How to Keep the Home Close during a Foreign Exchange Program

by Kristen White Blogger

Making the decision to participate in one of the high school travel programs can be simple since there are several to choose from that range in cost, time length and focus. Parents and teens can work with the organization to determine which is the best fit and get the process started as soon as possible to ensure that deadlines are not an issue. Summer camps are typically meant for only a couple of weeks so participants can be exposed to the experience and decide if that is sufficient or they want to take advantage of spending a longer time in the host country.

Students that choose to enroll in a year-long foreign exchange or one of the gap year programs abroad will be gone for a longer period of time thereby giving them more benefits to learn the language, see more of the country and develop friendships/connections that can last a lifetime. Homesickness is often experienced in these longer programs because students are away from their homes and known environments. They are placed with one or more host families during the timeframe where they should have a personal space but making it feel a little like home can make a significant difference.

The specialized agencies that offer these high school travel programs encourage students to be careful what they pack since weight and quantity need to be limited for cost and space purposes. Pictures are small enough to fit in a suitcase without taking too much room and they can be used for decoration and personalizing whatever area you have in the home. Depending on the school you attend as a foreign exchange student, photos can also be used to brighten the locker and keep family and friends close at hand. Another way to reduce getting homesick is to have those closest to the student write several letters ahead of time so they can be read after travelling overseas.

There are ways to communicate with people back home but it’s important to remember that cost can be a factor in how often and the method that can be used to get in touch back home. Journals are a great way to capture memories and experiences when they are fresh in the memory so that the participant can share with everyone once they get back home. These entries can be done in the form of letters or whichever medium the individual is most comfortable with to feel like they are talking with loved ones. Lastly, choose a personal item that has meaning and can be traveled with so that home feels close whenever this item is looked at or held.

It’s hard to tell how a student will do emotionally once they are far away from their home environment but parents know their teens and can work with them to create a plan. Homesickness will happen at some level so be sure to take advantage of the tips and decide which items will keep home near and work with any type of situation you may find yourself in during the time away. This will allow you to focus on the fun, adventure and benefits the program is designed to provide for every participant.