How To Overcome Homesickness: Remedy No 1

In the context of migration, the term “home” is often understood as the country of one’s cultural identity. Depending on an immigrant’s ability or indeed willingness to integrate, his cultural self-perception will change. An immigrant striving to adapt may, ironically, strive for homelessness. Biculturalism flies in the face of a unitary notion like “home”. After five years away, familiarities wane and impressions change, weakening any sense of belonging. Yet the remnants of a now foreign cultural identity can’t be eradicated. We are who we were shaped to be. The immigrant is shaped to be dissociated. He doesn’t have a home.

Remedy No 1 for overcoming homesickness is thus to realise that one has foregone the ability to have a cultural home.