As Counsellors at Australian Catholic University (ACU) we often talk with International Students who experience culture shock and homesickness. This is not unusual for anyone moving overseas to study and it can occur when you first arrive as well as during times of stress, even after feeling like you’ve settled in. At times you may feel confused, anxious, sad, frustrated or lonely – all of these are understandable feelings when you’ve been separated from everything that’s familiar and comfortable. Your new environment may be different in many ways: the people and their behaviour, the physical environment, the food, the weather and much, much more.

It’s important to try out ways of reducing the impact of homesickness and culture shock, to help you feel more comfortable in your new surroundings and get the most out of your Uni experience. Here are some common tips that International Students have told us helped them to adjust:

1. Acknowledge that culture shock and homesickness is a normal response

Studying in a country far away from home is a big change in your life and you will need to allow yourself some adjustment time.
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2. Don’t keep feelings to yourself

It’s important to talk to someone about how you feel – even (and especially!) when you feel like hiding away. Talking to friends, relatives, other students and the ACU Counsellors really helps to remind you that this is normal and you are not alone.
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3. Surround yourself with some familiar things

It often helps to have photos from home, items that are meaningful to you and food you find comforting. This may help to ease the shock of the new and give you some sense of continuity and feeling more at home.
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4. Establish a routine

Exercise three to five times a week, eat a balanced diet and make sure you get about eight hours of sleep. This is what you have control over when going through a challenging and exciting transition to university life.
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5. Get familiar with your new world

Listen to the local news, watch local TV and read the newspaper – these are all ways to learn about Australian culture. Also getting out and exploring your surroundings will help orientate yourself.
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6. Stay in touch with people at home

Communicate regularly with your friends and family back home, but try also to leave enough space for meeting new people, rather than just thinking of home.
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7. Build a social network and make new friends

This will be one of the great steps towards feeling more at home. At uni you can get involved in social activities organised by the Student Association, ACUMates or the International Office or meet people during your course work. Outside uni you could meet people through sports, interest groups or volunteer work.
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8. Attend workshops and appointments offered by the ACU Academic Skills Unit

This will help you if you are finding that study, teaching and learning is very different from home. It might also help to form a study group with other students so that you can learn together..

9. Try to be patient and keep an open mind

While the reality may not be what you expected, it might be helpful to look at things as simply ‘different’ rather than ‘better’ or ‘worse’. Similarly keeping a good sense of humour as you inevitably stumble through the ups and downs of this experience can help in not getting too upset.

10. Try to view this experience as a unique opportunity

Take it as a chance to learn about yourself, your own and other cultures. After all, it’s all a bit of an adventure – and that’s what makes it exciting and special.