Studying abroad is a wonderful experience and a big challenge. When you study abroad for a semester or a year, you will spend time immersed in an unfamiliar environment. You will also experience an unknown culture. You will be doing things you never did before. You will eat things you did not even think be eaten in your hometown. You will discover that people celebrate events in unusual ways. You will also learn that certain celebrations are unique to certain cultures. You will nurture yourself in this process of discovering new things.

The honeymoon stage eventually ends. The first excitement of being in a foreign country fades. You find yourself missing familiar things and people from home. This is especially true on important days like your birthday or the holidays.

Being away from home during those special days can certainly be strange. It can even be hard. It is normal to feel homesick. Those moments make us very aware of the distances between ourselves and the routines we are familiar with

Things you can do that help cheer you up,

• Stay busy. Study and get updated with your work. Do your laundry and clean your room. Buy food. Get ready for your classes after the break.

• Make a routine. Be careful with the extra free time. Do not stay in bed and oversleep. Create a routine for yourself where you can mix time outdoors, exercise, treat, and meet people. Make the effort and try to not stay alone, cause if you are feeling homesick, loneliness only makes it worse. Reach out to others in your program who are feeling the same.

• Visit the new place. No need to travel to another city, just allow yourself to move around and visit whatever there is to see. Museums, parks, zoos…Whatever you like. Take a city tour. It usually helps you get an idea of the place. Then, you can get back there on your own to see what it is about.

• Stay connected, but do not overdo it.

Internet and social media have changed the possibilities of staying connected with home. They have shrunk distances in ways we only see in science fiction. It is great to stay connected, but be careful not to overdo it. The purpose of studying abroad is to immerse yourself in a new culture and a new place. Get to know new people. Constantly being stuck on the phone does not help. Allow yourself to be in the current moment. There will be time to tell the stories when you get back home.

One wonderful way to deal with homesickness during the holidays is to celebrate holidays native to your home country. For Americans studying abroad, the best examples are Thanksgiving and Independence Day. Well then, use the opportunity to share with the host country. Share with your new friends a little of your own culture. Tell them what you celebrate on those days. Invite them for a Thanksgiving feast.

• Moment to be jolly?

No necessarily. You will not be the only student studying abroad who feels homesick during the holidays. Gather with other students from your program. Share the moment with our new friends. Remember, the holidays are the season to be jolly, grateful, and giving.

Ask for help!

If you are having a bad time, seek help. Most programs have insurance for counseling. The cultural adjustment is difficult. It affects each one of us differently. Some have symptoms like anxiety and depressive moods. Don’t let this ruin this opportunity to enjoy it!