Homesickness

Let me be honest with you about something that took me a while to admit; for the first six months of my life in Australia, I wanted to go home.

From the outside, my life looked perfect. A dream job in Sydney, views of the Opera House, surfing during lunch breaks, a new city to explore. But homesickness has a way of creeping in no matter how exciting your new life looks from the outside. Then COVID hit, the borders closed, and staying made more sense than leaving. Somewhere along the way, Australia became home.

If you are in your first few months abroad and struggling, this is for you.

The honest truth about settling in

Starting a new job in a new country, in a culture you are still learning, while missing your family, your friends, and everything familiar, it is a lot. And it is more common than people admit. Most internationals will not tell you they are struggling because their new life looks so good on Instagram. But underneath the beach photos and the adventure posts, many are feeling exactly what you are feeling right now.

Homesickness is not a sign you made the wrong decision. It is a sign you built something meaningful back home. Missing it does not mean you should go back. It means you are human.

What actually helps

Give yourself a timeline before making any decisions Commit to staying for at least six months before you even entertain the idea of leaving. The first months are almost always the hardest; that is not a sign that it will not get better. It is just the process.

Find international friends (but not the ones who speak your language!) I know it is tempting to gravitate towards people from your home country. There is an instant comfort in speaking your mother tongue. But if you want to truly immerse yourself in your new culture and improve your English, resist it. As a French native speaker, I always made a point of surrounding myself with people who spoke English, not necessarily native speakers, but English, nonetheless. It is one of the best things you can do for your career and your confidence.

Be a social butterfly Even when you do not feel like it. Especially when you do not feel like it. New hobbies, outdoor adventures with strangers, sightseeing, museums, trying new food, exploring; do everything you told yourself you would do when you moved abroad. This is what you came for!

Use Facebook groups There are expats groups, community events, sports clubs and interest-based communities for almost every city in Australia. They are a genuinely great way to meet like-minded people and feel less alone quickly.

Call your family and friends as much as you need to When you talk, do not only talk about how hard it is. Ask them about their lives, their days, what you are missing back home. I promise you, not much has changed since you left; and you will quickly realise that your new life is becoming something worth talking about too.

Find a mentor or a supportive colleague at work I was lucky to have a manager who took me under her wing during those early months and helped me to settle. That kind of support is invaluable. Do not be too proud to lean on someone who knows the ropes, at work and beyond.

And finally, allow yourself to feel it Homesickness is normal. It does not mean you are weak or that you made a mistake. Let yourself be sad sometimes. Journal it. Those early months are full of moments worth remembering, even the hard ones.

What I want you to remember

If you are in your first few months abroad and you are struggling, please know this: it is normal, it is temporary, and it does not mean you made the wrong choice.

Give it time. Say yes. Find your people. Call home. And whatever you do, do not make a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling.

Australia has a way of getting under your skin. Give it the chance to. Life is too short not to live it fully!

Thinking about making the move to Australia, or already here and navigating the job market? I would love to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation here and let us talk about your next step.