Overcoming Homesickness as an International Student
Transferring to Tufts, after facing a lot of homesickness my freshman year, I thought I would be over homesickness, but honestly, it never fully goes away. There are moments when you miss home and your family but there are so many ways to cope with it and make Tufts your second home.
Staying connected is the most important one. Being an international student from India, celebrating vibrant festivals and being with my loved ones during festival season is something I have grown up doing. There are times of the year where I get very homesick and miss my friends and family, but I can always give them a call and celebrate with them on FaceTime. I also celebrate festivals with the Tufts Association of South Asians, which helps Tufts begin to feel a lot like home. Leaning on my family as my support system no matter how far they are is something that I have really tried to do, and that helps me get through days of homesickness.
It is super important to keep your day busy but also to have a balanced schedule and do new and exciting things every now and then. I have found exploring Boston in my free time to be super fun, and trying out new restaurants in and around Tufts is always exciting. I have kept myself busy by having a research position, working as a Diversity Ambassador, being Co-President of the Tufts Association of South Asians and Co-Director of Business Development at 180 Degrees Consulting. I have my plate super full on the weekdays, while I try to balance doing my assignments and spending quality time with friends on the weekend. This really helps with finding your people and making Tufts a place you love.
Whenever I get homesick, I try to eat Indian food and though it does not taste like home, it makes me happy and makes me feel warm inside because it is my comfort food. I try new places every time with friends and hope to find one that tastes closer to the food I get at home. Another thing is making your room at Tufts feel homely, and I have done this by putting up pictures of my family and friends from home to make the space feel like my safe space.
Yes, homesickness hits you at random moments, but it is important to remember that there are people you can lean on for support. Keep busy, be open to new experiences and try to find people at Tufts who make it feel like home!