You’ve moved across the world: new home, new workplace, new environment. Initially it can feel really exciting. You may make connections quickly or not. Either way, it’s likely that sooner or later you will miss your loved ones: family, old friends and even ex-colleagues.
I am in week 2 of my move, less than a week in my current home. When my husband and daughter left for school that is when the feeling of needing to connect to people I already new became apparent. Here is an excerpt from my book, Becoming a Successful International Teacher (2021):
“Homesickness is likely to affect you at some point after your move. One teacher described it thus:
‘Wherever you go, it is human nature to compare it to where you have been before but this is not helpful. I began to miss the things I could only get in the UK and these became very special when I could find them in shops. Once I started to embrace the new things in the country, it really started to feel more like home.’
This can be a difficult period, therefore connect with your family and close friends quickly to help counteract this. Set up the internet within your apartment as soon as possible. As stressed previously, you can connect via a platform you like to use and can access in your new country, such as Skype or Facetime. Knowing that family and loved ones are a quick call away can be hugely reassuring” pp.96-97.
Update August 24: So what did I do? I reconnected with first friends who are now in my timezone. Some of these friends I hadn’t spoken to, with a phone call, for over a year due to working full-time. I also re-connected with an ex-colleague who caught me up on the developments at my old ‘home’. I have set weekly calls (and bi-weekly) for a family member, which will keep the contact up and stop my missing my close relationships so much. I will also ensure that my daughter has regular contact with her family, to keep those bonds strong.
What have you done to connect with loved ones?
New to International Teaching with Jess Gosling 