Moving overseas is a big step towards your dream future. However, no matter how prepared you may have been to pack up your life and start this exciting new chapter, it is completely normal to feel homesick now that you are on the other side.
Here are five tips to help make dealing with homesickness that little bit easier:
1. Give yourself time
First things first, you must remember you are not alone. It is normal to feel homesick in your first few weeks or months of studying abroad, you will just need to give yourself time to find your feet. You will be exploring a new city, experiencing a new culture, meeting new people, learning new content and creating new routines. Over time, this will become your new-normal and you will start to feel more settled.
2. Establish a routine
If you are homesick, it is a good idea to keep busy and establish a daily or weekly routine. Your routine should not just be attending classes and study sessions to complete your assignments but should also include some fun activities! Some ideas could be a weekly trip to the beach, dinner with friends, a hike, or watching a sports game. A routine full of activities you enjoy will give you lots to look forward to, help you to focus on the positives and allow you less time to miss home.
3. Keep doing what you enjoy and meet new people
Just because you have moved overseas, it does not mean everything needs to change. It is important to keep up hobbies you enjoyed back home to help your new environment to feel more welcoming. At The University of Western Australia (UWA), we have more than 160 clubs and societies that likely cover some of the fun activities or sports that were important to your social life back home. If not, a search online will help you find associations located nearby where you can meet like-minded people who enjoy doing the same hobbies you do.
4. Keep in contact with home
