When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Hey,

Just wondering when homesickness kick in or if it will at all

Been in SK for about 3 months now and haven't felt it once, I thought these first few months would be hell, but its been really really easy.

I've moved out alone, no family came along. I won't be going home for Christmas due to work, so maybe then.

I guess it is different for everyone, feeling pretty lucky so far, maybe I won't even feel it? (That makes me feel a little guilty actually)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Hi

You might experience "Culture shock" and go through recognized stages. I did.

Everything is wonderful at first till you move to the next stage ...

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/livi.../culture-shock

But then again ... you might not ...


S

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I suspect everyone is different, it all really depends on your reasons for moving!

You could still be in the honeymoon phase.

Not sure why you should think about feeling guilty not experiencing homesickness, if you have moved with the right intentions then why would you feel it. What do you think you are missing?

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I'm actually Canadian, just lived in england for my whole life, so I'm well adjusted for life here... so far.

I moved for my dream job so its all good!

I don't know why there is a guilt, maybe I should just get on with it and enjoy my time, rather than worry about the lack of homesickness hahah

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Pretty much me too!

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

My homesickness comes and goes.

I can't say for sure what can trigger it although around Christmas time it's not so good.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

:nod:

12 years so far...still waiting...:)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

8 years here and both hubby and me waiting for it to hit

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

10 months in a haven't yet really got any homesickness. I am still going through a process of comparing absolutely everything to how it was back home and getting frustrated at all the same stuff that you never think of. This is slowly getting better though.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Since March 14 1969 and I'm still waiting for it to kick in ! ;)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

It's a bit like asking "how long is a piece of string?" when it's not certain that there is a piece of string.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I have a piece of string in my pocket. I don't really, but now I've seen this video I'm considering it. :rofl:

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

17 years for me. I must still be in the honeymoon phase.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

In Yorkton he'll get Christmas and Ukrainian Christmas, a twofer!

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

15 for me - still waiting too! :)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

16 for me.

Not homesick at all, except perhaps for some proper Branston.

I'm going to the UK next month. I'm not looking forward to it.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Tbh you never know when it'll creep up on you, almost 10 years here, and boom! I think it's connected to a health scare for a family member back in the UK......hopeful a visit will get in back in check lol :)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Left the UK in August 1967, spent 1 year in Texas. Didn't particularly enjoy it (the year that Bobbie Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated), but not homesick

Came up to Canada in August 1968

Never felt homesick at any point since we walked on board that plane in Manchester on August 22 1967

Trips back to UK were largely "duty" trips with time for just a few of-interest days for us for many years until all the "oldies" died. Only the trips in 2001 and 2008 were tourist trips for us, with no compulsions to see so-and-so or whoever.

It was the best decision we ever made!

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I don't suppose you were in Dallas in 1963? :sneaky:

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I've been homesick pretty much since the 6th month here in 2005, but everyone is different and some seem to never think of home again once here, hard to really know how it will effect you.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Around about 7 years was really really tough, lasted for a while - a good couple of years. Now I don't really get homesick, just nostalgic.

I do sometimes have that ok, now I'm ready to go home feeling...usually when something big is going down. DO is moving to Hamilton in November, I want to be back in my 2 up 2 down where she was little and put Lion King on until it all goes away lol.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I often get nostalgic for a Britain that doesn't exist and a set of values that have probably not been in existence for a while yet either.

I am in my 4th year here, and many moons from the UK, and I miss lots.... of what is not here - in this bit - and should be....Internet shopping, decent food... Welfare Friendly Farming, traceability etc, and proper recycling (glass:blink:).

I don't know though how badly the past I left behind has improved....or perhaps, may indeed, have gone to the dogs.

The first couple of years were a breeze. Year 3 I thought, "oh damn" I did that winter, and now there is just going to be more of the same...Why?

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Oh good! Looks like I'll be getting on with life and tackling home sickness when/if it happens.

I should think a lot of my family in the UK will make their way back here eventually too so that should make it easier!

Plan to work in many places in Canada over the coming years so looks to be a fun adventure ahead.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

In 11 years I've never been homesick but I do get peoplesick at random times. However that's easily fixed with a phone call/Messenger/FB etc.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Maybe you're living in the wrong place??

We have almost complete recycling here ...... except if you live in an apartment. The managers are slow to get the separated containers and tenants seem to think someone else will do it.

Even condo owners are getting into it.

Internet shopping is common here, and more and more grocery stores are offering the service, and some have always offered "phone in your order, we'll fill it and deliver it".


I'm also not sure what you mean by "proper food". We certainly get proper food here .......... farm fresh veggies and meats, healthy breads, etc etc. Most of the English food I can no longer remember, or wish to remember! Like the overcooked veggies, well done meat, mushy peas, tripe and onions. Maybe the fact that I was a child in the 40s and 50s meant that I was never exposed to "junk" food ....... which in those days meant bought food of any kind.


As for getting nostalgic about a place that no longer exists ..............

5 of my female cousins emigrated to Australia with their families in the early 1960s. One never settled. We spent a lot of time with her in 1975/76, and she was longing to get back to Oldham, the Moors, etc etc.

She didn't remember how dirty the town was, how many of the mills were not working .............. and that had happened even by 1967 when I left.

Then they took a long service leave "home" in the early 1980s ................ and she finally realized that her idealised Oldham and the Moors no longer existed .......... and possibly never had!

She also realized her whole family was in Australia ....... but she insisted that her husband took her ashes back to England and spread them on the Moors after she died in 2003.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I think its pretty reasonable for a tenant to think the building will provide recycling just like they provide trash service.

Do you expect the tenants to arrange a service for a building they do not own? That statement is a bit perplexing to me.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

What I mean is that the tenants seem to expect to want to just put the trash down the chute or into ONE dumpster outside, and that someone else will sort it out.

That it isn't their responsibility to do an initial sort in their own apartment ...... easy enough to sort paper and cardboard, from cans, from bottles, from compostables, and finally a small bag of "garbage".

That's 5 categories.

We have manged to get 5 areas to do that in our pretty small kitchen, OH takes the compostables down every other day to the council-provided wheelie bin which is picked up every week.

We put out a maximum of 2 paper grocery bags of real "garbage every 2 weeks.

All paper, cardboard, newspaper, magazines etc go into a yellow bag. Glass goes into a grey box, and cans etc into the blue box ............ all picked up every week.


I know of one apartment block near here that has 3 dumpsters out back, each one intended for a particular group of "throw outs" ............... so what happens????

The tenants just put the stuff in the easiest dumpster for them to reach, so everything goes in together.


THEN they complain that no-one is recycling

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Gotcha. Makes sense now.

At our last place there were 4 containers for recycling.

Cardboard
Glass
Plastic
Metal tins/cans

For the most part most seemed to sort, never really noticed wrong items in the bins.

At our current place despite the city by law the landlord won't provide recycling. I asked and was told no, I did report it to the city but thus far nothing has been done. So everything goes into the trash.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

You obviously are mentally and emotionally prepared for your move and new life, I also moved out here alone too, i had homesickness at the start as i struggled to get a job, but once i got a job i was fine, even at Christmas, I dont feel it now, ive been here over 7 years and only went back for one Christmas.

As my parents passed away years ago, all my family over there have their own family units so i dont really feel part of anything anymore, although im still in touch and its lovely to see them when i visit, my life is here now.

Sounds to me as if you will settle in nicely, i do get occasional short term bouts of homesickness now, but this is only when something has happened to make my mood low and when I feel down, i do feel it then, but it doesnt last long.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Coming up on 8 years now. First 4 years looking back on it was honeymoon period. Now i just feel trapped here, knowing there's no way i'll ever be happy in the city i'm based. Kinda homesick but mainly due to fact i never built a life outside one person here, so now that i'm trying/having to do that i realise how much i miss the depth and complexity of our social strata back home. And how much of it is missing here. Things are bland here and i suspect i need more diversity, having spent the last 20 year s travelling...:unsure:

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I think you need to start somewhere afresh with a potential to create a social circle, I moved to a city....well i call it a town where i didnt know a soul, i now have a very varied social circle of friends, it took time and you have to be open minded and easy going with who you meet at first (my attitude was any company was better than no company)

I have got to a point now (i have been here 7 and half years) that i dont really miss my social circle i had in the UK anymore, as i have a substansial one here.

I think my social circle was created out of being single, and doing what i wanted when i wanted, so you should be in a good position to do that now. Although i am a little tired of that lifestyle now, it would be nice to be settled.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I really need to take this advice 2 years later lol. My two closest friends have moved (one to Victoria and the other to UofA in Edmonton) :(

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Heck I have been here 12 years and still haven't managed to create a social circle, but then I never had friends at home either...lol... Never been one who could make friends.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

You seem a friendly sort of guy to me. ;) I found it was best to just get out there, pubs are always good to strike up a conversation, as long as you dont bring up politics or religion too soon! lol

Take people at face value and not be judgemental unless you really cant put up with their personality, loud mouthed, blunt or arrogant, even then i found you can make exceptions if they have other qualities.

Im a pretty social kind of guy though so it depends on the individual too.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

What, Branston pickle? They sell it at Bulk Barn.

I never get homesick for the UK. Can't stand the place, glad I left. Went over for a visit a month ago and I caught a cold so that also lowered my opinion of the place even more if such a thing is possible. Brexit just confirmed my long-held belief that the British are the world's most opinionated people on subjects they know nothing about. Which worked quite well when they were prodding people with bayonets during the 19th century but it doesn't work now.

I think perhaps I used to miss going to the seaside which I cured by going to Victoria or Vancouver.

I get homesick for the US sometimes, Americans seem more sociable than Canadians for the most part.

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Are Brits less sociable with you because you tell them what an awful place they live in and that they're so ignorant? :rofl:

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

Sometimes too it just feels like more of the bleeding same....you do your great big "1st" Christmas, Winter, etc, and then right around the corner comes another, and another, ad bloody infinitum....it's sometimes not Homesickness just a sort of "oh Godness" that kicks in.

Brits aren't all the same...we have lots of different 'sorts' in our nation which is why we act so differently, than heavens...how awful if we were all on schedule? The super thing is that a great big bell curve of people can and will adapt over time:thumbup:

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

:goodpost: What you need is to come out West.;)

Re: When Does Homesickness Kick in?
 

I never missed 'home', 7 years in. On occasion I have wished I could have a good face to face natter with my sisters or a few close friends, but that is about it!