Winter: comforting but cold, sociable yet lonely, ushered in by the hanging of twinkling lights whilst days are cut short by the deep hues of a black and blue sky. We have officially reached one of the most paradoxical seasons of all. With this in mind, it is small wonder that the latter half of first semester can weigh heavy on the chest. Aware of how consuming such a feeling can be, this article aims to provide a guiding hand, a reassuring smile and a promise that even during these dark, chilly days, a warm glow can be found.
Whilst not everyone who moves to university is struck with the pull on the heartstrings that is homesickness, it does affect most. Please note, this is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a completely natural instinct stimulated by moving, often hundreds of miles away, from comfort and familiarity. Of course, one simple solution is to give friends and family a call (we do live in an age overflowing with communicative technologies after all). This, however, doesn’t always get to the crux of the matter; somehow there is still a sense of longing, the need for a deeper connection. In order to tackle this complex feeling, we need to turn to new and alternative methods: we need to employ nostalgia.
Although nostalgia can take many different forms, and at times seem overwhelming and complex, this can also be its superpower. Sometimes home is encapsulated in a sound, a smell, a feeling, an experience.
For me, when I’m feeling low and homesick, I turn to the kitchen. One of my favourite meals growing up was a pasta dish unique to Mum: a recipe conceived from her own culinary creativity and found within her hand-written recipe book. Since moving to university I have employed this dish as my hidden weapon; without fail it takes me right back home, reminding me of weekends when Mum would always ensure a warm and tasty, home-cooked meal.
Cooking, however, doesn’t need to be stressful. While I can’t speak for everyone, my childhood was also filled with Baked Beans and Smiley Faces – a wonderful potato mash creation that is baked in the oven (for those of you yet to experience this culinary delight). I don’t see anything wrong with heading to your local grocery store and adding such items to your list; there are some foods for which age just shouldn’t matter.
Moving away from food, however, nostalgia can equally be found in a hoodie, a perfume, a song or a photograph. Whatever it is for you, find that item which doesn’t just depict home but encapsulates it, turning it into palpable feeling, not just a sentiment.
Turning away from home, it is just as beneficial to develop fresh habits and forge new memories within your new environment. When feeling low it is sometimes assumed that we need a form of miracle or complete change from our current routine. This isn’t necessarily the case. Sometimes it’s the small details which can make a difficult day seem better.
Maybe you could try out that café you’ve had your eye on, meet-up with that new classmate who seems kind, grab a hot chocolate on your way to campus or simply head for a walk whilst wrapped in your winter woollens (Edinburgh has a wealth of natural beauty waiting to be found). Whilst these methods are by no means a solution to all problems, they can provide that spark of positivity to start the day anew.
Finally, and most importantly, you must never face these difficulties in isolation. Yes, reach out to family. Yes, contact your friends. But also, make sure to utilise the university’s dedicated systems and spaces. Within most academic schools there is a dedicated member of staff who you can contact. Such information should be available on your student record or will have been provided via email at the start of the year.
Beyond that, there is a dedicated Student Support Service as well as the Student Disability Service who are specialised in providing aid for all aspects of life: academic and personal. Remember, university is not just for studying, it is a community of which to be a part: essentially, a home away from home.
Image courtesy of Isabelle Brower.