4 Things My Family Did To Deal with Homesickness Abroad
My kids enjoying the waterfall
When you're far from home, creating moments of familiarity and adventure can help ease the transition and make a new place feel more like home. During our time living in Southeast Asia, homesickness would sometimes creep in, especially when the differences in culture and daily life felt overwhelming. To cope, we developed a blend of old routines and new traditions that gave us a sense of comfort and excitement.
1. Every so often, we’d have what we called a “home day.” I’d spend the entire day making a Tex-Mex meal from scratch—it was no easy task—especially finding the right ingredients and then grinding the meat, making homemade salsa, shredding the cheese, making homemade tortillas. The kitchen would fill with familiar smells, and we’d top it off with a batch of made-from-scratch brownies. We’d crank the air conditioning as low as it could go (a real treat!), watch American TV shows or movies, and for a few hours, it felt like we were back in the States. These rituals became our way of recharging, reminding ourselves that while we were adapting to a new life, we could still hold onto the comforting traditions of home.
2. But we didn’t just rely on recreating familiar routines. We also sought out new places and experiences that made living abroad feel special. Less than an hour from our house, we discovered a beautiful waterfall tucked away in the jungle. It became a favorite spot for us to visit regularly, a peaceful retreat where we could unplug and immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. It was the perfect place to pause, reflect, and embrace the incredible scenery around us.
In addition, we found a charming B&B in Thailand, owned by a German man, that quickly became a family touchstone. Every three months or so, we’d stay there for a night or two, enjoying the familiar comfort of this small oasis. We had our routine: on the first night, we’d visit a local pizza place and treat ourselves to ice cream before heading back to the B&B to watch TV shows in English. It became our little tradition—something familiar to look forward to amidst all the newness.
3. Of course, we also embraced the spirit of adventure. We created an “adventure list” of exciting things to do, from riding elephants and holding snakes to sampling the local street food. We especially loved trying exotic fruit (at least to us) at the local night market, where we’d pick up unique souvenirs and discover other new foods. These outings helped us connect with our new surroundings, making the unfamiliar feel more exciting than overwhelming.
4. To balance all the adventure and exploration, we built some self-care routines into our lives. Every morning, before the heat set in, we’d go for a mile-long walk with our kids (our youngest was four at the time, so we kept it short). It became a grounding way to start the day, taking in the early morning quiet before breakfast. We also made sure to stay hydrated, snacking on lots of fresh local fruit to stay energized and healthy.
These blends of familiar comforts and new adventures helped us manage homesickness and fully embrace our time abroad. While we cherished the moments that reminded us of home, we also learned to appreciate the experiences that made our time overseas unforgettable.