Any cures for homesickness?
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| Fri, 03-31-2006 - 12:28pm |
Dd just called from school - our exchange student, K, checked her email from school (something they aren't supposed to do ...), read a message from her family and collapsed into tears. She wants me to come and pick her up, which I really can't do because of the distance. I talked to the principal and offered to pick her up along with my dd and that was met with a resounding "no". I can see she doesn't want to set a precedent. She is going to talk with K and call me back.
Any ideas as to how I can help her cope? My heart goes out to her. I guess I was in denial about all the sleeping and the jet lag - somewhere in my heart I knew that was her escape.
HELP!!!!!!
jt
We're going to a play tonight and out to dinner first. I am hoping it will be a little distracting. It's just a community theater thing, but my nephew has the lead and my other niece is in the chorus. It's a musical comedy and I'm hoping it will take her mind off things a bit...

Aw, that's so sad. My friend's exchange student (a boy) had a similar breakdown around the holidays and my friend didn't know what to do except sit with him in his room and let him cry, she held him and eventually she started to cry as well. She could just feel his sadness and remorse and became overwhelmed with empathy for this boy. Anyway, she said that it seemed to make him feel better and she said the heart to heart made them grow closer. He's moved to his second host family now, but he still keeps in touch with my friend and her family.
I'm sure with some simple nurturing from you and yours, she will be okay - enjoy the play!
You might want to contact the exchange coordinator for advice or suggestions. I did that when I was having such a hard time with our Japanese student over the summer; asked them to speak to her because of language difficulties we were having. There were two coordinators travelling with the group of students and they were able to pull her aside during one of their activities and talk to her. I think just being able to communicate in her native language with someone more familiar than me helped our student a little.
Aww - the poor thing!
I'm sending some magic dust your way - maybe that'll help. Seriously, keeping her busy is the best option. When oldest DD first left for college, I would literally sit and read the newspaper over the phone to her. She could have cared less about what I was reading. She just wanted to hear my voice.
Find out what her hobbies are and ask her to teach you and your family about them. If she likes to cook, ask her to teach you how to fix her favorite meal. Make it what this should be - a cultural exchange but make sure that she gets to show you and tell you about her life and her interests.
Good Luck!