answer this question

Advice Question

Homesickness help!

I'm an 18 year old girl, and I just moved out of my parents house to study on the other side of my country, The Netherlands. I'm two and a half hours away from home. I was really looking forward to this, but now that I'm here, all I can think of is going home. Last weekend I went home, and Sunday night I cried all the way back in the train. The thought of having to spend every week here literally makes me sick, and I cry all day. I know it's stupid to quit this study after only two weeks, but I panic at the thought of spending more time here. All the people at my university seem to already know each other, so I can't seem to make new friends. Does anybody have any experience with this, or know what I should do? Thanks
 Eline_K posted over a year ago
next question »

Advice Answers

jamtart01 said:
Hm... looks like u left ur heart at home. Look, ur studies r important and stuff but it looks like u seriously need to go home. Maybe u can visit home again and take something from home that u can bring and keep with u. u will probably feel better then and perhaps be able to concentrate on ur studies. And im sure u will make new friends, it might just take time. I had a pal move schools and it took her a while to find a pal too. But its worth it cos them two are now best friends! so im sure itll all work out. It had to :)
select as best answer
posted over a year ago 
Cinders said:
I have gone through a very similar experience. I grew up overseas, and came back to the United States for college. To make matters worse, I was going to school in Seattle, Washington, and my parents were all the way on the east coast in Washington DC.

Not only did I have to deal with the culture shock of living in America for the first time, but I had to go to a school where I knew nobody and nobody knew me. I didn't get along with either of my two roommates, and found myself calling home and my friends scattered across the country sometimes twice a day. I shed tears of being lonely, and I was very frustrated with the fact that I couldn't make friends, because everyone already had established their social groups and weren't interested in making new friends.

It wasn't what I expected. And I'm terrible at socializing, so it was very hard for me to expend the effort.

Three years later, I'm content with where I am. I have made a few good friends, and I understand how people here work now. I still see my parents regularly, even though my mom just moved to Tunisia. I'm going out there to see her at Christmas.

My advice to you would be to have a regular time when you call home every night. It will give you something to look forward to during the day. Also, look for an activity to participate in around your new area. Volunteering helps you meet friendly people. If you're religious, start going to the local worship places. These will help you find friends outside of school.

Also, keep trying in your classes. Be friendly and polite with your classmates, and they might return the favor. You might not be best friends with all of them, but you might be good friends with a couple of them. That's what happened to me.

Hope that helps.
select as best answer
posted over a year ago 
next question »