When Your Loved Ones are Overseas – Dealing With Homesickness
Being an international student tends to brood some of the loneliest situations a person could experience. During this period, one is usually presented with culture shock, the challenge of developing meaningful friendships and entering a confusing world simultaneously. It is difficult to spend years away from home, family and lifelong friends in a strange, unfamiliar and intimidating environment. Some of these situations eventually progress into depression, a far too common occurrence on college campuses.
The boundary of separation amongst students with families overseas is much stronger than those who may have arrived from distant cities or states throughout a country. Simple phone calls for international students are almost always more expensive due to the distance, exacting shorter phone conversations with families. An additional layer to the problem is that international students quite often cannot afford to visit families during breaks; for many of these students, college is the first time they have been separated from their families for such a long period of time.
Dealing with the loneliness of extreme homesickness is difficult, but very possible. The key is to be proactive. Situations involving loneliness and separation are easily improved with a positive outlook. There is an equation that states: an Outcome is equal to an Event plus a person’s Response (E+R=O). In this instance, response is essential. It would be very helpful to make the most out of the college experience by building meaningful friendships, getting involved in on-campus activities and pursuing personal interests. These may not replace family relationships, but they can occupy your time and help keep your mind off homesickness. Sacrifice always brings a reward, and being far away from home to establish a great life is no exception.