A sudden change in environment and the fact that one has been accustomed to a place and way of life can be very difficult to make adaptation possible.
Students from Nigeria who recently got admission to any of the universities out of the country will go through different stages of culture shock. If not properly handled, these people will seek to return home — to the comfort of their regular way of life and into the arms of their loved ones.
But this is your future now and you have to adapt. In this article, we provide tips on how to handle homesickness as an International Student from Nigeria.
What Is Homesickness?
It is the feeling of being uncomfortable in a new environment and seeking to go back into “one’s shell” — to the way of life you have been accustomed to for most of your life.
The stress that these changes in teaching practices, climate and academic environment can have an overwhelming impact. We’ll make it less stressful by providing tips.
Read: The Freshman Survival Guide for Nigerian International Students
Tips for Dealing with Homesickness as an International Student
In this section, we help you explore possible ways to deal with the feeling of inadequacy and loneliness that comes with relocating to study abroad.
1. Don’t Suppress the Feeling
The first thing most students would do is live in denial — not wanting to believe that they’re homesick.
A faster way to get over it is by expressing the emotions rather than bottling them up. By allowing yourself to miss home and feel sad about it, coping becomes easier in a short while.
Here are extra tips:
- Don’t throw tantrums but manage your emotions well enough so no one gets to know you’re missing home.
- Get a journal and document what you miss most about home. This can be effective in helping you find a substitute to replace the things you hold dear.
- If possible, confide in a friend, possibly a fellow Nigerian who under better how it feels to settle down in a new clime.
2. Call Home when Feeling Homesick
What could be a better remedy for a problem than re-engineering it? When homesickness hits you, pick up the phone and call home.
Keeping in touch with family and friends back in Niger will help you feel less anxious and gradually help you settle into the new environment.
If regular calls don’t cut it and are expensive, use instant messaging apps like Messenger and WhatsApp to stay in touch.
3. Seek Support if It’s Unbearable
If you feel overwhelmed despite maintaining connections with loved ones, it may be a good idea to seek support.
While talking to a therapist may help; there are several other not-so-serious options to consider:
- Reach out to a designated international representative.
- Talk to another international student, particularly one from Nigeria.
- Seek help on how to cope from a professor.
- If you have a close friend, you could also confide in the person.
4. Get Out of the Comfort Zone
The chances of being alone most of the time are high, especially in the early months or resuming studies abroad.
Staying all to yourself or being in a “comfort zone” can further trigger homesickness.
Tips to help snap out of this faster are:
- Making new friends.
- Spending quality time with your friends.
- Be sure to have a broad circle of friends who will make you feel supported every step of the way.
5. Try to Distract Yourself
Keeping yourself occupied most of the time will give you less room for thinking of home. Distract yourself by:
- Joining and actively involved in as many activities as you can.
- Search for an organization or a club that shares a similar interest as the hobbies you’re interested in.
- Connect with peers by joining societies at universities where you get to meet new people.
6. Give It Time
Homesickness is like a pain that goes away with time. The keyword is “time” so take it easy on yourself.
How long it’ll take may differ, but in about 6 months, the feeling should start wearing off.
7. Create Familiar Surrounding
The fact that your loved ones are not close by can be very nervous for you. There’s a way around it — creating familiar surroundings or personalizing your space.
Got a favourite cushion at home? A photograph you cherish so much? Or any other decorative item? Bring some of those with you or buy something similar when you get to your destination.
8. Build an Attachment with a Spot in the City
The feeling of being abandoned or missing home is not always tied to not seeing your loved ones for a long time. Sometimes, it could be because you miss some of the places you visit.
The ideal way to get around this is to find a new favourite spot or place within the university or the city.
It could be going to the cinema or lunching at a cafeteria at the university.
9. Create a “Me-Time”
All these while, you’re worried sick of getting in touch with your friends and family members back home.
However, you can make the most out of dealing with homesickness by setting aside some time for yourself.
This is the moment you need to rediscover yourself and chart the course of the next phase of your life.
The rule of thumb is having me-time in a solitary environment — away from any disturbances.
Create that peaceful environment by:
- Seeking a secluded spot or a place where people don’t congregate all the time.
- If it’s a room, use dim lights to help with relaxation.
10. Don’t Over-Indulge in Your Private Time
While having a me-time can help with relaxation and improved mood; it mustn’t be overly used.
Don’t spend so much time alone because it’ll turn out to make an introvert out of you.
Juggle between spending some time alone and going out to discover new interests and meet new people on campus.
Conclusion: Don’t Miss Home So Much
International students from Nigeria find it a little bit hard to settle into a new environment when studying abroad.
With fewer friends and family members over there, it can be difficult to get over the feeling.
You need to understand that it’s normal and coming up with coping mechanisms, such as calling home at intervals, making new friends and becoming active on campus can help you overcome the feeling of homesickness faster.