By: Sofia Dajer
College is one of the most exciting experiences that someone will ever go on in their entire lives. However, it may be rough at the beginning because of how many students have to leave home. For national students, this experience has been put into their minds since the beginning, as to how it is part of the American Culture to leave for college. This does not mean that it makes it less hard on leaving home, but it may help as a preparation for it. In my case, I am a sophomore and an international student from Colombia, and moving to a whole different country to study is not something that is very common in the place where I come from. Because of this, I want to share my experience on how I managed to be stable and have an incredible freshmen year.
Find someone that relates to your culture
Yes, part of the experience of studying abroad is getting to know new people, and new cultures, but having someone who is from your same country or at least who shares similar cultures will be a lot of help. I managed to make lots of American friends, friends that I care about and I know will be there for me, but having Latino friends was a factor that really helped make me feel at home whenever I felt it was scarce. By just speaking your language you are reminding yourself where you come from, and not forgetting those features. However, it may be hard to find someone from your specific culture, but remember that talking to other international students (even if they come from the other side of the world) will help because of how they are experiencing the same as you are, for which you could relate and share some interests.
Look for restaurants that have your cuisine
This one may sound silly… But for me something that I really missed (and still do) is Colombian cuisine. There is nothing better than eating something that reminds you of home, and having the possibility of eating this food in the States was a blessing. It helped me remember and feel more love towards my country and my new home. Also, going to these restaurants with people that share similar cultures with you is a great plan, you get to taste new cuisines!
Talk to your family
I know that for some it may be annoying to talk to your parents because of the thrill of living by yourself and of meeting new people. Believe me, at first I felt exactly the same, but in the end, they were the ones that always stood by me, and that always made me feel that I was capable of accommodating to this new culture.
In the end, I am very grateful for all the experiences, friends, and learnings that I received from my freshman year. I love this country and I am very happy for my student experience. It is normal to feel homesick, but it all depends on how you can manage it and how you find solutions for it. We’ve all been there, and it is part of the process. A process that will fulfill you and bring out things that you didn’t know you’ve had. I am so excited for what is going to come and you should be too. As I said before, college is an unforgettable experience that many take for granted. So, do not forget that you can do it!