Of my friends, as they've come and gone, I've always been the one to stay close to home. Before this year I thought moving to Atlanta, a mere four hours away from Columbia, SC, would be too far to move to work after graduation. When I was younger I would cry and cry during sleepovers because I wanted to go home. To say that hasn't changed much for most of my life would be an understatement.
But now, after taking such a huge risk in going to London for five months, all I find myself thinking of is London. I research job openings (and their teeny salaries), apartments, and companies that I'd like to be a part of. I scour the interwebs for UK companies that will take someone from the US, as opposed to someone from the UK, considering VISA applications are so difficult to get. I feel out of place in Columbia.
My question, for those of you who have studied abroad and who haven't, am I allowed to say I'm homesick? Sometimes I feel so dumb saying that I lived in London since it was only five months. So could it really have ever been home? When I first arrived I pretty much spent the first three days crying my eyes out because I missed home. But now? I feel a bit like a fish out of water.
Love this post!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved travel and never really been someone to get homesick for a place all that much, but when I was abroad for 5 weeks last summer I found myself really missing my people at home. I went abroad without knowing anyone and I definitely learned a lot about myself and became so much more independent and mature. However, as someone who didn't really love where she grew up and was always longing to leave, being away made me realize how beautiful and wonderful the South really is and how lucky I am to have grown up in such a historic place. I guess it depends on how you feel about your home when you leave since it seems like we had opposite experiences!
However, I may have not been abroad long enough to feel at 'home' there. We traveled to a different country every four days or so for the whole time we were there, but I digress. :)
PS- You need to read the blog Aspiring Kennedy (if you don't already)! She's a Southern girl living in London who gives tours to students studying abroad there and her blog is fab.
*Sorry this was so long* :)
- Lanie @ Southern Preppy Chic
I felt the exact same way about home originally. I always thought there was something better "out there," but when it came down to it, I didn't actually want to leave. I love my family and being so close to the mountains and the beach, but there's something about the London way of life that I miss so much!
DeleteAnd I definitely read Aspiring Kennedy! Love her blog!!
This is one of the reasons that I've always been a bit apprehensive about moving really far from home when I go to university!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a big move and kinda scary, so no of course it's OK to be homesick! :)
Good luck with the job hunt too, London is full of loads of opportunities, but I guess they are pretty competitive! What types of jobs have you been looking for?
A Chic Lifestyle
Hi Sanam! I'm looking in the marketing/public relations fields. They don't offer the best entry-level salaries, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed :)
DeleteI understand how you feel. I moved from Savannah to Texas over a decade ago and felt homesick for months. Now Houston is "home" and I'm happily settled here yet I long for the deep south. :) I think you're young and you should go for it {before you have kids or a spouse who doesn't want to go}. Life is too short for regrets so don't be afraid of failing, be afraid of not at least trying to go back and give it a go in London. Good luck!
ReplyDelete