Finding a home away from home

The reality of moving away from home is an experience that is different for everyone. For some, it takes the form of going to school somewhere in-state while, for others, it means uprooting everything and moving to the other side of the world. For some, this period of change can be especially daunting. For others, they may relish the opportunity for greater independence and the chance to truly find their place in this world. 

From a personal perspective, moving across the world from Melbourne to Baltimore meant that I knew that I wouldn’t be able to see friends and family for long periods of time. Fortunately, we live in a time where long-distance communication couldn’t be easier with the proliferation of messaging and video-calling platforms; however, even the longest call doesn’t remedy the absence of a nice home-cooked meal at home, surrounded by family. 

After a year away from home, I can’t claim to have the solution for curing homesickness nor can I even say that there’s a way to always make it easy, but I do believe that my experience has taught me a number of important lessons on how to get through and deal with the issues that come with the distance.

I’ve found that perhaps the single most important key to feeling comfortable and at home at college is to surround yourself with people that can make each day just a little bit better. Whether you find this by sharing your time with your roommates, fellow classmates or other like-minded individuals, it can all help with your sense of belonging and ease the pains of homesickness.

For me, being able to adjust to life in America would not have been possible without the support of my girlfriend, Lindsay, who went out of her way to support me through the biggest change I had ever experienced. Being able to do enjoyable activities with people you care about can be the exact thing that helps with navigating the stresses of school life and being away from home. Not only that, but having people that you can just talk to and others who have or are going through the exact same thing as you, can be necessary to be able to stay level-headed through a difficult time.

Additionally, another key to finding a home at college is trying to embrace the new city that you’re in to the fullest extent. For those who are moving cities — or even countries — to go to college, it’s the perfect time to explore a new place and try to experience all of the new things that exist there. We’re fortunate enough to live in a city rich with cultural history and a number of beautiful surroundings and spots to check out. Whether it’s taking a walk in the Inner Harbor, grabbing a nice dinner with friends in Little Italy or marvelling at the works of art and history at the Walters Art Museum, many different things can help ease the transition and make Baltimore feel like home.

Ultimately, though, there is no cure for homesickness. No matter how comfortable you feel on your own, friends and family back home will always be far away, and it can be difficult to leave them behind each time. My best advice is to try to find a balance between everything. It’s important to keep the connections that you’ve built throughout your whole life, but you shouldn’t let that get in the way of trying to find your own place in this new world that you’re living in. Always try, and make the most of your opportunities both in and outside of school. Explore hobbies, make friends and, most importantly, embrace this new environment that you’re in.

Freddy Branson is a sophomore from Melbourne, Australia majoring in flute performance. He is a Sports Editor for The News-Letter.