homesick? care for some hot chocolate, then?

Homesickness is by far the most common thing international students face upon arrival or upon attempting to settle into a new environment where customs and cultures are different to what they are used to.

Having to uproot from the comfort and stability from their homes, we face the daunting circumstances of having to meet new faces, make new friends, try new food, and at the same time having to juggle the demands of studies (for some of us, in a different language) and part-time work for extra pocket money.

Homesickness hits either directly upon arrival or midway through the year. The university has done a good enough job in providing material and services to students, both international and domestic, to cope and overcome homesickness.

But let's face it, no student is going to sit through and read a booklet on how to overcome it. And they're not likely to muster the courage to meet a counsellor or chaplain or mentor to reveal how they feel.

I've had bouts of homesickness if my first year in Dunedin. From my personal experience, I reckon the best way to overcome homesickness is to keep busy and active as well as interacting with as many people. The worst thing someone could when homesick is to retreat to their rooms after class and feel as though he or she is the only one feeling that way. Homesickness affects almost everyone.

I believe that the International Students' Representative should be proactive and creative in addressing the issue of homesickness.


If elected as International Students' Rep., I intend to organise and introduce a "Hot Cuppa Hour" for new international students. They will be provided with complimentary hot cups of coffee/tea/chocolate. This event will be held possibly every Monday and/or Friday afternoon for the first 3-4 weeks at the start of each semester. It will most probably be held in a room at the Clubs & Societies Centre.

This event will provide international students a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with which to meet with other international students and talk about anything and everything under the sun. I believe that this will alleviate any homesickness and will provide the new student with new friendships and contacts. It will also enable the International Student's Rep to truly engage with international students.

In addition, peer support members and international student mentors can attend this event with their mentees. Representatives of religious and cultural groups on campus will also be invited to drop by to promote their activities and events so that new students can find suitable groups and activities they wish to be a part of.


I believe this is a simple and realistic plan that can be achieved and it has the potential to help international students cope better with homesickness.