A Guide to Dealing with Homesickness for International Students
Graphics by Anika Dua
Attending a college far away from home can be isolating at times. Coming to a new country and adjusting to the culture while juggling academics, extracurriculars, making friends, and this newfound independence can be exhausting. Sitting alone in your dorm room will inevitably bring up feelings of loneliness. But it is all perfectly normal and understandable. So, I'd like to introduce you to some strategies for dealing with homesickness and truly enjoying your first year here at SU!
One is to join cultural, religious, and spiritual organizations! There are numerous organizations on campus specifically for different cultures around the world. There are clubs for students from South Asia, China, Brazil, Korea, Africa, Europe, the Philippines, the Caribbean, and Germany. All of these organizations routinely hold celebrations and gatherings to commemorate various festivals or bring people together. As an Indian, I just attended SASA's (South Asian Student Association) Garba night and met many new people who shared my passion for my culture. For hours, we ate Indian food and danced. For a while, I thought I was back in India. Joining these organizations or even just attending their events may allow you to interact with students from the same country as you and participate in the festivities of your culture here at SU. You can also join a spiritual or religious group at SU by visiting Hendricks Chapel, which is home to a variety of faiths and groups.
Therapy: If you have a furry friend at home that you miss, feel free to visit pet therapy at Barnes Center regularly. Believe me, one look at those adorable fluff balls will make all your worries melt away. Your emotions may overwhelm you at times, and you may feel the urge to talk or vent to someone. You can go to Barnes for individual or group therapy and openly express yourself.
Center For International Services: Keep an eye out for sign-ups for different activities and trips offered by the Center for International Services on their Instagram, @internationalcentersu. They recently took a group of international students to Niagara Falls. They host a variety of events and trips, such as pumpkin and apple picking, karaoke nights, and challenge courses. These trips allow students to explore the local areas and engage with other international students. Rather than simply staying in your dorm or going out, participating in these events could lead to new and exciting experiences. For individuals who struggle with speaking English, the international center offers an English Conversation Group program, in which you will be paired with an English-speaking group facilitator and 3-4 other international students with whom you will develop your English communication skills.
Orange After Dark and Wellness Portal: Getting busy and spending time with friends is one of the most effective ways to deal with homesickness. Aside from joining various groups, you can participate in Orange After Dark activities and events, hosted every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. In addition, you can also look up different activities or adventures on the wellness portal and join in on hikes, horse rides and apple picking.
In the end, homesickness is normal and will probably come back once in a while and that's okay. In those moments, it's best to pick up the phone and Facetime the people you miss back home. It's important to remember your connections back at home and check back from time to time. So explore new things, and enjoy this new adventure that life has offered you, but still know that you have a place you can always go back to.