Similar to many people, I get a little homesick when I have to move back to school after break. One of my friends told me that even though she enjoys school, she still misses her family and cried when she moved back to her dorm. Therefore, I wanted to share how I remind myself of home.
1. Listen to Songs That Remind Me of My Parents
Although their music taste may be a little outdated, my parents play the same songs on repeat. My dad likes this Cantonese band called “BEYOND” and my mom really enjoys “Erasure.” So, I brought up some of their old CDs and listened to them while doing homework. It is interesting to observe how the culmination of their preferences somehow became mine.
2. Comfort Shows
Another form of media I consume to repel homesickness is watching comfort shows. For example, my family (except my mom) really like mindlessly watching “House M.D.” while we eat dinner or complete other tasks. We like to keep it on in the background at home, so I decided to continue with this tradition in my apartment. While I do homework or work on chores, I have “House M.D.” set up in the background. At this point, I am so familiar with each episode that it does not feel like a distraction. I also grew up on my parents’ childhood shows like “Family Ties” and “Seinfeld,” so I watch random episodes too when I’m feeling homesick.Â
3. Preparing Meals That Remind Me of My ChildhoodÂ
Although I never really cook when I am at home, I have enjoyed (attempting) family recipes in my apartment. My dad likes making soy sauce rice cakes, so I made them for the first time last year. However, I could not replicate them perfectly, so I innovated and created my own recipe. Moving away creates many scenarios where you are confronted with change, but this is not inherently bad. When I went back for Thanksgiving break, I made the new rice cake recipe for my family and they loved them.
My mom also shows her love by collecting snacks for me to bring back. Recently she stuffed my bag full of Chinese pineapple cakes from Costco and some haw flakes from the Asian supermarket.
4. PlushiesÂ
I have an abundance of stuffed animals (or plushies) at home, so I bring a select few up to Davis to cuddle with when I sleep. Currently, the entire cast of “Winnie the Pooh” is perched up beside me while I am typing this article. These plushies are a physical reminder of home and the memories I have with my family. Especially since my sister, my mom, and I got the Winnie the Pooh doll together and we each have one.Â
5. BeReal/Locket with Others
Finally, it can be difficult to keep in touch with some family members (and friends) while you are away. Everyone has their own social lives that they are busy with so it is hard to find a time when both parties are free. However, I like how social media has made communication more accessible. My sister is a bad texter, so we use BeReal and Locket to send pictures to each other. It helps us keep updated with each other’s lives.Â
Although moving away does make me a bit melancholy, going to school has made me more appreciative of my time at home.