Submitted by Anna Reynolds on the 2022 spring semester program in London, England…
Making sure your mental health is taken care of while abroad is such an important thing. This past week was hard for me mentally because I watched all of my friends go back to UD and reunite. While I was experiencing such a fantastic opportunity abroad, I was still scared of missing out on things back home. The most important thing if you feel homesick is getting out of your flat. I did not have anything planned, but going on a walk around the city after class one night helped bring my spirits up. Also, calling my friends from home helped because I realized they were thinking about and missing me. While it is good to keep in touch with friends back home, I was still left with the feeling of being left out of the memories they were making back home, even though I was making new friends and new memories out here. Going out with your friends out here helps get you out of your funk because you do get reminded of where you are and gaining new experiences is a good way to combat homesickness. Although this is something that nobody wants to hear, homesickness needs time to get better. I do not know how to explain it other than, yes, it’s not going to be fun sometimes, but it’s only temporary unless you dwell on it. Staying in your flat or room is just adding insult to injury, and you will not get out of your funk that way. You only have a limited amount of time in the country, so enjoying the time you have is super important.