ello, after 4 months living and working in cambodia im feeling really homesick. Not sure why cause the u.k. is dull. Im supposed to be hear for 2 years.
Any advice or positive suggestions for somebody who really needs it, im not a happy bunny at the mo! And have been considering not staying for the duration.
Reply to this Hey ad s, sometimes homesickness can keep up on you when you do not expect it, but the are ways and means around it and you shouldn't give because of it. If you throw in the towel on anything you will always regret it and think what if.
Do you have any friends there, if your not branching out and do not know anybody in a foreign land then it will be hard, surely you have free time from work and i would suggest start networking and maybe pick up a hobby. If you do not have time to think of homesickness then you wont feel homesick.
If you need someone to talk to just message me through the site
Thx Mike:0)
P.s hang in there, it will be worth it
Reply to this Hello Mikey,
Cheers for the email. Its actually quite good to get a fresh perspective on things. Im over here with my fella who is great but because im feeling abit shitty i dont want to burden him so its nice to get a totally objective opinion!
What is mad, is ive literally just finished a conversation with someone about the lack of friends. Im totally trying to help myself though, ive joined some dance classes and im involved with the phnom penh christmas panto so im trying to be positive. I think half the issue is that the school im a teacher at doesnt have the greatest staff and ive not connected with anybody, they just arent my sort of people. Consequently i find myself reflecting on my job back in the u.k. when the guys i worked with were excellent and i some fantastic work mates. I totally think you are right about the keeping busy thing to minimise the thinking time....i agree its counterproductive. Its just difficult.
Shit...ive just totally bollocked on....sorry about that theres nothing worse than somebody who is totally self-absorbed!
thanks so much for replying, you made an unhappy bunny a bit happier!
ad's
(are you travelling at the mo?)
Reply to this Hi Ad's im traveling at the moment, but i will be quite soon and i spent sometime in Russia and having only a small smattering of Russian did make it feel a little lonely at times, but i was determined to enjoy my time.
I have lived and worked aboard and although not as far a field as Cambodia i understand that feeling a little low or homesickness can creep up on you and if your ever to discover what life holds for your to get out of your comfort zone then you have to work around these low periods. it does not matter how much of a life and soul of the party you are you will still have lows, everyone does.
Its just how you deal with them, the is no point comparing your life in the UK to Cambodia as its never going to be comparable, the is the cultural differences, standard of living etc etc. I know it is not always easy but the hard times make the better times that much better.
For example your maybe down now, but then you could have a great time when you do your panto performance, to use an example that bumps in a road make the smooth parts so much better and once you finish the two years i doubt you will remember the rubbish times and only the good times.
Maybe the staff at school are not as engaging as back in the UK, but surely the way forward your making with the students can make you feel good inside?
Well take care and hope you have a good weekend:0)
Mike😊
Reply to this Stick in there! as Mike says - it will be worth while!
I think 4 months is one of those low points... I had the same feeling a few times when based in one place. But things do get better.
You're doing the right things though. Joining clubs/activities that you're interested in - you will meet people you connect with at some point soon - just a few of those like minded souls will make the world of difference 😊
Reply to this Cheers for both the messages, means heaps. The good new news is that since I wrote this things have improved abit. Too be fair im sooooo busy with my teaching job I dont really have time to mull about which is positive. Secondly im just not thinking ahead to far anymore, think the 2 year prospect was freaking me out abit so just looking as far as the end of the week, that'll do for me!! Aside from all of that I got a few harsh words from my sis back in the u.k. and it kinda put it in perspective.
Hopefully i wont need to have a whinge any more but if i do ill know where to go!
Cheers and happy travelling
Ad's
Reply to this Just think, one day soon enough those two years are going to be over. Grab opportunities while you can to do things, so you can look back and smile on your time there :-)
Reply to this Cheer up fello. I was in the Uk as a student about 30 years ago alone for 4 years. I survive the loneness without the internet, the TV. I survive with books, few friends, coldness, expensive living....only think of your stay as temporary....through that i survive...
Reply to this I've read some literature on this subject, and it appears to be a completely normal reaction. Culture shock can and will most likely hit you several months into a stay abroad, as the more you thought you understood a place and its inhabitants you still encounter frustrating situations and experiences that you thought you had figured out long before. Hang in there, it gets better with time. The same authors go on to say that it may take as long as around two years for you to fully acclimatize. However, by that time, leaving for your original home may trigger the exact same feelings in you as you struggle to come to terms with the culture of your own country.
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