The truth about Homesickness

So, this post is a bit of a "helper" to anyone who is abroad, and what to do, because everyone goes through some sort of homesickness while they are on an exchange. Personally for me, I haven't felt homesick in a while, but I am going through Culture Shock-which I will explain in a different post. But there is no way to forget the feeling of homesickness, it really is hard, but if you do simple things, you feel a lot better.

• Say yes to everything: /Stay busy!! This really helps. While you are homesick, you don't really want to talk to anyone, and you are just in a crummy mood. When you say "yes", you open up possibilities, and possibilities means getting your mind away from thinking about home. Personally for me, when opportunities presented themselves, I took it right away, and it really helped.
• Talk to others: I know, when I talked to the other exchange students, and heard that they felt, exactly, how I felt, I somehow got a lot better, and accepted that -IT IS NORMAL! It would be pretty weird if you didn't miss your family and your friends back home! Also, talking to your family about it helps a lot too. I remember I talked to my sister when I was sad, and she was always able to make me feel better, and that's probably one of the reasons now that we have such a great relationship!
• Give yourself time: Don't automatically give up. Give yourself time to calm down, and think of why you came in the first place. Make a list of all the great things you have done, learned, and seen. By doing this, you are able to see why your time here, is so worth it! If you make a list of the reasons why you came also, looking back at the reasons will give you a much more positive attitude also.
• Immerse yourself in the culture and in the language (if it is different): Thinking about the things at home will not make you feel better, but, if you surround yourself with the new settings, and then new culture, you will start to forget why you were sad in the first place!
• Do not talk to your family/friends when you are having a spazz of homesickness: So when I had reallllyyyy hard times, I would call them, my little "spazz attacks of homesickness". It is important to know: do not try and skype/call your family when these are happening. It will make you feel even worse. But this doesn't mean you stop talking to them! You talk to them when you feel better, because if they see you upset, they will feel upset also! You want to try and be with your host family, or go out and buy some ice cream! I know during my spazz attacks, just having some familiar chocolate, or sour patch kids calmed me down. 

Everyone goes through homesickness-it is completely normal! So, don't feel bad when you are having these sad feelings of your family and your friends and your home town. I remember having some really hard times, but I got through them, and now, I feel like I am on top of the world-and I feel so happy that I continued though my struggles, through my sadness, and through my stress. So, just remember, you have people going though the same thing, you are not alone, and you can do it. I hope this helped anyone who needed it!