At one point or another, whether you as the host knows it or not, your student will get homesick. Sometimes it’ll show through their emotions or difference in actions. Or sometimes, it only happens when they are hidden away in their rooms, when the lights are out trying to fall asleep. When do you intervene and what do you do to alleviate homesickness?

In this episode, we go through some of the stories we’ve had dealing with homesickness. Situations where students feel a longing or connection to someone they are missing back home. In small doses, this is healthy and shows signs of attachments to loved ones; and this can happen to you too when you are homesick for your past students! In larger cases, this is when we need to lean in and even ask for help. So listen in on how homesickness affects those that study abroad and how we approach these situations that can also create a tighter bond between you and your student.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Erin exudes positivity and Mary is uber practical.
  #potentialtriggerscomingyourway
• We coin a new phrase!
• Erin’s update on how her family celebrated Halloween and the reverse homesickness they dealt with.
• Speaking of reverse homesickness… how did Erin’s youngest daughter embarrass her recently?
  #thebookofquotes
• We give suggestions for how to connect with students who are struggling with homesickness.
• Mary reads a message from one of Masterhost mom Tatiana Robertson’s students who struggled with homesickness.
• We chat about the signs of homesickness.
  #leanin
• The importance of looping in your homestay support system.
  #loopin
• Comfort food from our kitchens when our students are struggling with homesickness.