I am missing too—Boston. School has started back up again in the U.S., and worsened feelings of homesickness have followed it. Thus, it’s safe to say that I know a thing or two about missing home. So, here are a few tips for if you’re feeling the same (or if you are simply curious).

1. Don’t try to ignore it, but don’t wallow in it either

If you try to avoid those negative feelings, it won’t make them go away. Acknowledge the reasons for why you are feeling a certain way (family gatherings, holidays, being sick) and understand the normality of it. Acceptance is the first step in learning how to handle homesickness.

2. Know that you’ll be back eventually

I consider myself a pretty independent person, but I can admit how terrifying it is to be across the world from everything you’ve ever known. When I’m especially struggling with homesickness and missing my friends and family, I remind myself that I’ll be back home eventually. And when I return, I know I will be thinking of how amazing studying abroad was (and how much I miss it). This is why being present in the moment matters, which leads to my next tip.

3. Active engagement in the new environment

Being present can counteract the effects of homesickness. If you’re focusing on what is happening right in front of you, it’s difficult to think about what is missing. That’s why I have a list of activities I participate in to be present during my time in Chile. Since arriving, I’ve been:

1. trying new restaurants, cafes, and different types of food 
2. playing volleyball at the local parks
3. going on hikes with classmates
4. finding dance classes (+ dancing at a salsoteca for the first time)
5. traveling around Chile to learn about life outside the capital
6. cooking my favorite meals

These activities make me feel more grounded and give me something to look forward to.

4. Call your loved ones (as long as you’re still connecting with people abroad)

I call my parents three-to-four times a week, sometimes for five minutes, sometimes for 50, and it creates a sense of familiarity. As someone who is extremely family-oriented, it has helped me maintain and nourish that connection while still learning to become independent in a foreign country. As long as you’re still actively engaging in your study abroad experience, I believe calling family or friends can reduce high levels of homesickness :)

5. Bonus: send postcards back home

Writing a small message on a postcard to send home can be fun and may be more expressive than sending a text! (I plan on sending one home later this week)

In all, homesickness is more or less unavoidable if you’re travelling thousands of miles away from home. But your actions and reactions can certainly affect how intense those feelings become. For me, I’ll continue to focus on the amazing experience in front of me. After all, will I ever be 19 again, living and studying in South America?