As an international student, you may think you can only take assigned classes. The truth is, your tuition fees actually cover a number of other useful facilities that you can enjoy at your university! In fact, all educational institutions serving international students are required to provide support services under Australian law. The purpose of this support facility is to help international students study and adapt to their new life in Australia.

Here are some of the facilities at your university that you can enjoy as an international student:

IT’S NORMAL TO BE HOMESISSY

The most important and important thing you need to know is that homesickness is normal. Homesickness is a part of life in Australia and it will affect you no matter how hard you try. Think about how you’ve spent your whole life in your hometown and now you have to move to a completely different place that may be completely unfamiliar. Yes, feeling homesick is very normal.

When you’ve just arrived in Australia, you’re probably busy and excited to explore the country. You probably just want to see, taste and visit everything new around you. This busyness helps you forget the feeling of homesickness. Metaphorically, it’s like a honeymoon phase. When you’re just married, everything is fun and great until ‘real life’ takes over and there’s an adjustment period. Feeling homesick, means the ‘honeymoon period’ is over and you are now in the adjustment period. The trick is not to let the feeling of homesickness overwhelm you because once you get over it, you will feel more at home than ever. Remember, patience is the key.

6 WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE FEELING OF HOMESISSY

Your motivation in overcoming feelings of homesickness should be to remember that it is only a temporary phase. Here are some tips that can help you overcome feelings of homesickness:

1. Express your feelings
Express your feelings. If you need to cry to release your emotions, do it. Have a good cry from time to time. Crying is our body’s way of releasing emotions. If looking at pictures of home, eating favorite foods from home, or talking to loved ones you left behind helps you, do it. Don’t hold back.

2. Remember why you came
Try to think about why you moved to Australia. Finally, you cannot move to a foreign country without an important reason. Whether it’s studying, working, or living a new life, remember that. A lot of people leave their home country and come to Australia to “have a better life” in all those respects. When you deal with feelings of homesickness, remind yourself why you moved. Think about why Australia is so special to you that you want to move here…

3. Bring part of the house to Australia
Fill your living space with reminders of home. Just because you move to Australia doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon everything from your home country. You can hang family photos, cook your favorite dishes, watch your favorite movies, or listen to music from your favorite artists from your hometown. You can also celebrate holidays back home in Australia, many cultural and religious festivals are held here. Chinese New Year, Holi, Diwali, St. Patrick’s Day, Ramadan, Paniyiri and Oktoberfest are examples of special international holidays. You can try checking out your hometown’s consulate as they often hold special events on local holidays.

4. Go out!
When you feel homesick, try to go out and participate in social activities. Finally, meeting new people outside can help distract you from feeling homesick instead of just staying at home. Plan lots of activities to make Australia feel like home. Remember how you felt when you first arrived here. Were you really satisfied with everything at that time? Make a list of things you want to do and places you want to visit. Ultimately, meeting new people and becoming more immersed in your surroundings will make Australia feel more like home.

5. Take advantage of student support
If you are an international student, there is a good chance that your institution offers student support services including counselling. During counseling sessions, you can talk to a counselor about personal issues such as feelings of homesickness in a confidential manner. Don’t worry, counselors are trained to listen to your feelings of homesickness and help you choose strategies to overcome them. Yes, you are in good hands!

6. Give yourself courage

That’s right, you’ve made a big move! It took courage and patience to move to a completely new place and you did it. Remind yourself of how far you’ve come. There may be days when you feel like you’re living on a different planet entirely, but there will certainly be other days when you wake up in the morning and feel right at home.

Feeling homesick is just a reminder that you are in the place you chose to be. It’s just a state of mind and doesn’t always mean you need to go home. Remember that it is only a temporary phase and it will pass. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself when you feel homesick!