When moving to another country, there is a lot that you may have to give up. These sacrifices can often lead to feelings of homesickness. However, there are small ways in which you can still enjoy these things or at least find a substitute for them. Below are just a few of the common things that people miss when moving to another country and how you can deal with these feelings.
Family and friends
Family and friends are the biggest and most obvious things that you’ll miss when moving to another country. However, unlike decades ago when you could only keep in touch via letter, it’s now possible to maintain regular contact with family and friends via platforms like Zoom and Facebook. Yes, a video call is not the same as meeting a friend or family member in person; however, it’s better than not communicating at all. It’s worth regularly scheduling calls back home and possibly even planning virtual games to play together so that it feels more like you’re spending quality time together. Of course, it’s also important to make new friends in your new country - you’re more likely to miss friends back home if you’re not getting any social interaction in your new country.
Random foods
There are certain foods that you may not be able to find abroad in local stores or restaurants. Fortunately, it may still be possible to satisfy your cravings for these foods by importing them. For example, there are sites where you can buy online Canadian snacks if you are missing certain snacks from Canada that aren’t in local stores. While cherishing these familiar foods, make sure that you’re still trying new local foods. You may find some new favorite snacks that you didn’t even know you needed in your life.
TV shows
You may not be able to watch certain TV shows in your new country that you previously binged. Of course, there are ways around this - such as using a VPN to access content from your home country that may be restricted in your new country, or even buying DVDs of series.
Familiar customs
There could be festivals that you celebrated back home that aren’t celebrated abroad. By connecting with fellow expats, you may be able to find people to still celebrate these festivities with. Alternatively, you could try introducing locals to these celebrations, perhaps hosting your own celebrations at home. Just make sure that you’re also immersing yourself in the festivals of your new country.
Your old routine
When moving to any new place, it can be difficult to adjust one’s routine. There may be certain rituals and habits that you cannot replicate abroad, such as going to the gym at a certain time of day or going shopping at certain stores. You will have to develop a new routine in these cases, however, it’s worth noting that there may still be small familiar rituals that you can continue.
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