Holiday Season Homesickness – How to Handle It

 

In case you’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks you will be well aware that theseason to be jolly is here. In addition it has left every bare inch of unattended retail space drenched in tinsel and baubles while a variety of Christmas jingles waft overhead with their own unique Japanese twist. Thus we find ourselves pondering our own holiday season traditions and how this year will definitely be different, possibly harder, for many colder, and much much more lonelier.

For some these past few months have been a bumpy ride into a new life and the temptation of the safe and stable life you left at home has reared its head more than once since you’ve arrived and this season that pull back to the familiar grows stronger still. For others we scoff at it, “Really? Homesickness? Me? But I love it here, how could I possibly be miserable?” But then when you sit in your little flat alone, your thoughts wander to what your loved ones are doing back home, without you. Suddenly all those little things you said you’d never miss, you now yearn for and unless you’re near a Costco you ain’t gonna get it any time soon.

Homesickness is a constant looming demon for we JETs. Nearly every pre­-departure seminar made a point of warning us, orientation dropped comments constantly, and there’s even a section in the general handbook that talks about the ins and outs of this specific cultural phenomenon. In particular all these sources indicated one key fact; this time of year is the worst for us. So what can you do?

 

My first and firmest piece of guidance is thus; Whatever you do, Don’t Go Home.

 

Oh I know it’s tempting for many of you, overwhelmingly tempting even, but do not give in my gorgeous cherubs because now is the point where your will is at its weakest. When you find yourself in your comfort zone what is there to draw you back here? To dear old Nippon where eight months of your contract, language barriers and culture shock still await.So what now, you can’t go home but you sure as hell can’t stay in your apartment all alone. What can you do?

 

-       Make an event with other JETs

Got a few JETs in your area who haven’t got anything planned? Too easy, make your own event, choose the largest apartment amongst you and host your own holiday shindig, make it a pot luck, and throw in a secret gift exchange to really beef things up and go all out.

 

-       Travel somewhere you’ve never been

Just because I said you can’t go home, doesn’t mean you can’t go out. To my Aussie and Kiwi JETs I mention that getting to Europe is about a third of the cost it is when you’re back home, I personally am going to be in Italy. Korea is just over the road and if you want something warmer there’s the whole of South Asia to play in. Not to mention there’s a number of places you’ve yet to explore right here in Japan. Really this world is pretty big when you can go anywhere you want, so you might as well make the most of it.

 

-       Decorate and Bake

If you’re feeling like where you are is nothing like home then it’s time to switch it up. Every hyakuen store this side of the eastern seaboard is bursting with festive home ware. Be unashamed in your love of green and red, cover everything in it. Download every familiar jingle you can, set up a YouTube playlist. Grab your favourite holiday recipe and see what you can slap together. Let the smells and sights of home fill your house and suddenly the distance isn’t so big

 

-       Set up a Skype date

Then keep it on all day if you need to. If someone in the family has a laptop or tablet put it on the family dining table and sit down with your own holiday meal with the family. Let yourself be at home even if you aren’t, you know, at home in the physical sense.

 

-       Be out and about

Don’t be at home the whole day, go out somewhere nice for dinner, or meet up with some local friends, see a movie. If you need carols and Christmas cheer go sit in a shopping center, just do something that takes you out of the house. If you want to make it something fancy go to Tokyo or your other nearest big city and book a luxurious hotel while you lavish yourself in retail therapy and relaxation. Get out there and do something different.

 

-       Create a local event of your own

Have you been more or less adopted by the local population of your tinsy winsy township? Why not give back? Host a Christmas party at your school, local hotspot or even your own apartment and just bring in the neighbours. The aim here is not to be alone.

 

-       Blatantly and flagrantly insert yourself into someone else’s plans

Know another group of JETs that are planning a fun event? Ask if you can join or tag along, if it’s a large group then it’s likely the more the merrier. Remember if all else fails, you are not above bribery.

 

This is the season for family and friendship, for those of us far from home, especially if it’s your first one, this can be a difficult time to be so far away. So don’t play it tough, don’t pretend like you’re above it, use one or more of these options to give yourself a chance to get through it. Let yourself feel the love this season.

 

Rackle Beaman