1.
Bring food that reminds you of home. For me this
meant the sweet tea mix my Grammy used to use and Texas Trash (its homemade Chexmix).
One of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling homesick, is making a big glass
of sweet tea; it tastes like home.
2.
Take your favorite stuffed animal. I have a
green teddy bear named Green Bear (creative, I know) and he is the most
comforting thing in the world when all you want to do is cuddle up and wonder why
you moved to a place that gets so damn cold. I want to make it very clear that
there is absolutely NO shame in taking stuffed animals to college, do whatever
makes you most comfortable.
3.
Dress the part. For me this meant figuring out
how not to freeze come winter. So, for my dear little southern belles who are
wanting to move up north you will need:
·
A good parka (it’s okay if you don’t know what a
parka is, I didn’t know either). I recommend one long one with a hood.
·
A good pair of snow boots. Make sure they are
water resistant!
·
A big umbrella. I can’t even begin to tell you
how much rain there is here. These people have definitely never experienced
droughts.
·
Gloves, scarves, hats and most importantly fuzzy
socks! These will keep you nice and toasty(ish) in the cold!
·
Sweaters. Lots of sweaters.
·
Fleece lined leggings. Just trust me on this
one.
4.
Be prepared for a bit of culture shock. The
North and the South are very different, neither one is necessarily better, but be
prepared for some changes. If you are moving north, try not to get offended if
strangers aren’t as nice as you would expect. They are not being rude; they
just aren’t always as openly friendly as a lot of southerners are. On that
note, if you are planning on moving to the south for the first time, try not to
be put off by everyone smiling so much and asking how you are (whether they
know you or not). That’s just what is considered polite, you’ll get used to it.
5.
Politics, if you were considered liberal in the
south, you will probably be considered conservative up north and vice versa if
you move from the north to the south. Role with the punches my friend.
6.
Remember that in a sense you are an ambassador
for wherever you are from. For a lot of the people you meet, you will be the
only person that they have ever met from your home state, so represent it well.
Basically just be polite and try not to be an ass.
7.
Stay in touch with family and old friends.
Social media, cell phones and Skype are all great ways to stay connected with
loved ones. Use them! Being able to talk to people face to face makes being
away a lot easier.
8.
If you miss your pets. It’s pretty common for
people to walk their dogs on campus, so don’t be afraid of asking to give the
pups some love! If you are missing a different animal, check out a local pet
shop or shelter.
9.
Embrace the culture. Don’t lose your old
traditions, but be open to new ones that are specific to the area. Try to just
go with it!
10. It’s
okay to be homesick. It happens to the best of us, but just remember why it is
you chose to move. Call home, cuddle your teddy bear, drink your sweet tea, and
basically just do whatever you need to do in order to feel safe and comfortable
in your new home. It won’t happen overnight, but as the days pass, it will hurt
less and less until one day, this strange new planet will feel like home.
For any of you that are thinking of a big move but are unsure, I encourage you to try it. Worst case scenario, you hate it and move home. But who knows, maybe you'll love it. You never know where your next adventure will take you, so just be open to it.
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Please check out her blog, Horribly Bookish Button!
