Homesickness

merlin

merlin

Member
Location
Saint Petersburg Russia
Does anyone suffer from homesickness when on holiday/vacation or short term work contracts? How about those of you who have moved to another country to live permanently?
I was thinking this morning, that apart from in my childhood, I have never felt homesick, I always feel at home wherever I am, even if away for several months, but not sure how I would feel if I permanently moved to another country.

I had a conversation some years ago, with a woman who had moved to Spain from the UK some 15 years previously, and though she was fluent in Spanish and not homesick at all, she did on occasion miss an English mind to relate to. I guess each culture develops its own mindset, and this somehow blocks full empathy with someone from another country and culture. I sense this at times with Lisa, where there is no language barrier, but I can never fully enter into her Russianness so to speak.
 

I moved to the UK permanently 15 years ago (tomorrow) from the US. The only time I ever got homesick was for a couple of months following 911. I felt the need to be with Americans. Otherwise, not homesick. I did find in the beginning that other American expats helped make adjustment easier and learning about all the things I didn't know were different.

Moving to Uganda for two years was a different matter. I got very homesick (for Scotland) especially in the beginning. After an adjustment period I did come to love the country and the people with only occasional bouts of homesickness. The final 6 months were a mix of feelings. I kept thinking about all the things in Uganda I would miss, but also was looking forward to going home. I cried when we left Uganda. Driving from the airport after arriving home I noticed a field of sheep and nearly burst into tears. Didn't realize I missed sheep too!

As for holidays, no I don't get homesick.
 
I spent time living out of the country when I was young. I did feel homesick but it wasn't overwhelming.

When I lived in Washington state I missed California. Now that I'm back in California, I sometimes wish to leave.
 

Josiah said:
Good luck trying. I don't think the barrier is her Russianness it's her gender. Like an artichoke you keep peeling away the leaves but you never really get inside.
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You may well be right Josiah, but I sense something culturally different as well, the "Russian Soul" they talk about a lot, its also present in their music and poetry as well, I think it may possibly be due in some part, to the amount of suffering they have endured over the centuries, from terrible political systems, as well as from external pressures.
 
Everyone's experience is different, of course, but I have often found more differences within the sexes than between them. My best friend is male, and one of the warmest, kindest, most sensitive human beings I have ever met. He is far more emotionally accessible than many women of my acquaintance. We discuss almost everything, and I would trust him with my life. He is my heart's own brother.
 
Shalimar said:
Everyone's experience is different, of course, but I have often found more differences within the sexes than between them. My best friend is male, and one of the warmest, kindest, most sensitive human beings I have ever met. He is far more emotionally accessible than many women of my acquaintance. We discuss almost everything, and I would trust him with my life. He is my heart's own brother.
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I agree Shalimar we are all made up of part male, part female aspects, and it depends on the balance within the person, which determines our personality. It sounds like your friend has a well developed feminine side.
 
We moved from BC to Nova Scotia in 2007 and I have been homesick for BC ever since. I even have a board on Pinterest that is entitled 'Home' and it's all images of Vancouver, Whistler, Sumas area......anything to do with Southern BC. And I've missed 'our' big trees the most. To me, they epitomize home because where I am now, the trees never get that big. I've even stipulated in my 'funeral' request that my ashes be scattered at Bridal Veil Falls (so lovely there, like natures cathedral!) on the way up to Whistler.
 
Thanks, Merlin, you are so right. In fact, he is almost frighteningly balanced. He was forged in the crucible of war, and somehow gained peace. He is the finest counselor and father I have ever met, he inspires me to be a better person.
 
Shalimar said:
Thanks, Merlin, you are so right. In fact, he is almost frighteningly balanced. He was forged in the crucible of war, and somehow gained peace. He is the finest counselor and father I have ever met, he inspires me to be a better person.
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Sounds wonderful Shali, its good when we have someone in our lives who are there for us with no hidden agenda.
 
I get homesick for the UP when the seasons change and really want to be home, especially in summer and fall. I miss being there for the first big sNOwfall. There's something special about the feel of the air then. And I get homesick for the first really warm (to Yoopers, at least) spring day. When the sNOw is gone, the sun's out, the trees are budding and it's a glorious 65-70 degrees...that usually happens around mid-May. By mid-May it's full summer here.
 
Pappy said:
The only time I felt homesick was the first few days I entered the Army. Didn't last too long as they kept us pretty busy most of the time.
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Yep. Me too. No time to dwell on it 5 am to 9pm but it sneaks in sometimes. I called home once and almost cried when Dad answered.
 
Shalimar said:
Everyone's experience is different, of course, but I have often found more differences within the sexes than between them. My best friend is male, and one of the warmest, kindest, most sensitive human beings I have ever met. He is far more emotionally accessible than many women of my acquaintance. We discuss almost everything, and I would trust him with my life. He is my heart's own brother.
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My best friend is also male and he also happens to be my brother. Like you, Shalimar, I can discuss anything with him, plus we have 60+ years of shared memories. He knows why I turned out the way I did and vice versa.

As for the homesickness, I rarely experience it while I'm away. But when I'm returning and the plane is descending to land in my San Diego, as I look down at the ocean, the bay, Balboa Park, and other landmarks, I get a wonderful "welcome home" feeling that always makes me smile.
 
I still miss Vancouver and I suppose I always will, even tho I've lived in this city for over 25 years. There's nothing like the ocean with the North Shore mountains in the background, the beaches, the trees, the people. Toronto is great, but I get nostalgic for every place I've ever lived, because each one has been my home in it's own special way.
 
Thirty years ago hubby and I took a round the world airplane ticket and we were away from home for 5 months. It was the first time we had been away from home and family for more than three weeks. We flew Sydney-Cairns-Hawaii with stopovers for sight seeing then on to Los Angeles where we hired a car and took 2 weeks to tour some western states and visit the Grand Canyon. We were really enjoying ourselves but when the plane took off for Canada I had the feeling that I would really like it to be heading home to Australia. I suppressed the feeling and we continued our once in a lifetime adventure, but every take off felt the same until we were really heading south again. I really missed the Australian sky both by day and by night.

When we were coming in to land in Perth I had a feeling of great exhilaration even though I live in Sydney. I could see the eucalyptus trees.

My sister's daughter lived in Saskatoon for a couple of years and I used to send her eucalyptus leaves to burn in an ashtray as incense. I was secretly hoping that my niece would get homesick and return to us. She did, and brought her French Canadian husband with her. I wonder how homesick he now feels in OZ.
 
Cookie said:
I still miss Vancouver and I suppose I always will, even tho I've lived in this city for over 25 years. There's nothing like the ocean with the North Shore mountains in the background, the beaches, the trees, the people. Toronto is great, but I get nostalgic for every place I've ever lived, because each one has been my home in it's own special way.
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I know exactly what you mean Cookie! My youngest lives just north of Whistler in Pemberton and even that long drive to get to her place from Vancouver was made worthwhile by the spectacular ocean/mountain scenery.
 
I traveled a lot when I was a kid. My Dad was military and although we only moved a few times, we traveled a good bit, so I was able to adapt pretty easy. I did miss home my first few weeks at Parris Island , but when I was in Vietnam, I never had time to think about home, let alone write the one letter a week home to Mom like the Sergeant wanted us to.
 
When we were young teens, my sister, cousin and I traveled by train to visit family who lived in a tiny Saskatchewan prairie town. We had fun, since it was our first time away from home, but couldn't get over how little there was to do there, in spite of sincere efforts of the family's part to show us around the area. Now it's a pleasant educational memory, but at the time we hated the boring monotonous prairies and were eager to get back home. On the train journey back we whooped with joy when we finally caught sight of the Rocky mountains and entered the familiar canyons, valleys and mountains of British Columbia.
 

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