Homesickness in my first year

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I am extreemly homesick and it is getting worse and worse, and the more I try to talk myself into being rationale the more I hear songs and stuff which reminds me of home. So all you veteran EX-Pats how did you get through your first year away from UK. My family is settled, we have a nice life, the weather is lovely but I miss home and it is a deep ache like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.

I miss my job as bad as it was sometimes in the NHS, I miss my friends, I miss my life, I miss the food, I miss the familiarity, I miss knowing how to behave, I miss people who understand me without having to explain myself repeatedly. It doesnt help that others say they feel the same way what I want to know is Does it go away.

So the truth for the other nurses who experienced home sickness how long did it last and when did it go away???????

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Specializes in med/surg.

Okay can't help with the home-sickness exactly but just wanted to remind you of all the TERRIBLE things here in the UK to help you feel better:

The petrol prices!!!! just off £2 per litre!!! That's approx £4 per gallon!!

The Congestion charge (now £8 with threats of £10 round the corner)

Not being able to park ANYWHERE when you want to shop!

Traffic wardens & silly parking rules!

Electricity & gas prices (have shot up 98% since you left)!!!

The crappy nurses pay, unless you were on a much higher grade. However, if you were on the higher grade you probably would be fighting to keep your job & be being re-interviewed for your position right now!

The sheer lack of staff to do the work. So low it's truly dangerous in many places now.

The weather!!

The hosepipe ban!

No cheap meals out!

House prices!!

The litter!

The miserable shop assistants & waitresses/waiters & people in general!

Hope that's helped - I know the grass isn't always greener but keep positive!:D

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way Kay. I wish there were something I could to do help.

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I am extreemly homesick and it is getting worse and worse, and the more I try to talk myself into being rationale the more I hear songs and stuff which reminds me of home. So all you veteran EX-Pats how did you get through your first year away from UK. My family is settled, we have a nice life, the weather is lovely but I miss home and it is a deep ache like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.

I miss my job as bad as it was sometimes in the NHS, I miss my friends, I miss my life, I miss the food, I miss the familiarity, I miss knowing how to behave, I miss people who understand me without having to explain myself repeatedly. It doesnt help that others say they feel the same way what I want to know is Does it go away.

So the truth for the other nurses who experienced home sickness how long did it last and when did it go away???????

I know how you feel. I had some real moments of homesickness in the first year and honestly i'm not suure what happened in the second year that changed all that, we did buy a house after 8 months and that made me feel so much more secure, but I suddenly became very comfortable doing the job, we socialised a lot more and it just got easier, I think to some degree I had to stop focusing on what I was missing and focused on what we had, we made a real effort to do things that are only possible because we're here like we visited San Diego for a weekend, LA, Vegas I'm in Tucson so they're all in driving distance really, we visited AZ tourist things, like Tombstone and made a real effort at being social, I had party after party, not big events just bodyshop, pampered chef etc, invited people around and never turned down an invitation.

I still have moments of missing things normally M&S but I've learned to appreciate what we have hear, great mexican food, margarita etc. I'm not sure it will ever go away completely because i'm English, I had a good life thee and I have a good life here but for sure we are having a ball here and now my completion of the contract from OGP has just enhanced that. Believe when I say it does get better, I have realised talking to a friend whose coming over how much I've learnt in the last two years and how much more familiar its all becoming to me.

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OK I've been here 10 years ( I didn't work as a nurse straightaway though, I was just a Mum for a few years) but anyway all those things you said you miss, I have to be honest and say I still miss them too. BUT you make new friends, you find new favourite things, and now when I go back to the UK, I find I am soon wishing I was back here because I am missing them! can't win. If you can find some British friends, that helps, at least you can vent to someone who understands. I really do miss my job now I'm back at work, an L & D nurse is just not the same as a midwife, and I don't think I want to go back and do a master's and CNM and then it still won't be the same job anyway, not sure I want a full time job with lots of on call.

I do think the first year is the worst, and I do know some Brits who decided to go back, but truly they were the minority, for most ended up settled and happy even if it was hard at first.

Oh and things I never found a substitute for that was good enough, I still have to buy imported tea, mushy peas, and heinz baked beans :)

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I don't have any advice as I've never been in your situation. Why are you in England? How long to you plan to have to be there?

My SIL moved to England at age 18 when she married an Englishman. She is now 46 years old and you'd never know she was once a true G.R.I.T. (Girl raised in the south) she seems to have settled in quite nicely however when asked if she would move back if she had the opportunity she said "In a New York minute".

Home is always home no matter where you are. My Mom lived in Holland until she was 30, moved here, talked about moving back to Holland for years but now at age 78 she finally says this is home. Good Luck Hon. Hugs.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
I don't have any advice as I've never been in your situation. Why are you in England? How long to you plan to have to be there?

My SIL moved to England at age 18 when she married an Englishman. She is now 46 years old and you'd never know she was once a true G.R.I.T. (Girl raised in the south) she seems to have settled in quite nicely however when asked if she would move back if she had the opportunity she said "In a New York minute".

Home is always home no matter where you are. My Mom lived in Holland until she was 30, moved here, talked about moving back to Holland for years but now at age 78 she finally says this is home. Good Luck Hon. Hugs.

I am in Arizona missing England-sad I know I read all the above messages thank you I am sure by opening my heart it may help me move on.

I guess I just needed to hear it was normal. Thanks

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Kay

Sorry to hear you are having problems with homesickness, Wish I was over there to give you support and a hug but will ring you tomorrow afternoon your time

((((((((hugs)))))))

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Specializes in med-surg.

I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better; I cannot imagine being away from my own country! It looks as tho you have a lot of support in here; please count me among your supporters and bless your pea-pickin little heart!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

(((hugs)))) Kay! I can appreciate how you're feeling, hell, I got homesick halfway through our trip "up/over"! And ... that was only a 6 week holiday!

On a serious note .... I've moved several times and lived in many different parts of Australia when DH was serving in our military. I always found those first 12 months the worst of any posting we had. I found that after about 18 months - 2 years, I had begun to settle in and make new friends and get to know the place. And, of course, just as that was happening, we'd have to move, again! *sigh*

Hang in there, it will and does get better. Would a visit back to the UK be possible soon? Just to touch base with family and friends, smell those old familiar smells, taste those old familiar foods etc, etc etc. Sometimes such a visit can really help.

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I am in Arizona missing England-sad I know I read all the above messages thank you I am sure by opening my heart it may help me move on.

I guess I just needed to hear it was normal. Thanks

And I hope you realise it is normal it does get better i promise.

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Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.

do you know what i feel homesick too

sick of home and wish i was in the usa that is

i know i may feel different in another 12 months but the waiting is really getting me down now :o

it takes alot to make me feel like that

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