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Ten Tips to Battle Homesickness and Feel at Home Abroad

Home Education / Language LearningTen Tips to Battle Homesickness and Feel at Home Abroad

Ten Tips to Battle Homesickness and Feel at Home Abroad

September 6, 2016 Posted by Alana Education / Language Learning

by HENRIETTE FREESE

Blog-2016.09.06-main

Studying abroad can be an extremely thrilling and adventurous experience but it can be challenging too. If you have already started your adventure you might sometimes wonder what you’re doing in the middle of Vancouver, when the rest of your life is taking place somewhere else. You may feel disconnected from your loved ones at home and even the smallest events can trigger homesickness. We’ve all been there before and we want you to know that what you’re experiencing is normal, and it won’t last forever. It’s not easy to overcome homesickness, but here we have summed up some strategies on how to deal with it faster and to begin feel home in your new city.

1. Become an Explorer
After checking out your new city’s major attractions and places of interest you should start exploring the niches that make the place unique. Find your favourite coffee shop, explore new parks, get a bike and ride through residential areas. With time you will develop a knowledge of the city like a local, become familiar with all aspects of it and you won’t feel like a stranger anymore.

2. Always Have Something to Look Forward to
Knowing about highlights coming up will help you get through periods of stress, anxiety, or homesickness. Sure, you might still have to sit through that test on Thursday, but picturing yourself with your friends on that weekend trip to Whistler you have planned will get you excited and make it easier to get through the stressful parts. We even suggest you create a bucket list for your new country! It can include big things like a weekend getaway, but also smaller things like an exhibition, a trendy coffee place or finally doing the Grouse Grind! If you schedule highlights and challenge yourself in doing them it all will help you stay focused on exploring and remind you of why you went abroad!

3. Stay Busy and Focus on the ‘Now’
It’s important to stay in touch with your friends and family at home, but try to find a balance between catching up and focussing on your new life. If you spend hours on Skype or checking your Facebook feed looking at parties you are missing, you will never fully settle in your new environment. Focus on what you have right now, get out and explore so you can develop a feeling of home. Limit your social media time to a few hours per week.

4. Keep up Habits or Find a New Hobby
If you have a favourite hobby from home or if you usually go to training once a week – why stop now? Try to find like-minded people on websites like meetup.com or find out about sports clubs in Vancouver and join an activity! That way you’ll pick up something familiar, establish a routine and also easily connect to people and make new friends that share the same interests. Don’t be afraid if you’re not confident in speaking English yet – not all activities involve a lot of talking, but if you do something fun with nice people the language and confidence will come along naturally.

Blog-2016.09.06_01

5. Stop Comparing
Stop trying to point out all the differences between your new city and your own culture. Exploring and comparing can be fun, but constantly pointing out what’s “unnormal” will give you a harder time adjusting to your new environment.

6. Be Realistic
When we are homesick we often tend to remember things back home as more colourful and we see them through rose-tinted glasses. Keep in mind that there were probably also stressful periods in your home country, times when you were struggling or had hard moments at school. Getting through difficult times is part of life and makes us appreciate those nice moments coming up even more.

7. Make your New Home a Home
No matter if you only spend two months or a whole year at your new destination, having small personal items will help you create a nice environment you feel comfortable in. It doesn’t always have to cost a lot of money – photos from home, a candle with your favourite scent or a beautiful cushion on your bed can instantly transform a room into your personal place.

Blog-2016.09.06_02

8. Be Active
Being active will not only help you to stay fit and healthy, but it will also release endorphins in the brain that will help you feel better and distract you from worries. What better city to be in than Vancouver! Explore the beaches, parks, mountains or yoga studios and enjoy what the city has to offer!

9. Treat Yourself
Sometimes the only thing that helps is that favourite candy or a special cheese from home. Sure, it might be more expensive to buy imported foods over here but make sure to treat yourself once in a while. Explore foreign delicatessen stores or venture out to Granville Island – the first bite into something familiar will immediately reward you and bring good feelings.

10. Talk to Someone
Feeling homesick is normal and sometimes all you might want to do is cuddle up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and your favourite show on Netflix. Everyone can be sad, but don’t let it determine your whole day or week. Countless amounts of students abroad went through exactly the same phases so remember that it’s normal and that it will pass. If it’s hard to overcome this on your own talk to other people – fellow students who might be going through the same thing, your host family or your marketer at VGC! We are always here for you.

Blog-2016.09.06_03

Always remember that you are only abroad for a limited amount of time. A few weeks, a semester or maybe a whole year. No matter how long, it’s an exciting time full of emotions, great experiences and there will be lots of fun and new challenges. Remember that homesickness is a completely understandable reaction to moving abroad but also keep in mind that it passes and that all the other experiences you have abroad and the memories you create will last a lifetime.
[custom_author=Henriette Freese]
Tags: Canadian ExperienceEducationEnglish LanguageStudent ExperienceStudentsStudy AbroadStudy in CanadaTipsVGCVGC International CollegeVGC Students
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Join the entire team at VGC in celebrating Canada’s 155th anniversary as a nation. We’re honoring its strength through togetherness and diversity, and continuing our contribution towards creating a more meaningful future.

VGC International College will be closed today and resume on Monday, July 4. 

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Hey it’s GRADUATION 🎓 THURSDAY! 🎉🎊 Con Hey it’s GRADUATION 🎓 THURSDAY!

🎉🎊 Congratulations to our final batch of graduates this June! We’re so proud of the time and effort you’ve spent to successfully complete your program. Well done and we wish you all the best to your next adventure! 👏👏 💯

This week’s featured graduates are from Brazil 🇧🇷, Chile 🇨🇱, Japan 🇯🇵, Mexico 🇲🇽, South Korea 🇰🇷, Spain 🇪🇸 and Panama 🇵🇦. Please check our Facebook page for more photos.

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It starts with ‘Hello’ 👋 and ends with…we It starts with ‘Hello’ 👋 and ends with…well it never really ends.

In addition to furthering their education, our students also gain another thing during their time at VGC: lifelong friends from all over the world 🌎. There’s nothing like shared experiences in and out of the classroom to cement a friendship 🤝that will go beyond the borders of Canada.

If you’d like to know more about VGC’s language and business programs – and make friends in the process – DM 📩 us for more information. 

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Our Business Seminars are back this Summer! 📈🖊️📋 

Give your business career a headstart by enrolling to any of the following seminars and gain a solid understanding of key business fundamentals:

✔️ Leadership (July 4 - 15)
✔️ Entrepreneurship (July 18 - 29)
✔️ Marketing through Social Media (August 2 - 12)

Upon successful completion of the two-week program, you will be equipped with new skills to take your career to the next level! You will also receive a certificate you can use to enhance your resume and increase your marketability. 💯

For more details, click the link in our bio or send us a DM. 📩
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🎉🎊 A huge round of applause to our latest batch of graduates from our English and Business Programs! We’re so proud of all the hard work you put in to successfully complete your program with flying colors! 🎉🎊

This week’s featured graduates are from Brazil 🇧🇷, Chile 🇨🇱, Czech Republic 🇨🇿 , Japan 🇯🇵, Mexico 🇲🇽 and South Korea 🇰🇷. Please check our Facebook page for more photos.

Congratulations and we wish you nothing but success in your journey! 👏👏 💯

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Our students and @vgcactivities went for a hike la Our students and @vgcactivities went for a hike last week along the Howe Sound Crest Trail and what did they get? Fantastic views, a great workout…and some snow?! ❄️🌲🚶♀️🚶♂️🏔️🇨🇦

Check out our Facebook page for more pics!

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🎓 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙐𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙁 🎓 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙐𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙄𝘿𝘼𝙔 𝙄𝙎 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀! 🎓 

Congratulations to the latest batch of students who successfully completed their programs this week! 👏👏

This week’s featured graduates are from Brazil 🇧🇷, Japan 🇯🇵, Mexico 🇲🇽 and Thailand 🇹🇭. Please check our Facebook page for more photos.

Job well done! We wish you all the best in your next adventure! 

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Meet Otavio from Brazil 🇧🇷! He completed a Meet Otavio from Brazil 🇧🇷! 

He completed a three-week English course at VGC, and shares his student experience and why it’s important to never stop learning 📚: 

“I decided to do an exchange to study English at the end of 2021, because I believed it would be a good way to acquire vocabulary and improve my listening skills. As I would only have 3 weeks to study, I needed to make a choice that would give me all this experience with intensity, but in a light way. I found it all on VGC! I spent 6 hours a day at school, but it wasn't tiring, on the contrary, it was always fun, because in addition to English, I also learned a little more about the different cultures of my classmates. 

The VGC team is amazing!! The teachers, the support team and the activities coordinator (Brent) are always very attentive and available to help in any situation! It was an amazing 3 weeks where I could improve my English, make new friends and learn more about other cultures!”

📩 DM us if you want to share your story with #VGCcollege! 💯

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Did you know that half a million people use the Sk Did you know that half a million people use the SkyTrain daily? 🚈

The city’s very own rapid transit system was opened shortly before part of the Expo ’86 World’s Fair and is now on its 37th year of operation. It remains the primary and most convenient mode of transport for a lot of Vancouver residents and students. Currently, the SkyTrain network has 3 lines spanning nearly 80km of track and 53 stations across the Metro Vancouver region.

If you’re coming to study at VGC, you’ll be pleased to know that our campuses are located less than a 5-minute walk away from the nearest SkyTrain station:

📍 Hastings Campus – Waterfront Station
📍 Granville Campus – Granville Station
📍 Hornby Campus – Burrard station

Is the SkyTrain part of your daily commute? 🗣️ Tell us in the comments below. 

#VGCcollege #vancouver #enjoyvancouver #skytrain #mytranslink #vancouverbc  #studyincanada #studyinvacouver
Our students headed down to Sunset Beach last Frid Our students headed down to Sunset Beach last Friday for a friendly game of soccer ⚽🥅 to kick off the weekend! 

It was Team Brazil 🇧🇷 vs Team Latin America 🇨🇴🇲🇽🇵🇦🇻🇪🇧🇴🇨🇱🇵🇪 vs Team Asia 🇯🇵 🇰🇷🇹🇭🇹🇼🇨🇳 👏👏💯 Till the next game! 

Check our Facebook page for more pictures.

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Hey it’s Friday, which means GRADUATION DAY! 🧑‍🎓👩🎓👨🎓

Congratulations to our latest batch of graduates for successfully completing their programs this week. 

This week’s featured graduates are from Colombia 🇨🇴, Japan 🇯🇵, Mexico 🇲🇽 and South Korea 🇰🇷.

Well done and we’re very proud of you! 👍💯👍

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𝘽𝙄𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎! VGC is proud to ann 𝘽𝙄𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎! VGC is proud to announce the 🎊 opening of its new campus for its School of International Business. 🎊

This latest expansion marks our third location in downtown Vancouver and answers the growing number of international students taking up our popular business programs. It also solidifies VGC’s position as one of Canada’s fastest-growing private learning institutions. 

The new campus in Hornby St is just a block away from VGC’s Granville location and a 4-minute walk from Burrard and Waterfront SkyTrain stations. We’re very excited for you to come visit us soon! ☝️ Click the link in our bio to know more about our new campus.

🤔Want to know more about our award-winning business programs? Just send us a DM 📩 to get more information.

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When you stay at VGC’s Downtown Penthouse Reside When you stay at VGC’s Downtown Penthouse Residence, not only will you be within walking distance of our campuses, but you’ll also be living right in the beating heart of Vancouver.

Come home to a safe and fully-furnished penthouse with panoramic views of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 🏙 Plus experience downtown living, with all your daily living essentials accessible right out of your doorstep.

👉 Click the link in our bio or DM us if you’d like to know more about VGC Student Residences.

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Jumping into June...in style! @vgcactivities and Jumping into June...in style!

@vgcactivities and our students trekked over to Whistler 🏔️ to take in the sights and face their fears. And what better way to do that than by bungee jumping off a bridge. 😱

Well done you brave souls! 👏👏💯

See more pictures on our Facebook page

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👏👏 A big round of applause to our first batc 👏👏 A big round of applause to our first batch of graduates for June! 👏👏 We’re so proud of you and all the effort you put in towards completing your programs. Well done! 🥳 🎉 🥳

This week’s featured graduates 🎓 are from Brazil 🇧🇷, Japan 🇯🇵 and Mexico 🇲🇽!

Congratulations and we wish you all the best on your continuing educational journey!

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June is National Indigenous History Month in Canad June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada and commemorates the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of Frist Nations, Inuit and Métis People across Canada.

Did you know that indigenous people have lived in British Columbia for over 10,000 years and that there are over 200,000 of them continue to live in the province? 

Take time out to learn more the rich tradition and contribution of indigenous people to the history of Canada. Click the link in our bio and take the first step towards educating yourself about Vancouver’s rich indigenous history. 

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