Salut! Apparently, I have been made aware from my contacts (very nice staff members at my IES Abroad center) that more people read this blog than just my mother…the pressure is truly on!

Through the study abroad experience, or frankly any large change in life, a common universal experience is the yearning of the past, a want to go back to the way life was. And take it from me, I need two hands to count all the cities I have lived in, so I know a thing or two about this.

No matter what happens, homesickness will be something that everyone faces, both in the study abroad journey, and through adulthood. As someone who has made this transition a million (well, more like six) times, here are some top tips that I have!

My tips are focused on two unique approaches, the first focuses on maintaining connection with the familiar back home, and the second  focuses on activities you can do to settle in, and thereby have more brain power and energy to tackle your transition. To add a disclaimer: I am incredibly introverted, so your mileage with some of these may vary, depending on who you are, how you gain energy. 

Before you leave:

• Bring (a little bit of your own) bedding:

And no, I am not suggesting that one should bring some priceless heirloom. Familiar bedding goes a long way to making one feel much more safe and comfortable in a new space. In my world, I brought a small throw pillow and a throw blanket. These aren’t incredible family heirlooms, but instead small bits of bedding that you have already been using. For example I bought a pillow from a museum gift shop when I was 14, and a small blanket that I bought fresh from a Target in suburban St. Louis. 

•  Set up your commitments with activities from your home school:

Going abroad can be a fantastic way to disconnect from the pressure of university life, but oftentimes the student leadership part of the campus can also bring about a sense of normalcy and also a recurring connection back with your home community. 

To aid in this process, decide how involved you want to be with your organizations before you go abroad, and make it known to leaders and your friends in the club. With modern technology, it is super easy to stay involved in a level that you want to be!

For example, I still write for my college’s newspaper, just a lot less, while taking on a more supportive role for those back on campus. I also still write a newsletter for another club, all activities which give me a natural connection back to my friends and community in Cleveland. 

•  Know how to communicate from your new city:

This bit of advice can fall into the “good things to do regardless of how long you're spending in a new city,” which is knowing how you will communicate with those back home. For example, can you use your U.S. mobile phone, or will you get an e-sim? Have you told your friends with android phones, for example, that they will need WhatsApp to talk with you? Knowing how to communicate can ensure that you can confidently reach out to those back home, and have peace of mind if anything goes awry.  

When you get here:

• Find your happy place:

When you are abroad, you may find yourself with idle time, either between classes, or a quiet weekend in. I always recommend you find some happy place in whatever new city you are in, a physical place in public that you can access, sit, and be with yourself. Ideally, this should be a space where other people are individually going about their own business while at the same time one that can calm you down and remind you as to why you chose to study abroad. And also bonus points if it's a great place to read or eat a quick sandwich.

Here in Nice, we have a massive beach, and it's pretty nice. That is my chosen spot!

• Develop a daily routine:

It’ll be harder to feel like you are missing home when you already are developing a home of your own! Being able to establish a daily or weekly pattern that feels familiar to you, and that you are comfortable and safe in, can do wonders for making you feel accepted in your new city.

For example, have you found your go-to grocery store? What about a local bakery (yes, sorry I am in France, this is needed), or a local ice cream shop? Even cementing the ways to get to your classes (will you use the tram, or use your own two feet?) will help you get settled, by forcing you as well to memorize local walking and transit routes and obtaining all the required passes and materials. 

•  Stay in touch with your friends and family:

Studying abroad is such an exciting experience, of meeting new people and making so many new wonderful connections. But through this experience, I find some of my most cup-filling moments have been when I have reconnected with friends and family back home over a virtual coffee (oh god, I am a business student) or a call over FaceTime audio. 

With that, these are six lessons I have learned from all the transitions I have had to make in my life to a new city, or in this case, country. 

(as many of the Niçosie like to say), Ciao,