Homesick? Not on My Watch!

After coming down with one of the worst colds I have had in a long time, I couldn’t help but long for my bed at home, a thermometer that reads in fahrenheit, and hugs from my family and friends. After two straight days of sleeping, I’m finally feeling better, but being sick brought up a lot of emotions for me regarding being away from home. Navigating feeling homesick can be so hard, so here are some guidelines for when you eventually get homesick too.

1. Prioritize Taking Care of Yourself

Last week, the IES Abroad Granada program had planned a day trip to Ronda. Upon receiving the sign-up sheet, I jumped at the opportunity to explore a new part of Spain. Come Thursday, the day before the trip, I woke up with severe congestion. In an attempt to rapidly force my body into healing, I slept the entire day. On Friday morning, I woke up feeling mediocre. I took this as a sign that I was better and decided to go on the Ronda trip with the program. About 30-minutes into arriving in Ronda, I realized I should have stayed home. My head hurt, it was over 80 degrees outside, and I still had to walk through an entire city tour. Don’t get me wrong, Ronda is beautiful and I was so excited to have the opportunity to explore it, but I couldn’t enjoy it because my body wasn’t fully healed. I ended up returning to my homestay feeling three times worse than I had the day before. 

My point in sharing this story is that when you are abroad, your health is your number one priority. Make sure that you are taking care of your physical and mental health before anything else. Fighting a cold while being homesick is not a combination I would wish upon anyone. Studying abroad can already be overwhelming, so make sure you know your limits before pushing yourself too far.

2. Call Family and Friends

Coming down with a cold made me feel incredibly homesick. I just wanted to go home. I texted my sisters about how I was feeling and one of them proposed a group call. Due to the nine hour time difference, spontaneous calls home were a bit tricky, but with some planning, we were able to find a call time that worked for all of us. Calling my family helped me center myself when I was feeling lost. It reminded me of who I am around the people I love the most. 

3. Journal

Because of the aforementioned nine hour time difference, it’s not always easy to talk to a loved one when you need it. Sitting with a jumble of confusing emotions in my head, I decided to journal. Studying abroad comes with so many ups and downs, and it can be hard to pinpoint what you are feeling, why you are feeling that way, and what you can do about it. Journaling allowed me to dissect some of the emotions I was feeling and why I was feeling them. 

4. Maintain Hobbies and Routines

I am a hobby person. I love to crochet, scrapbook, read, make friendship bracelets, sing, draw, and sometimes I like to run. Feeling homesick, I started to question what I was doing in a country where I barely knew the language or the city. Not knowing what to do with myself, I started to draw. Just simply returning to a hobby that I do back at home reminded me that no matter how much change I am navigating, there are some things that will always center me. Whether it's skincare, thrifting, hiking, or drinking matcha, make sure you maintain the routines that remind you of who you are at home and abroad! 

5. Take Yourself on a Personal Date

Feeling homesick can be really discouraging and it can be hard to get out of that headspace. Something that always helps me is taking myself out to try something new. This week I had a personal day where I took myself out to coffee and went thrifting. At first, it felt intimidating to do this by myself, but I ended up feeling so much better after trying something new and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It reminded me that I am fully capable of navigating the challenges of being abroad!

6. Plan Something With a Friend

If taking yourself on a solo date just isn't your thing, take the initiative to plan something with a friend. Invite a friend out to coffee after class, try a new treat in the city, go on a walk and talk about your lives. I have found that hard feelings are a lot easier to handle when you aren't alone.

You will eventually get homesick, and it may come in waves, but I have found that each time I overcome a wave of homesickness, I am reminded of all the parts of studying abroad that I am so thankful for!