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No matter how far my travels have taken me, I’ve always found a way to make it back home for the holidays. The season just wouldn’t feel the same without the traditions, hearty foods, and inside jokes of my family’s celebrations.
My fondness for the holiday season shaped my study abroad decisions, too. When planning my semester abroad, the thought of missing out on Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas morning was unthinkable, so I opted to limit my travels to the summer and spring.
In some cases, holiday travel is unavoidable, and other times it’s advantageous. No matter your reason for traveling or living internationally, if you’re away for the holidays, be prepared for a dose of the seasonal blues. Here are a few tips to overcome homesickness while abroad.
Yes, it is entirely normal to feel homesick while on vacation. Homesickness is considered to be a form of culture shock. You’re in a place and culture that isn’t your own, and when you feel disconnected from the familiar, you may get those sensations of being lost or “other.”
Anyone can get homesick, especially when you're overseas for work or school. Expats and immigrants often feel homesick. These feelings might be particularly intense when there’s no end date to your trip, as is the case for people who have chosen to live abroad long term. And it’s not just something children experience when they’re away at camp. Yes, adults can feel homesick. And yes, it’s common.
Homesickness happens in stages. The first few days or weeks of travel are usually great. It’s the honeymoon stage where everything is new and exciting.
Then reality hits. What was once novel and unique is just hard and frustrating. This is when you may experience symptoms of homesickness such as loneliness, changes in appetite, poor sleep, decrease in work or school performance, and low moods.
These symptoms can last for a few days to weeks or even longer. When you’re traveling during the holiday season, homesickness may feel particularly intense and have longer-lasting symptoms. Fortunately, there are several ways to deal with homesickness when you’re abroad during the holiday season.
Use the holiday season to learn about local traditions. Seek out public events like festivals or markets. If you have a host family, ask about the holidays they celebrate and join in on their traditions, if they invite you!
Family traditions are an essential part of the holidays, and if you’re not home to celebrate, it’s easy to feel left out. Rather than dwelling on the loss of Grandma’s sweet potato pie, take advantage of the precious time you have in your host country.
“I’ve spent multiple Christmas holidays in Switzerland, visiting friends,” said Becky Hart, Seven Corners’ travel editor. “One of my favorite parts of those trips is visiting the holiday markets. Whether in Zurich or on a weekend trip to Italy, it’s always been a treat to see the crafts, have a mug of glühwein, and just soak up the festive energy.
“One year, my friend invited me to Christmas Eve dinner at his mom’s house for a traditional Swiss fondue. It was hard to feel too sad about missing my family when I was welcomed into their home so warmly.”
There’s no place like home for the holidays, but there’s a good chance your host country has plenty to offer, too. Get a jump start on this tip for dealing with holiday homesickness by creating a bucket list of activities before the festivities even begin.
Use the holiday season as a catalyst for cultural exchange. Host a Friendsgiving with your international travel buddies. Make a favorite holiday treat for your roommates or the people you work with. Introduce your host family or your local friends to holiday classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
“This can go both ways, too,” Becky reminds us. While in graduate school in Indiana, she hosted a Thanksgiving meal for friends from Taiwan and New Mexico who couldn’t go home for the holidays. “That’s still one of my all-time favorite Thanksgivings. We introduced Pei-Wen to foods she’d never heard of, and Lila shared some of her Southwestern traditions all while eating my mom’s classic Midwestern meal.”
By sharing your holiday traditions, you’re able to give back to your host country, while indulging in your seasonal favorites.
A Christmas tree amongst palm trees can call attention to everything you’re missing. If embracing the holidays makes you feel more melancholy because you just can’t quite re-create that feeling of tradition, then go all in on doing something totally different.
You might find it more beneficial to start a new tradition. Instead of baking cookies, host a BBQ. Go to a rock concert. Get a sunburn on the beach (not really; use sunblock, please). Go somewhere that doesn’t celebrate the holidays so that you aren’t constantly reminded of what isn’t.
Whether you’re studying abroad for a semester, living abroad as an expat, or vacationing over the holidays, it can help to make your space feel homey. Don’t be afraid to nest. Decorate like you would for the holidays and make it cozy, and you’ll feel more welcomed and at peace than if you’re merely existing in a sterile dorm or rental.
If you’re feeling the winter blues, make sure to FaceTime or do an online chat with your family. If you have a difficult relationship with your immediate family, try reaching out to your chosen family: friends, mentors, teachers, or neighbors.
A long-distance chat won’t be the same as having you there in person, but your loved ones will appreciate knowing that you’re thinking of them. Plus, you’ll benefit from catching up on news from back home. As an added bonus, consider sending out postcards in lieu of Christmas cards.
“My expat friend and her family in Switzerland always text us videos of the kids opening the gifts we sent them, and we text them pictures of us opening the gifts they sent us,” says Becky. “Then when we chat later on Christmas Day, the kids show us what else St. Nicholas and Santa brought. It’s a good way to be part of their holiday excitement even though we’re in different time zones and a continent apart.”
No matter your methods, the holidays are all about celebrating with the people who matter most.
Staying busy with academic or work responsibilities and social activities will keep you in the present, rather than focused on everything you left behind.
While there’s great value in staying connected with family and friends, it’s easy to go overboard. Too much time video chatting with folks back home can lead to greater homesickness, doubt, and loneliness. It’s easy to become hyperaware of every event you’re missing out on, and ultimately, this preoccupation will take away from your experience abroad.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Set boundaries on the time you spend with them virtually.
The holidays are often a time for overindulgence. While the occasional splurge doesn’t hurt, you don’t want to slip into unhealthy habits as a way of coping with loneliness. Enjoy a hot bath, go for a run, visit a museum, eat something green, meet up with a friend, or read a book. When you’re feeling healthy, holiday homesickness is far more manageable.
Use the holiday season as a time to focus on your mental and physical health. Start with our tips for maintaining your mental health and wellness while away from home.
For all their commercialism, the holidays still center on a spirit of generosity and hope for the future. Do your part to spread some holiday joy by participating in a volunteer project, completing a random act of kindness, attending a religious service, or spending time in prayer or meditation.
Shift your focus away from yourself. Do whatever it takes to find your place in this global community. You’ll be surprised by how quickly holiday homesickness fades when you realize you’re part of something bigger.
Remembering everything that excites you about being abroad can help you overcome, or at least lessen, the effects of homesickness. It’s like we said in our recommended itinerary for a Christmas trip in Italy and Switzerland, “Change your outlook on FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and instead prioritize the things you want most out of your trip.”
Looking for more holiday travel tips? Try these reads next:
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