What do I do if I get homesick?

It is perfectly natural to have times when you miss home comforts, family, or friends, especially if it is your first time travelling abroad alone. As well as comfort foods that you bring with you from home, western restaurants and groups of expats, especially other foreign teachers in your school, are there to help you feel more at home and relaxed. Throwing yourself into activities and meeting new people can often help lift you much more than staying in your room and calling home. That said, it is good to keep regular contact with home (even if more for your parents than for you!).

If you're travelling to a country with internet firewalls, like China, it is worth having your family download the local messaging app (WeChat in China) so you can maintain contact if services like Zoom or Skype are unavailable.