PAX - Program of Academic Exchange is a program of PAX Laurasian Exchange and is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program sponsor.

The perspective of an exchange student

I recently moved to the USA, and after a few weeks, a very strange feeling of emptiness started to hit me. I lost interest in school and gave up on making friends. I wanted to be alone but felt estranged when I actually had to sit alone. After reading a few articles, I found some ways to deal with homesickness (in case you need them someday).

1) Make a journal. Write about all the positive (or negative) things that happened that day, and your plans for the next day. Write why you should be proud of yourself and end the day on a positive note.

2) Give yourself some time to settle in. Try to have more face-to-face conversations with people around you. Interact with new people.

3) Stay busy, but not too much. Maintain a good work-study-life balance and drink enough water. Take care of yourself and do not skip meals. Try to do things that make you happy.

4) Most importantly, face it. It’s okay to feel touch starved and want to hug your mom. It’s okay to feel sad and cry. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself.

—Showme (YES, Bangladesh), hosted by the Widman family (AZ)