At the moment it may feel like you don’t fit in as you adjust to student life. You may be beginning to get restless and yearn for home. Don’t worry you are going to make new friends and settle in the city fast. If you don’t know anyone remember you’re not alone.
It’s scary in the first few weeks so getting involved in Freshers Week, events and activities will speed up the process of meeting people and making new friends. Settling in to university life means getting active. If you are shy and the quiet type like me then find a society of like minded people to join.
University student societies give you the chance to meet your fellow students and starting interacting with what’s on offer with student life. They are fun way to break down barriers especially if you are on the introvert side and will be a great asset to put on your graduate CV and job hunt in a few years time.
Getting involved is the best way to overcome student homesickness and take your mind off the family and friends you left behind. Volunteer, learn something new and get out there.
I know when you start at university its filled with nerves, surprises and shocks. I suggest you start exploring your new environment and get to know the city. There will be plenty of landmarks, architecture, museums, art galleries, music venues, theatres and culture to absorb and hopefully some countryside to see as well as shopping centres, bars and places to eat and pig out.
You need to make yourself at home and soon you’ll get to know the place like the back of your hand. I suggest you carry a map of the city or use Google Maps because you’re going to feel lost and got lost in the first few months.
If you want to do a hobby then hobby-ing is the way to go. When you head off to university and are away from home you need to pass the time. And when you’re broke you need to kill time.
A good hobby outside booze, partying and collecting traffic cones can help you settle in. You can’t fill all your days with homesickness and vomit. As you settle in its important to find a nice pub and student friendly local boozer but don’t live there.
Try train spotting or take up a new sport like snooker to keep active or if you are a hungry student take up food stamp collecting. If you still feel like you’re age 12 you can also purchase a football sticker album.
Needlework can also be useful for when your buttons fall off your trousers – Now that’s a skill that will always impresses the ladies. A good cross stitch is the way to a women’s heart.
I guess what I’m saying is the cure for a homesick student is to be doing something else other than thinking about home. Taking up a keen interest in something will help ease the move and take your mind off been a homesick fresher.
You need something to occupy you in-between going back home. Another great hobby is to start blogging. To get started buy some hosting, a domain from here and install WordPress. Once you have your hosting you can edit free pre-built page templates and uploading them your site.
Select a template that works with your subject matter. If you are blogging about cars then pick a template with a motoring theme.
You can start playing around with the look and feel of your blog at http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/. You could also ask student designer to create a branded blog template featuring your own logo and images.
Settling in to Student Life and living away from home is going to take some adjusting to. Over the next few months it’s going to take some getting used to as you settle in to student life. If you’re from out of town getting to know your new home, new neighbours and surroundings is the first step.
Heading off to university is a scary prospect. It can be overwhelming having to moving away from home, leaving friends, lovers, behind even missing the family pet. Moving away is both exciting and daunting. For the first time you have the freedom to do want you want and go where you want. In between the lectures and seminars.
With three years of studying and partying ahead of you student live is your next adventure. You’re going to meet new people, make new friends, explore new places and make yourself at home. Once you’ve unpacked your uni stuff and learned the important bus routes and bus numbers to get from A to B its time to find out what’s going on in your area and on campus.
You now have the freedom to choose, without any nagging parents or curfews. You may want to experiment with different beers, ales, cocktails, gin, whiskey, tequila and ouzo. Just remember it’s not all about drinking, with freedom comes responsibility. Staying out all night is fun at the time but homesickness and vomit can kick in after a too heavy session so watch each other’s backs.
If you’re feeling homesick than get out and enjoy yourself. There will be events happening. Discover your favourite bars and drinking space. Go to a music festival or catch a gig and see the local up and coming talent in the indie music scene. Student life is a balance of education and recreation.
You may have more time on your hands than is good for you. Doing extra-curricular activities and joining society’s will help take your mind off missing home. Most activities can be broadly classified into three – recreational, educational and society-oriented.
Joining a society can improve the experience and combat the loneliness. They will help you gain more in-depth knowledge and experience in various subjects while uplifting your spirits (not of the liquid kind).
Moving away from home is a big change. I recommend homesick students find a new hobby or new interest, take up painting, join a reading club, learn to play an musical instrument, start a blog but most of all enjoy the student experience.
May I remind you that sleeping all day is not classed as a hobby.
