How to Deal with Homesickness as an International Student

Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to develop, find new opportunities, and forge a new path in a different environment. However, the emotional burden of being far from home comes in addition to the excitement of independence and new experiences. The transition to college entails change and often results in students feeling homesick, or at least nostalgic, for the comforts and familiarity of the family, friends, and hometown they left behind.

Although homesickness isn't new or unusual, its importance is frequently underestimated. If continually ignored, homesickness can affect your emotional health and academic success. The feeling that something is missing or disconnected could even make you question your decision to study abroad! It is essential to keep in mind that homesickness is an entirely normal reaction to being outside of your comfort zone—socially, emotionally, and physically. For some people, simply talking to their family over the phone will alleviate homesickness; however, this may take a little bit longer for others.

Since you may not be able to travel home frequently and affordably, here are some practical, hopefully helpful, ideas for overcoming homesickness and creating a sense of belonging even while you are away from home.

1. Make friends like family

Rather than just making friends, make friends who feel like family. Although initially costly in terms of time and energy and difficult for everyone to get used to new schedules, routines, and behaviours, the bond you create can provide solace, security, and support during difficult times. There is also comfort in having a relationship with people who care about you, which can help you feel settled in another country.

2. Find people from home

Finding people from the same town or country can be reassuring and help you feel at ease. The shared background that lends to a common language and cultural familiarity with inside jokes can alleviate the blueness of isolation. Whether acknowledged or not, friendships often happen organically. International students will find each other as a social support system that can provide the same comfort of home in another country.

3. Make friends with locals

Sticking to what is easy or familiar to you may be comfortable; however, engaging with people who are local to the place you are living is equally rewarding. Meeting new people from the local area will help you understand the culture you are experiencing, expand your worldview, and subjectively form meaningful friendships. When you engage with local people, you include yourself, and your friendship means that the area behaves more like a home rather than feeling foreign.

4. Clubs and activities

Participating in clubs, sports, or hobby groups is a great distraction, offers a fun way to meet people, and provides structure outside your academic life. Also, keeping busy helps reduce homesickness and allows you to participate in more experiences and develop even more where you might not have anticipated it.

5. Plan short trips

If you can, plan to take short trips—on your own or with friends—these can help break up your routine, regardless of what city you are in (even if it’s just to hike a local trail). Travelling, even for a few days, can bring back some of the fun and a change of space, perspective, and adventure, adding more experiences to your experience there—as well as some new things to look forward to and even help you feel less down.

6. Volunteer or help others

Getting involved in your local community can help you feel good, in even small ways. Whether you are tutoring, helping out a cause, or just helping someone else, doing for others usually offers a feeling of connection and a sense of purpose—two potent antidotes to homesickness.

7. Stay connected

Thankfully, technology makes staying in touch with loved ones back home easier. A video call can feel like a real visit, and regular chats can bridge the distance. Just be mindful of not becoming too dependent on these connections, as balancing them with your life abroad is key to emotional growth and adaptation.

Wrapping up

Homesickness, while painful, is often temporary. Eventually, many students find themselves growing into their new lives, creating strong bonds, and collecting unforgettable memories. And when the day comes that you return home, it’s not unusual to find yourself nostalgic for your time abroad—grateful for the challenges that shaped you and the friendships that carried you through.