International students: Coping with missing home

Living in a different country can be tough. You may miss your family, friends or maybe just the weather from time to time...

This is normal and totally understandable.

If you're missing home, one way to help overcome this and feel more connected to home is by cooking some home dishes for yourself or for friends. If you've met other international students you could take it in turns to sample food from everyone's cuisines or just impress your new friends/flatmates with your culinary skills!

Why is this such a great idea? Well...

1. It'll take you back to happy memories at home with your family/friends eating your favourite food. This will put a smile on your face and remind you of everything you love about home.

2. It gives you an excuse to call your other relatives to refresh your memory of the recipes. You get to have a catch-up whilst you're on the phone too.

3. If you can get other people involved too, it means that you get to eat your delicious home comforts AND you get to experience food from other parts of the world in return!

4. Make the most of your time in the kitchen, cooking is enjoyable, relaxing, and can really help reduce any negative and unhappy feelings that you are experiencing. You'll be very satisfied when everyone ends up loving your food too!

5. It's a great way to socialise with the friends you've already made or get closer to your flatmates. You'll have a really fun night that will take your mind off your homesickness and you could learn some more recipes to cook when you go home and share with your friends/family. 

6. Yes, you may learn new recipes but you can also show people how to cook your country's food too. The more dishes a student can cook the better and for many people, your traditional food will be a totally new experience.