How to Survive a Long-Distance Relationship with your Homeland

By: Sashwatha Sridhar

At a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet above the ground, I jolted from my sleep to the stillness of the aircraft and the realization that I had left home. But it wasn’t until the flight descended into the snowy winter of Chicago that the truth hit me. This isn’t home, I murmured under my breath.

This was one year ago.

After a few rough months, I warmed up to the city. It is true what they say, “Home is not a place; it’s a feeling.” A feeling you can create anywhere you go — if you are willing. So if you’re reading this in the midnight hour of nostalgia, scroll down for some expat-tested ideas on surviving a long-distance relationship with your homeland.

1. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. You’re not getting married but you’re starting a new life and that is significant. Maybe it’s an old blanket you can crawl under when you feel homesick or the pajamas you literally lived in back home. Don’t forget to pack them in your suitcase.
2. Identify a store that sells spices and other ingredients you’ll need to prepare a home-cooked meal. I couldn’t even boil an egg when I started. Ready-to-eat food to the rescue ! Brands such as MTR, Swad, and Haldirams have a plethora of options for Indian food.

   

   Food is often the best cure for homesickness

3. Find camaraderie in fellow expatriates. I follow a mommy blogger in Hungary, a food gourmand in Germany, and a fashion influencer from New York. We are continents apart, but united in our shared circumstance. All three of them lived in India. And now, all four of us, don’t. Reading their posts makes me feel less alone in my journey.
4. Sign up for websites that air shows from your home country. YouTube is my go-to channel but you could also surf HotStar, SonyLiv, and Amazon Prime for a collection of daily soaps and movies.
5. Call your mom. Ask her about her day. Then ask her to show you around the house. Take a virtual walk in your backyard or even down the street. This may or may not work for you but seeing that everything is just as I left it, has a calming effect on me.

While this post may carry some specifics for an Indian audience, I hope this article helps the broader expatriate community settle into their new homes. Do share your story in the comments section below. I’d love to know what’s in your survival kit !