2017 Aug 19
If you choose to attend a university in a foreign country, one of the hardest things you’ll have to endure is how much you will miss Sri Lanka. Having gone to one myself, I can safely say that our country really is an amazing place to be (seriously there is something wrong with you if you do not feel the same); the warm sandy beaches, the spicy flavourful food, all the aunties nagging you about every single thing… You get what I’m saying 😛 So, I am fairly certain you will suffer from a severe case of home-sickness.
So in order to make your life as a foreign student a bit easier, here are 6 ways to miss Sri Lanka less!
1. Find the Sri Lankan Community; they are around
“Aussie has a lot of Lankans so you’re basically in your comfort zone in terms of companionship. I rarely had to cook, Sri Lankan families I know made food for me a lot.”
– Ovini P.
University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia
“I always had Sri Lankan aunties to bring me food!”
– Minalee M.
University of Tampa, Florida USA
Sri Lankans have a way of finding each other. Locate one and you will gain access to the SL network. Once you do, you will have a whole new support group behind you comprising of aunties and uncles bringing Pol sambol and rice when you are sick as well as the hosting of baila nights. So it is safe to say that you will continue to enjoy the hospitable Lankan culture as you conquer university life.
2. Load up on Sri Lankan food
Being away from home becomes more bearable if you have the Sri Lankan specialities with you. When it comes to Australia (particularly Melbourne), there are several Sri Lankan/Indian supermarkets that can satisfy your cravings. Similarly in the UK, despite pre-cooked meals being ridiculously bland, Tesco and Sainsbury usually carry an impressive arsenal of spices.
However, for those of you heading to less fortunate places, stocking up on Kottu Mee Noodles, Chilli Paste, Murukku packets, Tea and Lemon Puff becomes as crucial taking your passport.
3. Winter will come
Particularly for those of you heading to European universities, it very likely that the freezing cold rain and monstrous winds will leave you longing to experience the warmth of Sri Lanka. Yes, I know you do not feel that way right now when you are at home baking in the sun, but trust me, you will miss the sweat soon. So get ready to splurge on puffy duvets, woolly blankets and coats that are padded enough to make you look like a bowling ball.
4. Tune in to the Amma and Thaththa show
Another effective remedy for home-sickness is to call your parents. Amma will have her usual questions for you. “Did you eat?” “What did you eat?” “Did you iron your clothes properly?” “Did you just cough?” Then there is Thaththa. He will shout out the same set of reminders he gave when you were back home. “Drink your vitamins!” , “Don’t waste electricity, switch the lights off!”. It will be like you never left.
5. Take lots of bowls!
I admit this may seem a strange, highly subjective recommendation. However, most of our bathrooms in Sri Lanka are equipped with hand showers to wash….. well… our tushies. But the horrifying truth is that majority of western countries do not seem to understand the blessing of this precious piece of equipment. So take your bowls. Colourful ones even if you want to feel all unicorn like while doing your business!
6. Apply the ‘glass is half full’ approach
In all honesty, home is great but it is not perfect. To make the most of an opportunity to study abroad, try focusing on the positives. Especially if you are heading to developed countries like the UK, you can benefit from valuable comforts such as innovative education facilities, fast internet and Sainsbury’s delicious range of desserts. Furthermore, if you have had more than your fair share of power cuts in Sri Lanka, I think you will greatly appreciate the lack of blackouts in most developed countries.
On the other hand, in developing countries like our neighbour, India, you may not enjoy all of the above benefits. There, you will pretty much experience the Sri Lankan traffic, power cuts and oh, poor public transport facilities. But hey, that just means you have less to miss right?
Finally,do not worry too much. Time will go by fast and you will be back in Sri Lanka before you know it. Best wishes on your academic journey and remember… home is never too far away!
