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Six ways to battle homesickness as an expat


It’s that time of the year again. Holidays are approaching, my bank account is worried about the number of gifts I have to buy and I am missing home. Even though not every expat celebrates Christmas, the cosy vibes that are spread across the country during this time of year do spark that feeling of homesickness. It’s times like this when I secretly start to doubt if this whole “moving to the UK” plan was a good idea in the first place. Even after having lived in England for five years, I can’t always shake the feeling that I’m missing out on so much important quality time with the people I love. It’s normal to miss home sometimes. I grew up in a small village where friends and family lived


no further than a five minute bike ride from my childhood home. Compared with the huge city I live in now, filled with people who grew up in a different culture from my own, it’s a big contrast. But these are times that I have to stop and remind myself of how lucky I am to have had the


opportunity to move to a foreign country. The challenges I’ve faced here have turned me into the person I am today. I’ve also made new friends that I basically consider to be my second family. There isn’t a cure for homesickness but there are a few things that always help me: .


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Call home. Pick up the phone and call a friend or family member. It’s good to catch up with those you miss most and speak your own language again for a bit (I’m definitely guilty of not speaking enough Dutch and am slowly forgetting words and sentence structures).


Blast music through your house. Yes, that’s music in your native language. Still have some guilty pleasures from back home? I sure do – and they’re in a little Spotify playlist that I put on whenever I’m starting to miss the Netherlands.


Plan a trip home. Knowing you’ll be able to visit soon, even if it’s in a few months’ time, always calms down my homesickness. It’s something to look forward to.


Meet up with other expats. Surround yourself with people who understand what you’re going through. Look for expats to connect with on Facebook groups, apps like Meetup or at FOCUS and grab a coffee with them.


Catch up with your UK-based friends. As well as surrounding yourself with expats, being with your English pals is a good way to battle homesickness. Let them know how you’re feeling and grab some lunch or dinner. It’s a little reminder that things aren't that bad over here and that you have a support system in not one but two countries – and that’s something to celebrate.


Nele van Hout moved to the UK in 2014 and has been living in Manchester ever


. Remind yourself why the UK rocks. Do a quintessentially British thing that you love. You could grab a pint at your local, go for a walk through the countryside or make yourself the best Sunday roast that a person could ask for. We all moved here for a reason so it’s good to remind ourselves of that from time to time.


10 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2019


since. She’s a full-time travel blogger who shares free travel guides, itineraries and expat tips. Follow her adventures at www.thenavigatio.com.


www.focus-info.org


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