Homesick?
So obviously, since you're away from home for so long, you start to miss your family and friends. AFS talks about "the mood curve" which shows when you are most likely to feel homesick. They say that you'll probably be so excited in the beginning that you don't have time to feel homesick and that it then hits you when the excitement fades away. They also mention that you'll probably feel very homesick around Christmas because you're used to being with your family during this time.
I feel like my curve has been very different from that. I had the hardest time when I first got here, that's when I felt the most homesick. I didn't have a "drop" on the curve when reality hit me. I felt like it just got better from where I started. That is of course very different for everybody. Also Christmas wasn't at all as bad as I thought it would be. I mean I missed my family, this was my first Christmas away from them, but it was manageable.
There is of course days regularly when you're having a bad day and you just miss home, but that's a part of it. Being sad here is worse than being sad at home just because you aren't in the presence of what you know and feel "safe" with. At the same time, being happy here can come from the smallest things, that might not even cross your mind back at home. Someone saying "we should hang out" or someone inviting you to something can feel like the biggest achievement ever, it can make your day. Like "yes, I made a friend". Might sound pretty lame haha but it's the truth.
Puss och Kram
Erika
