Let’s Talk About: Homesickness

It has already been over a month since I arrived in South Korea, so I feel it's the right time to discuss this topic, as I've experienced it quite a bit.

Homesickness is very real; I've personally felt its presence. I've never been one to miss home when I visit California because I know I'll be heading back for one of my breaks. It could be Fall Break or Thanksgiving Break. However, in Korea, it's different. My flight back home from Incheon takes 15 to 16 hours, compared to the 5 to 6 hours I used to spend traveling between California and New York. Going home isn't a feasible option. Here's how I deal with homesickness here!

One of the best ways I deal with homesickness is by calling my friends and family. Thanks to technology, this has been the easiest way to minimize homesickness. Usually, I have a schedule with my family; I check in with my siblings once a week, and I check in with my mother every other day. For my friends, they are all busy with classes and extracurricular activities. I suggest the idea of a FaceTime call in our group chat, and we find a time that works for all of us. It gets a bit challenging when I want to talk to friends who are also studying abroad in European countries, but I make it work. Even if it's only once a month, I talk to them. It isn't that hard to arrange a time to talk with friends and family; I'm sure everyone does it while they study abroad!

My favorite way to deal with homesickness is to print out photos of things that mean a lot to me, making me feel like I miss home. It's pretty inexpensive to order a few printed photos from your local pharmacy; I paid $3 for 10 prints at my local Walgreens. It's something I do even when I'm in California. It's comforting to know that I can feel connected to home even through photos. Some of the things I have photo prints of include pictures of my dog, my family, my favorite skylines from home, stuffed animals that I couldn't bring with me, and other things that hold sentimental value to me.

Dealing with homesickness is something I'm still learning to cope with. I'm confident that as I spend more time away from my family, I'll discover more methods to handle it. I'm excited to see how I make a home away from home here in Seoul, South Korea.