What To Do When Homesickness Hits at University

Malak Hawashin on 4 November 2024

For many of us, going to university is our first time being away from family and friends for an extended period. It can cause our hearts to fill with wistfulness and desolation. Adjusting to a new life can be difficult, despite the pressure to embrace our new chapter at university.

As social anxiety looms over our heads this autumn, we must remind ourselves that we are all on the same boat, experiencing the same feelings of longing for home. We all miss the comfort of our familiar lives, so sitting in our rooms may seem more favourable than going out into the intimidating unknown.

There are many creative and practical ways to navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is homesickness. By incorporating these tricks into your daily routine, you’ll feel more at ease and gradually start to embrace this new and exciting chapter in your lives:

  1. Simple tasks that drag us out of our rooms are important in keeping us busy. Going for a grocery shop with your flatmates, heading to the gym or even attending your lectures can help get your mind off homesickness. These distractions occupy your mind and provide a break from the overwhelming feeling of missing home.
  1. Keep track of LUU wellbeing events such as the weekly wellbeing and global cafes. Fostering a sense of community and belonging that combats loneliness and isolation. This can help you find a space to get to know more people and perhaps even get the support you didn’t know you needed!
  1. LUU hosts many clubs and societies; find something that excites you and give it a go! Your time at university is all about finding yourself and experiencing new things. 
  1. Although it is okay to miss home, you should not cling to what you miss but rather embrace the opportunity you have been given at university. Mindful practices like gratitude journaling are a perfect example of that; start a journal to reflect and note things that you’re grateful for in your new environment. It can help shift your focus to the positive aspects of your experience at university.
  1. When packing for university, grab some trinkets that remind you of your loved ones, such as pictures and stuffed teddies. This will help make your space more comforting and familiar. You can even create a Homesickness Survival Kit.
  1. Fill a box with items that bring you comfort and relaxation. Something like your favourite tea, a cosy blanket, or a good book will do the trick. Whenever you feel down, you can reach for it to lift your spirits.
  1. Create a schedule that excites you. You can look up new recipes and try them out every day. Similarly, you can arrange coffee dates with your coursemates between classes. Or even set up virtual hangouts with family and friends through video calls. Having a set time to connect with loved ones can give you something to look forward to and make it through the hard times.
  1. It is important to look after yourself, your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health. Getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising are a great way to boost your mental health. Having a routine is essential in reducing your anxiety and creates a sense of comfort and familiarity in your new life.
  1. Stick it out! Students who go home every weekend usually find that it takes longer to fit in, so make sure to stay around the first few weeks.

It is okay to feel homesick, whether you’re a first-year or coming back from an eventful summer break. What’s most important is that you make sure to prioritise yourself and listen to what your body and emotions are telling you. These proactive approaches not only help you cope with homesickness but also encourage personal growth and adaptation to your new life.

Read more:

https://engage.luu.org.uk/guides/article/MTH/i-feel-homesick

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/how-deal-homesickness-university

Culture shock: How a different country’s autumn traditions compare to those in the UK

Jacqueline Wong on 31 October 2024

As we welcome the autumn chills and falling maroon leaves, the landscape in the UK transforms into a scene straight out of painting.

What does autumn remind you of?

Warm scented candles, pumpkins, light rain and perhaps the smell of damp earth?

While the elements of autumn mentioned above spring to mind, the mesmerising full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolises harvest, prosperity, and good fortune, which means more to me as I grew up in Hong Kong. For many, autumn is always a time for family and friends to gather.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is widely celebrated in East Asia. It has varied cultural connotations, but its central theme is family, reunion, and thankfulness for the harvest. The story of Chang’e is a Chinese myth closely related to the celebration of the festival. Chang’e was the wife of Hou Yi, a heroic archer who was given an elixir of immortality by the gods. The gods granted him this elixir as a reward for shooting down nine out of ten suns and sparing people from dying from extreme heat. Chang’e was threatened by Hou Yi’s apprentice, Fengmeng, to give out the elixir to him while Hou Yi was away. She took the elixir herself rather than giving it to Fengmeng. She then flew upward, past the heavens, choosing the Moon to be her immortal residence as she loved Hou Yi and wished to live near him. The legend is commemorated yearly through moon gazing and sharing mooncakes, which symbolises the moon and family unity.

Mooncakes / Image Credit: Eat Cho Food

In Hong Kong, where I grew up, the festival is marked by meeting families and friends under the glow of lanterns and moonlight to share mooncakes (a treat filled with lotus seed paste or red bean). In my hazy memories of childhood, my cousins and I roamed the streets with brightly coloured lanterns, which were often shaped like animals or symbols of good luck, representing the hope for prosperity and the guiding light of family and friends. As I grew older, the lights gave way to pleasant evening walks with my family along the promenade, where we could take a break from the fast pace of life.

People launch Kongming lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival / Image Credit: The Independent

In contrast, autumn customs in the UK emphasise different festivities such as Halloween and Bonfire Night. Halloween originated in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was a time when people believed that the line between the living and the dead was blurred, leading to the tradition of dressing up to ward off spirits.

Halloween originated in Ireland over 1000 years ago / Image Credit: Moriarty’s

In modern times, this has transformed into homes and streets decorated with pumpkins, while children dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating. Bonfire Night is observed on November 5th, commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, with bonfires and fireworks lighting up the sky as a tribute to the event. These festivals carry a sense of excitement and festivity but are less focused on the themes of family and reunion central to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Yet, when it comes to commemorating the harvest season, the two cultures share certain commonalities. Whether it is by spending time with loved ones or remembering historical events, both festivals provide an opportunity for reflection. Autumn is a time to recognise the value of custom, community, and thankfulness — whether it is celebrated with the crackle of fireworks over the British Isles or the soft glow of lanterns lighting up the streets of Hong Kong. Despite having distinct beginnings and meanings, both customs encapsulate the spirit of autumn with parties, festivities, and a strong bond between the past and present.

If you are like me and have a different cultural background than the British locals, why not share your autumnal traditions with the new friends you met at university? Engage in some UK autumn customs, giving yourself a fresh UK autumn experience.

No matter where you are from, we wish you a lovely autumn.