Moving to a new country—or even a different continent and time zone—comes with its own set of challenges. But, let’s be honest, one of the hardest things is missing your favourite people from back home. Trust me, I get it. It always happens to me, especially when I’m just sitting around with nothing to do. But I have a few tips that might help make the homesickness a little easier.
First up: comfort objects and food. When you pack, bring things that remind you of home. It was my heated pillow, an action figure my friend made for my birthday, and (of course) some “ptitim” and soup powder from home. Whenever I feel homesick, I whip up a hot bowl of ptitim with that specific soup powder, and it instantly makes me feel closer to the people I miss.
Another tip: share books or TV shows. Get your mom or friends to watch a specific series or read the same book, and set deadlines to finish episodes or chapters. Then, hop on a call and talk about it like you’re sitting beside each other. Honestly, thank God for technology!
Schedule regular video calls with your loved ones. Try to aim for at least once a week with the VIPs in your life and maybe once a month for those “less fortunate” friends and family members (you know who they are).
Don’t forget to keep the meme-sharing game strong. Send it their way whenever you see something funny on TikTok, Reels, or memes. And make sure they send you stuff too, because if they don’t…well, maybe we don’t love them anymore.
Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out if the homesickness gets too real. Most universities offer emergency mental health support for international students. And hey, my DMs are always open—you’re never alone in this!