Embarking on a journey to study abroad is exciting — new cities, new flavours, new friendships… but it can also lead to feelings of homesickness. Many students face challenges when adapting to new environments, and this emotional struggle is common. Here are practical tips to help you ease homesickness while studying in Italy and managing those moments of longing for home — so you can fully enjoy your Italian study adventure and get the most out of your stay.
Why Homesickness Happens
Feeling homesick is completely normal when you’re studying abroad. Some of the reasons include:
- Familiarity & Comfort: You’re leaving behind your usual routines — family, friends, places you know well.
- Cultural Adjustment: Living in Italy brings different cultural norms, language challenges, and perhaps a slower pace than you’re used to.
- Separation from Support Network: You don’t have the same people around you to share daily ups and downs.
- High Expectations: You may have built up big hopes for the experience and feel pressure to enjoy everything, which can amplify any sense of missing home.
Recognising that homesickness is common can help you feel less alone — many international students feel it, even those having a fabulous time.
9 Helpful Strategies for Easing Homesickness
1. Build a Routine from Day 1
Even though you’re in a new place, creating a structured routine gives you stability. Attend your classes (language, art, cooking, etc.), set aside time for study, exploration, and rest. Routine helps ground you amidst change.
2. Stay Connected with Home
Schedule regular calls or messages with family and friends. Share your experiences — the little joys and the challenges. It doesn’t have to be every day, but a quick check-in can help you feel anchored.
3. Make Local Friends
One of the biggest benefits of studying in Italy with Studiainitalia is the chance to meet other international students and local Italians. Joining group activities, workshops or cooking classes is a great way to connect. Friendships help reduce loneliness and make the place feel more like home.
4. Explore Your New City
Make time to wander, not just commute. In all study destinations across Italy, you’ll find charming cafés, local markets, hidden alleys and art-filled corners. Exploration builds familiarity and attachment to your host city.
5. Learn A Bit of the Local Language
Even a few Italian phrases can make a difference. Ordering coffee, greeting neighbours, or chatting with classmates in Italian helps you feel more integrated. And with Studiainitalia’s Italian language courses in Italy, you’re in the perfect place to practise.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Completing a cooking class, finishing a conversation in Italian, creating your first painting — these are milestones. Acknowledging them boosts your confidence and helps shift focus from what’s missing (home) to what you’re achieving.
7. Keep Your Mind & Body Active
Physical activity and mental engagement go hand in hand. Whether it’s walking between Italian classes, joining a gym or going for a bike ride, or immersing yourself in a creative workshop (for example a cooking or art restoration course) — staying active helps stabilise your mood and energy.
8. Talk About It
Don’t bury the feeling. If you’re feeling homesick, talk to your classmates, teachers or the Studiainitalia team. Many others have been there and are happy to listen. Recognising the emotion is the first step to moving past it.
9. Remind Yourself Why You Chose This Experience
When the tough days come, revisit your reasons for studying abroad: learning Italian, experiencing Italian culture, diving into art or cooking in Italy, meeting new people, broadening your horizons with Studiainitalia. Writing them down and reading them when you feel low helps maintain perspective.
Heads-Up: Specific Considerations When Studying in Italy
- Accommodation: If you booked accommodation through Studiainitalia, you may be sharing with Italian roommates or staying in a homestay or shared flat. This is a fantastic chance to immerse yourself — but it also means adjusting to new living-styles. Give it time, and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
- Language barrier: Although you are studying Italian, early days may involve navigating tasks where you’re not yet fluent. Be patient with yourself and take small learning steps.
- Local cultural rhythms: Italy may operate at a different pace (for example later lunches, more relaxed afternoons) than your home country. Embracing the rhythm rather than resisting it helps you adjust faster.
- Diverse destinations: Studiainitalia works in many Italian cities, which means your experience could vary depending on where you are.
Final Thoughts on Homesickness While Studying in Italy
Studying abroad will be one of the most memorable chapters of your life — full of learning, discovery, friendships, and growth. Homesickness might pop up, but with the right mindset and tools you’ll move through it and come out stronger.
For those who choose to study with Studiainitalia in Italy, you’ll have the support of a specialised agency that knows the Italian education and cultural landscape inside-out.
Remember that every moment — even the difficult ones — contributes to an experience that changes you for the better. Embrace the journey, stay curious, stay connected, and soon enough you’ll feel at home in a new place.
Buon viaggio & buono studio!
Cover image by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay
