How to deal with home sickness/"Leaving sickness"?

[MissDK]

I am currently spending a year as an exchange studen in America... Everything is great (lots of friends, good school, boyfriend), but I am starting to get "leaving sick" (My own made-up word.. Opposite of home sick.. I DON'T want to go home)... I feel terrible everytime I think about going home... Does anyone have a good idea for how I should deal with it?

(Sorry about my bad English)

 

[Sticky Squid]

I have never had either problem, but couldn't you just stay?

 

[ethaninja]

Give it time That's all I can say to those who get homesick. Probably seek some sort of councilling. That helps too they say.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Become an illegal immigrant?

Short of that I can't really think of how to make leaving that behind any easier to deal with. Maybe just swear you'll be back and leave something really valuable behind so you'll have no choice but come back.

 

[MissDK]

Become an illegal immigrant?

Short of that I can't really think of how to make leaving that behind any easier to deal with. Maybe just swear you'll be back and leave something really valuable behind so you'll have no choice but come back.

Hahah.. Good idea. Unfortunately I'm only 16, so I don't really own anything valuable XD

 

[MissDK]

I have never had either problem, but couldn't you just stay?

Well, I could if I had the money... Sadly I don't.. I spend 5 years saving for this trip... For a 16 year old like me $20.000 is A LOT of money! XD

 

[LostAlone]

I really know the feeling. I'm coming to the end of my masters degree, and the only thing that really scares me about the future is that I might have to live with my parents again. It'd be the ultimate failure for me.

For you, I'd say that the best thing you can do is go back home, wait a couple of years, and then tooth and claw your way back out to the states. It won't be easy, not by a long way, but its possible. Starting with a student visa, even if it means mopping floors to make your way. Hopefully, you won't have to be away for too long.

Also, I will agree that counselling can help. Maybe not in the sense that you'll still not want to go home, but having someone older and wiser to talk to really does help when you think about planning the future and they can definitely help you find some sort of peace or acceptance in the interim.

 

[PayneTrayne]

I know no way to deal with it, I just know that it sucks the big fat hairy meatball. My condolences and I hope you feel better when/if you go back.

 

[aalio]

I was kicked out last year by my mum (I was 16 at the time) and in the lead up to that day, that I knew was coming, I felt physically sick, that was the house I grew up in, and I'd never lived anywhere else. But when that day came, I felt like I was moving on, and it felt great. You just have to move forward, and do the things that you have to do. Maybe in a few years time, when you've gotten a full time job, you could save up the money and return to America. You've just gotta do what you've gotta do.

 

[Phlakes]

I always got this feeling going on vacations when I was younger. When we would be on the plane home, I would want to go back and be free again, especially if the trip was with friends. It's that little taste of full independence that makes moving out SO worth the wait.

 

[thylasos]

In terms of home-sickness, a plate of beans on toast always helped when I was out in Russia, it must be said. Ultimate comfort food, for a British person.

Now I try to find Varenniki, to remind myself of Russia.

Given America's cultural dominance over the world, I shouldn't think it would be tough to remind oneself of the place.

 

[DreadfulSorry]

I can't say I've ever experienced that myself; I've spent about four months all together in Italy over the course of the last four years, but every time I get close to the end of each trip, I'm always ready to go home. Although, every once in a while I get a particularly strong ache to return to Rome...
I guess the best advice I could give you is to enjoy the time you have left in the US to the fullest; thinking about how much you don't want to leave will only make you miserable, and fretting about it just wastes time that you could spend hanging out with your new friends instead! You're only 16, you'll have plenty of time to earn enough money to come back!

Edit: Also, your English is better than some of the people on these forums who's first language is English.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Become an illegal immigrant?

Short of that I can't really think of how to make leaving that behind any easier to deal with. Maybe just swear you'll be back and leave something really valuable behind so you'll have no choice but come back.

Hahah.. Good idea. Unfortunately I'm only 16, so I don't really own anything valuable XD

Not all treasure is gold love. Something you hold dearly would be better, a photograph, an item of clothing, a promise perhaps?

Ask someone important to you to look after it until you return