Submitted by Lauren Brooks on the 2022 spring semester program in Paris, France…
If I’m being honest, this past week has not been the easiest. Before departing, the students of our program learned about the phases a student can go through as they transition into the new culture they’ve been immersed in. My first week and some of this week was the honeymoon phase. During this phase, everything looks so new and exciting! You see novel places and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. But as you get used to these surroundings, emotions calm and you begin to settle down. Oftentimes this is when homesickness settles in as well.
Although I see myself as a fairly independent student, I’m not at all immune to this stage. I’ve missed home immensely and felt emotional after seeing what everyone has been doing back home. I’ve missed home-cooked meals and I know I’ll be missing important family gatherings. Occurrences in my new host country that once seemed new and intriguing have become seemingly unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
Something I’ve done to combat this is simply to give myself grace and allow myself to feel these feelings. Signing up for a study abroad experience also signs a student up for all of the happiness, sadness, anxiety, and uncertainty that comes with it. These feelings will dissipate with time, and eventually, my experiences will build me into a stronger person.
To any person currently abroad or feeling somewhat alone in a new culture: give yourself grace. Take things day by day and embrace all that your host country has to offer. Once that term comes to an end, you’ll look back and see just how far you’ve come.