Oceans and Lands Away

Living overseas, having long distance friendships and getting over homesickness can be tricky but it's not as hard as one would think ..........

I'm living away from my hometown and have been for many days, months and years. At first it was tricky and terrifying, I thought that some of my close friendships would fade away slowly into thin air. That everyone back home would have simply forgotten about me like I had gone to Mars with NASA. I thought that all I would think about was home and how much I miss it. Thinking that home will always be on my mind and my homesickness would get the best of me. But I was wrong, it's not that hard if you have some tricks up your sleeve that will ensure you that friendship will not be lost and how to fade homesickness slowly off your mind.

1. Get on every social media platform. Make sure that you have all your closest friends on everything!!! Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter, FaceBook (if that's still a thing ....), another message app that you can find on the app store, ect. The thing that works the most for me is the old fashion e-mail (if you still know what that is!). One of my closest friends and I write on specific days of the week to each other. For example my friend writes to me on Friday and I reply to them on Monday. This works most of the time with us, as we write long message to each other about life and the things we are both up to. However, the emails started to become irregular and eventually came to a holt. We started using other platforms to communicate with one another. Then all of a sudden both of us started missing receiving a lengthy email about one another and started the tradition back up again. Another platform that I really depend on is Facebook Messenger. Messenger is a very useful app as you can type messages to one another, voice call and video chat. There will always be one platform that you favour and use the most. You just need to find what works with you and the person or people you are communicating with.

2. PACKAGES!!! I don't know about you but I always love receiving a package in the post!!! Send packages back home with things in it that you can't get there, like specific food items!! My best friend loves Sour Watermelon Candy but can't buy them in Australia, so every time I send a package to her I throw in one or two boxes. That way you start a package "mailing system" for example, you send "exotic" foods back home, then that person can send you a thank you package with all the goodies you grew up with as a child! This "tip" might only apply to people living overseas.

3. Explore like an explorer!!!! The best thing to do when you live in a new city/town/country is to explore it. Explore the area and get your bearings!! Figure out where the closest supermarket is to you, where all the local hot spots are in the city and the best restaurants to eat at with your friends. Also when you are still new and in "tourist mode", GO AND DO THE MOST TOURIST THING POSSIBLE!!! Do it in the first stages of your move as you might not be bothered or keep putting it off in the future. Even if you don't live away from home and haven't done the most popular tourist attraction, go visit them!! Go on, do it!!!!!! If you live in New York and haven't visited the Statue of Liberty get on a ferry and see it!! See what I mean!?!? HAVE FUN!

4. Find your people!!!! Find that coffee shop that reminds you of the coffee shop you went to every afternoon back at home, find a hairdresser that reminds you of your old hairdressers or find a good Thai restaurant you can order take away from because you'll be a regular as you will order from them every Friday night so you can bin-watch Friends with a Pad-Thai. This has taken me a while but as I'm from Melbourne (aka. coffee snob and addict) I tend to spend most of my time at the local Starbucks down the road. I've gotten to know the barista and some of the cashiers so well that every time I come in for a coffee they need to know how things are going, the family and why I changed my order after buying the same drink for 8 months straight. When you find your people you won't feel so far away from home. This can really help if you are experiencing homesickness.

5. Keep your mind busy. Keeping your mind preoccupied sometimes is the best way to get rid of homesickness or the fact that you are miles away from home and loved ones. If you are enrolled in some form of an educational institute, High School or University/College, you will definitely be preoccupied with making new social groups, getting involved in the school community, writing papers, making projects and then handing the assessments. If not, get involved with some community services, join a local gym or get out and about and find something that might interests you. Even just exploring the area will keep your mind busy.

6. Why visit home when you can make home come to you!! If you live in an "exotic" location, somewhere extremely far away from your home town or even just an hour drive away and miss your friends or love ones dearly???? Then plan a holiday!! Not back to your hometown (you can as you will need to visit some time!) but to your new far away land. When your pals or family come, you can show them what you have been up to, your new lifestyle, go out and buy the most traditional/famous food known in the country or finally give them a house tour that's not over FaceTime or a series of snapchat pictures. This is a great way to get over homesickness as you will have a familiar face or accent living with you. Also it's a holiday for whom ever is coming to visit, an experience that they will never forget and a memory they will always have.

I hope these tricks give you some help or ideas how to keep friendships strong and how to minimise homesickness. If you have other ways in communicating with people or dealing with homesickness, leave a comment below. Also let me know your thoughts about the blog and the post :P

Until Next Time. Write Later.

Straya Stef xoxox