Moving away from home and settling in a place that is unfamiliar to you can be extremely intimidating, especially if this is your first move. Personally, I can attest to the difficulties of adjusting to life in a new city like London. Despite the fact that I have always resided in Greater London, Central London is very unique. Alas, it is only natural that after moving away from our familiar comforts in life, both domestic and international students experience homesickness. In that way, we are not all entirely accustomed to the prevailing fast-paced city culture. Nevertheless, it is possible to create a new place to call home with time and effort.
Keeping in touch with loved ones
Staying in contact with your family and friends back home is the most evident method for dealing with homesickness. Your best ally in this situation is technology. To give myself something to look forward to every day, I used to schedule FaceTime calls with my loved ones. Even better, order food together and use this time to catch up on the latest gossip from home while taking a moment away from studying or having lunch or dinner. You could do it like a Mukbang, where you can try different foods whenever you call them. (I’m not sure if you can tell, but I rely way too much on Uber Eats and Deliveroo!) Still, by scheduling your calls, you can also account for any time zones that may exist if your loved ones are located abroad.
Building a new support system
Establishing new support networks is among the best ways to combat homesickness. You’ll require a new support system more than ever, just as you did at home. To assist you, join LSESU societies to find people who share your interests and help you feel at home. While attending societies can be intimidating because you might assume everyone is already acquainted, this is not always the case. The majority of societies hold GIAG (Give It A Go) sessions at the beginning of the year to encourage people to meet new people and test the waters to see if they would like to join the society. I cannot emphasise enough how crucial it is to attend some of them, even if only for a short while. It is through these sessions that I formed the majority of my support network and began to feel a sense of belonging.
Exploring your new home/city
This advice is crucial, especially if you live in a Student Hall. Take this opportunity to explore the common areas and study rooms that many of the student residence halls have to offer. However, if you do not feel ready to socialise with more people in your accommodation just yet, venture outside and tour the city. The extremely rich culture of London is just waiting to be discovered. There’s something to do for everyone in the city, from exhibitions to museums and boutique cafés. And if you’re a foodie, London is home to many food markets where you can sample cuisines from all over the world. You can connect with your new home by exploring new places, which will ease any anxiety you may be experiencing. I wished I had done more of this.
Final thoughts
Overall, settling into a new location and home can be a challenging experience, but implementing some of the above suggestions can help foster a sense of belonging. In addition, please engage in self-care activities, such as going for a walk or even just going to the gym, as homesickness can significantly negatively impact your mental and physical health. The Student Wellbeing Service can help you if you need it. Homesickness and university can go hand in hand, so if you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact them. A lot of free, private, self-referral aid is available, including peer support groups and student counselling services. With the right, positive mindset, you will be able to overcome homesickness, just as I did!
