Living alone in a land strange to you is far from easy. Homesickness is one of the challenges you face during your stay. Read more about homesickness in this week’s Culture Column by Satomi Miyata.
Living in another country can be challenging. It’s not all about fun like you imagine from photos with big cheerful or cheeky smiles that your fellows that studies abroad constantly post. And yet, as we are feeling homesick and are looking for social connections, the social media seems the be the perfect game.
Having lived abroad twice in my life, I know what homesickness feels like. But what is “homesickness” actually?
So where does “homesickness” come from?
• Language barrier. I have almost no problem making myself understood in English, but not having special expressions, the phrases of my original language at hand is very stressful, even more so when you have met people who matter to you in your life abroad. It is no wonder you want those people to know more about you and vice versa no matter what language you use.
• Cultural differences. Everyone comes from a different cultural background. Everyone is familiar with that. Yet, why am I frustrated? Because I can’t change it just like the past always stands so powerful even if you are SO aware that you can’t change it.
•Absence of people you left behind. Your family, friends, girlfriend or boyfriend. Those people who matter to you to a great deal. I myself can never completely flee from such thoughts as “ what if I was back home now? Am I missing out a lot while I am here?”
So what to do to get over with this troublesome loneliness?
•Resorting to Skype or chatting via social media. Short-term? It works. Long-term? No. Why? Because people who live in the far east(in my case) can’t do anything for me after all. “You are still great!” kind of comments, as much as you like the sound of it, doesn’t give us any practical way to overcome homesickness.
•Spending time “alone” is the most difficult way and yet most effective way to deal with your homesickness in long run. Reading books in my own language or writing as my mind goes (I am not talking about poetic stuff here AT ALL but more humane stuff with a couple of swearing words, but don’t forget to discreetly hide that notebook) always helps for me. It is important to find your own way of soothing yourself and the exclusive private time is essential.
Soul searching that those “cool” people are advocating lately might be a good cause for being homesick. But whatever it is that motivates you to actually face homesickness, there is one thing I can say for sure, which is that we should positively take time to overcome homesickness and winter in Sweden gives us the perfect opportunity to face our emotions with patience as we persevere until the sun comes around with a better mood.
