As someone who suffers from homesickness, I understand the
fear others have of travelling far from their loved ones or the place they call
home. If your love for home has kept you from travelling to other countries and
experiencing other cultures, I wish to share with you how to get the feeling of
home half way around the world.
While it is tempting to rely on scheduled calls and video
chats with friends and family to create a sense of home, doing so will prevent
you from fully immersing yourself in your surroundings. If you made the
decision to travel abroad, do not waste the opportunity to explore a new
culture or meet new people. At first, it may be daunting, but you will soon
find that anywhere you go there are people eager to share their culture and home
with you!
Having traveled to Taiwan once before, I was excited to
return. Four years ago, while studying in Tainan, I suffered from severe
homesickness. So, when I made the decision to spend the summer studying in
Taipei my family was shocked. But I knew this time would be different.
I chose to travel with a friend from school. If you are
considering travelling or studying abroad, I highly recommend this! Having
someone familiar to share your greatest experiences and frustrations with helps
create a sense of home. If you are unable to travel with a friend, there are
always opportunities to find host families or exchange partners. Choosing to
either live or spend time with a host family or exchange partner is a quick way
to discover local culture. Rather than only experiencing a foreign city as a
tourist, you get an insider’s look at culture and cuisine. With a host family,
you will find you can create a home away from home. Even if you do not enroll
in an official host family or exchange partner program, do not be afraid to
interact with the people you meet as you study or travel. Making such
connections creates a sense of community, which you will appreciate on days you
miss home.
Learning a language or studying a culture should not be
limited to the confines of a classroom or a TripAdvisor “Top 10 Things to Do
in….” list. Only through connecting with locals and allowing yourself to
explore a city or country will you be able to overcome your homesickness and reinforce
what you learn through unique and exciting experiences.
George
Washington University - Elliott School of International Affairs
M.A.
Security Policy Studies
Organization
of Asian Studies – Vice President
Sigur
Center 2017 Asian Language Fellow
National Taiwan University - International
Chinese Language Program, Taiwan
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