She does sign off her post as Tina, not met many blokes called Tina so id assume she is a girl

Yes my family have said the same to me...they want me to try and give it at least 6-8months before I make a decision and I really want that for myself also , although I desperately miss home I don't want to set foot in the UK and think I should have given Canada a better go.. Are you still in the UK now or are you planning on coming back to Canada?

Haha that made me laugh, yes I am definately a girl lol

Im glad to hear that the homesickness hits at odd times for other people too... I will be okay for one minute then next I will just feel awful..and then I can go for days feel okay and then a day where im sobbing lol its an emotional rollercoaster..


Hi Millie, thankyou for your advice too , A few of my friends have said that i will feel pretty crap and to just be kind to myself.. its not the fact that I dislike Canada, its more the fact I've undergone a huge change and I feel out of my comfort zone, and away from all my comfort, thats what I think is making me feel upset...and yes sometimes I do have a bit of a weepfest lol Vancouver is really awsome and tons to do, I definately don't hate it, just wish I could adjust super quick to the change...


Hello
I think it is part of the 'settling in business' and like you I do think, well how will I feel if im back home and not liking things again like I did before I moved...I keep trying to tell myself of the reason why i moved etc..Ive been keeping busy so far meeting new people, and going to new immigrant workshops and ive managed to get a parttime job in a shoe store today..so will have to learn to be a good salesperson...so i am hoping it can distract me further...
I would like to visit home at the end of January etc if possible

That's great Tina, hopefully you'll get a good discount on shoes yup distraction is definitely the answer. That'll be a good test of how you feel in January and you know whatever you decide, you will have gained so much from the good and bad parts of the experience.

I don't know what part of Vancouver you live in, but they're opening a new kebab shop on 4th Ave. soon, which always cheers me up.

Homesickness is completely normal. We've all had it.

For me part of it was never knowing in the early days where to find things - which shop to go to etc.

Even know - renovating our basement and a bit lost with all the different paints here and knowing which ones to buy - can all be a bit confusing.

I have made some really good friends at my son's school which has helped a lot because all of them being Canadian can point me in the right direction for anything I need and they have been so welcoming and accepting of me - I think I've hit lucky tho because a lot of people say the opposite. Go out and meet people - there are loads of ways to meet people - this will help.

Everything just takes time - I'd say it took over 12 months to really feel settled here - give it a good go because if you go back too early you will always regret it.

HTH

Havent been on this forum for the longest time but Ive been here 4 1/2 years & Im still dreadfully homesick. Ive been back to uk every year since I arrived to visit family etc.
Also its cold cold cold here for way too long.
I guess my heart belongs to UK

If I do recall, this recent move of yours is the first time you have moved out of your childhood home, away from your parents. Am I correct? This is not simply a matter of moving countries, it's also a new milestone in your life - moving out, away from the family! I remember when I first moved out, most days I was good, but other days I was extremely nostalgic and sad for the comforts of home... and I had only moved across the city! I too was (and still am) close to my family. I remember feeling sad because I would think, "I am no longer going back to sleep in my bedroom", and part of me mourned for that, even though I was old enough and knew that it was time to move on and become independent. It took a while before living on my own felt like home, and not a scary, isolating experience.

Give it time, my friend. You have embarked on a dramatic change in lifestyle, where nothing is familiar anymore. Your home isn't your home, inside or outside your house. It will take time for this shock to lessen, and for the unfamiliar to become "normal", and perhaps eventually comforting.

Apparently it takes two years to settle into a new place. Yes. Two. Years.

I thought I wouldn't have any problems moving to Canada, because I had already left my 'home' once to move to the UK and spent over 7 years there prior to coming to Canada, I did go through the worse homesickness phase ever. I thought it would be my bf who would suffer (he did, and still does, but much less than I had anticipated), it was me who got depressed, packed her bags and was ready to return to Europe. Fortunately, he helped me get through it and I stayed. Now I'm pregnant and looking forward to new things in my life, but homesickness still gets to me. I still sob uncontrollably under the shower at least once every two weeks because of how much I miss my friends and family, but I've learned now that it's normal. And it takes time. A lot of time.
I would tell you to try to go out there and meet people, make friends as that's what everyone told me. But that isn't easy. I've been here almost a year and still haven't made any friends. But...joining some groups does help. Basically, getting out and about, finding things to fill your time, doing things that will take your mind off of thinking about 'back home'. Good luck!

Been here nearly 5 years .. Still get the odd sobbing session!

LoL

Hi Tina

I can relate entirely to what you are experiencing. I have been in Vancouver BC for nearly 2 months and whilst I love the city and have met some great people I have days when I feel really homesick. Try not to beat yourself up for feeling like this, its normal and it passes.

It really helps for me to remember why I wanted to come here in the first place and to see the year for the adventure and experience that it is. Nothing lasts forever and whether it is a good thing or bad thing, the year will come to an end and you can choose what to do next. Until then try to have fun and take advantage of skype! I skype "date" my friends with a glass of wine (although this does mean opening a bottle at noon for me as I'm 8 hours behind the UK!) and this helps a lot.

Kat

I've not tried kebabs here yet Oink, but I may have to check it out...I'm by Langara...

Hi, Thankyou for the post, Ive actually made quite a few nice new friends here, though its gonna take some time to build up the relationship to the point where its close? So far people have been lovely! Yes so many people have said it takes about 12 months ...i will be pleased with myself if I end up being here past the 6 months mark...and yes my family have said to just try and be strong and make a go of it so i don't regret anything...

Awww no Roo, wow your still feeling like this after 4.5 years...do you still prefer living in Canada though? Where are you if its that cold??

Hi Lychee

Yes your absolutely correct, this is a huge move away from my family for the first ever time, you totally have described what I've been feeling. It is a bit of a milestone when you describe it that way, and yes I've had sooo many moments of ' I wish I was in my own room at home' 'in my own bed' or 'i wish i was sat on the couch in front of the fire talking to my gran' like I used to do...but its just not going to happen right now, like you said I think I am mourning for that...its not something that I will have again because I NEED to learn to be independant, your right and i guess I need to give myself a break?