Is There No Place Like Home?

Homesickness is an emotion no traveler wants to admit they feel, but experience nonetheless. So how do I quell it?

By Isabella Licwinko

Graphic by Petra De Meo

Since childhood, all I’ve ever dreamed of was endless adventure around the world, even if that meant marching solo. But as someone who said they’d “never look back” upon leaving their monotonous hometown, I find myself sneaking a few glances behind me as I’ve gotten older. This contradiction has followed me everywhere I’ve traveled, and for some reason, I just can’t shake that hint of homesickness.

Travel is a reflective process through which I’ve learned to never take anything for granted, especially my home (ironically enough). So if you are like me—full of wanderlust, but deeply connected to where you grew up—this guide will make that lingering weight easier to bear as you explore new places.

Find the familiar

While stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is an essential (and encouraged) element of travel, sometimes homesickness needs a different remedy. There is obvious comfort in the familiar. Whether that be the scent of the freshly mowed grass on your childhood home’s front lawn or the taste of your mother’s signature dish, familiarity (with a dash of nostalgia) soothes the senses instantly.

And oftentimes, “home” is never a world away—even if it feels like it. I believe little pieces of the familiar follow our path everywhere we go, guiding us along our journey. While witnessing the vast differences of a new destination in comparison to your comfort zone is thrilling, finding similarities can be just as rewarding and remind us that we are all more similar than it may seem.

My serenity spot for any new city is the “Impressionism” room of any and every art museum that has it. Yes, art museums are oftentimes a very popular tourist attraction and not a very novel suggestion as a travel writer. However, this art style holds personal significance for me.

In my childhood home, copies of Claude Monet’s “Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies” and Edgar Degas’ “Ballet Class” hung on the walls. My mother loves Impressionist artists, and I remember studying every aspect of these paintings because I love her. So, when I arrived in Boston last September for my first semester of freshman year (particularly homesick), I walked to the Museum of Fine Arts, found a room dedicated to Monet’s paintings, and stared at the paintings until I felt better. Thankfully, it was the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, so the room was utterly empty besides me and the paintings.

You’re never truly alone

In an age of instant communication, no one is ever truly out of reach. This comforting (and sometimes admittedly terrifying) concept has changed how we travel tremendously. Leaving home behind doesn’t always mean leaving everyone behind with it, considering you can hear their voice again with the press of a few buttons. However, a phone call or text isn’t the same as laughing together or hugging in the flesh.

Though difficult, it is crucial to remember that long-term travel requires us all to forge our own paths. That doesn’t mean abandoning past relationships, but it does force us to test what is lasting and real. Those who love you will steadfastly look out for you even when a world away.

Whenever this ache is too much to bear, give a loved one a call, text, or even send them a funny TikTok. My best advice for feeling just as close to someone as one would if you were together, is phenomenal and detailed storytelling, so they can practically feel as if they were there with you. If this is practiced frequently, your lives can feel just as intertwined as before.

Lastly, you are never alone as long as you have yourself. Though seemingly contradictory, having faith in oneself—your capabilities, courage, and passions—reminds you of how far you’ve come and how much further you can go.