Homesickness can hit you unexpectedly when you’re living away from home, especially if you’re staying for a longer period. I experienced this firsthand during my year-long stay in Germany, which was the first time I had ever lived alone. Holidays like Easter can make homesickness even more difficult to bear. If you’re spending a holiday away from home, here are some practical tips that helped me, and they might help you or a loved one who is facing the same situation this holiday season.

Create your own family away from home

One of the best ways to combat homesickness is by building your own “family” in the place where you live. I was fortunate enough to have longtime family friends in the Netherlands, not far from Essen, Germany. Our friendship started nearly 17 years ago when my sister met Monique in a Yahoo chat room. My sister eventually visited Monique in the Netherlands, and later Monique and her family visited us in South Africa. We’ve stayed in touch over the years through Christmas cards and Facebook, and during my time in Germany, I was able to spend Christmas, New Year’s, and my birthday with them.

Making meaningful connections like these can provide you with a support system that feels like home, even when you’re far away. For me, spending time with these family friends was a true highlight of my time in Europe. Building your own “family” abroad can help create a sense of belonging and make holidays like Easter or Christmas feel a little less lonely.

Start new traditions of your own

This brings me to the next point: start your own traditions if you used to sing Christmas carols as a family on Christmas Eve. Be adventurous and do something else, like get Glüwhein at a Christmas market. You could watch old Christmas movies with your international friends. Instead of serving complicated meals, come up with new menu items. Starting new traditions doesn’t mean you don’t value the old ones. You just really need to keep it simple. Stressing out trying to create the exact same holiday experiences abroad is just a waste of time. Relaxing should be part of the holidays after all.

I couldn’t find hot cross buns, and Anastasia couldn’t find traditional Easter Russian cake, so we tried something German. We got to try something new even though none of us liked it. It doesn’t matter; we tried it. Making a recipe from scratch that you never made alone without guidance can really stink; if it flops, it will add to your homesickness. I made pumpkin fritters for an international dinner. It was hosted in Duisburg, and my classmates attended. The texture of my fritters was way off base. Instead of being dense fritters, they came out fluffy. The pumpkin was too watery. I travelled by bus with a pumpkin. And I walked uphill to my apartment, and the fritters weren’t even right. Luckily, everyone loved them. I realised at that moment that I could’ve just made banana pancakes. Instead I went searching for a pumpkin. I’m Cinderella or something. Trust me, choose simpler traditions and easier recipes, or just buy ready-made foods if you can find them. Your holiday is more about spending time with your new friends. You might go home, and it might take a long time before you get to see them again, so treasure the people and those moments.

Use social media wisely

 Social media can be both a blessing and a curse. While scrolling through perfect holiday photos can make you feel more homesick, it’s also a great way to stay connected with loved ones. Instead of comparing your holiday to everyone else’s, use social media to Skype or FaceTime with your family, allowing you to feel closer even when you’re far away. I’ll never forget the moment my disabled brother, who can’t speak, lit up when he saw my face on Skype—he recognized my voice, and that memory still brings a smile to my face.

Decorate your space

Before I left for Christmas, I decorated a table in my room with Christmas things. I bought a few things: a tiny wax lamp, which looks like a Christmas tree, and a candy cane of Harbo bears (gummy bear sweets). I put these in a decorative jar, which Anastasia gave me. I also placed a few Lana Del Rey CDs, a snowman Christmas ornament I bought at the Christmas market in Essen, and candles on my table. My table in my room helped put me in the festive spirit.
I was still completing assignments, and my last paper was due on the 20th. My table helped me remember that my birthday and Christmas were coming. A simple thing like decorating your room or apartment can make a difference. I also sent pictures of my table to loved ones back home. I even inspired a friend to do the same. The things I bought were inexpensive. I used the candles and took the CDs, snowman, and tree back home.

I decided to do the same thing for Easter. Making a few changes to my space made me feel happier. I felt like I was celebrating the holidays in my own way. This allowed me to focus on the positive parts of the holidays instead of just wallowing in my homesickness.

Treat yourself

In South Africa, I couldn’t always afford to buy Lindt bunnies. I went and bought myself one in Germany. I bought all of Lana Del Reys CDs at Christmas; I love her voice. These things were inexpensive, and spoiling yourself a little is an awesome thing; say yes to retail therapy. I didn’t go overboard, so I don’t regret my purchases. Have fun and do something luxurious for yourself that you couldn’t have done back home.

Travel

Sometimes it’s not possible to get your new friends together to spend the holidays with. They might all be flying back home; in that case, save up so that you can travel. A friend of mine also named Nicolette did a solo travelling trip during the Christmas break. I saw her posting selfies from Amsterdam and around Austria, smiling broadly. Having time to travel is a golden opportunity to plan a Christmas, Easter, or New Year’s tour for one and have an amazing time with yourself.

Fly solo

My brother-in-law spent one Christmas alone. He ordered takeout, rented all the Lord of the Rings films, and was able to keep them till the 27^th of December. He binge-watched his favourite films on Christmas Day. For him, this was one of his best Christmases. It depends on your personality. The Lord of the Rings is an epic trilogy; in my opinion, it would make it difficult for me to miss home. I’m not advocating that you climb into a cave and stay there the whole holidays, but if staying in a few days is something you like doing, why not? You can always do a celebration when all your friends return. 

Mindset

I honestly didn’t miss home that much; maybe it’s because I knew I was only staying away for a year. When I did feel homesick, I would call my mom, sister, dad, boyfriend, etc., and talk to them. This was my remedy: sometimes you just need to hear the voices of the people you love. Most of all, I spoke to them about my experiences. I could hear their happiness over the phone and see it via Skype. My opportunity to study in Germany for a year allowed me to learn about the country and broaden my academic knowledge. I also got to travel around Europe.

Being able to travel was a blessing. My parents never traveled internationally, so I chose to focus on that. There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself time to miss home. Allow yourself moments to feel sad, but never wallow in that sadness. Cap your sad moments at 10 minutes a day. Go out and focus on positive alternatives, like making a call to a loved one, listening to music from home, going out with a new friend, or taking a walk. These activities will keep you busy and uplift you. And when you call a loved one, don’t focus on how homesick you are. Be brief: say, “Yes, I miss you; I miss home,” but then move on.

Your mindset helps when you’re missing home. Be grateful for the holidays you spent together in the past. Be happy that you’re spending your holidays now with new people. Look for a silver lining. Some of my best holiday experiences were spent abroad. Be open to new experiences.

I would love to hear from you any feedback is deeply appreciated. Thank you so much for reading.

Wishing you happy travels!