Settling In and Getting Homesick (don't worry!)

After the train we head to the house and we are literally driving on back-country roads (as we call it in the US).... I am surrounded by field after field after field... it is absolutely gorgeous! I still can't believe I am really here!

We get to the house and (it's beautiful!) immediately Jack is asking me questions :) We watch some tv while Judi gets Charlie (4 yr. old) and Gracie (at the time 3 month old).... Charlie walks in the door and sees me... He freezes for a sec and then grabs my hand and drags me to his playroom.... We play for a while and then James comes home from work. So then I really get to meet everyone. They are so nice and make me feel so comfortable right away. We talk for a while and then the boys have to go to bed and I go to my room to try to unpack my stuff.

I walk in the room, close the door and start crying.... not because I am sad... because I am overwhelmed. I am really here and I am not leaving for 7 months. I can't just pop over to my parent's house if I need something or I can't run to all the familiar places in Plano.... But that is normal. I was completely overwhelmed and extremely homesick my first 2 weeks in Ireland. I cried a couple times during those 2 weeks and had a hard time really being myself in the beginning. I am naturally a shy person, so this situation in the beginning was hard.

It took a couple days to unpack my stuff and get settled into my room (I have my own room with an ensuite bathroom - the bathroom is in the room). I got "thrown in" right away to having the kids all day by myself because of Judi's job, but they are great and understood this was all new for me so they helped me out a lot.


Don't worry if you are really homesick or in the first 2 weeks think "I can't do this - I want to go home".. that is completely normal... you have to give yourself an adjustment period. Going from the United States of America to Ireland is a HUGE adjustment. I honestly was not completely comfortable with everything until around 1 month into being here. It takes time... you are living with completely new people, adjusting to their life and routine, adjusting to life in a foreign country and trying to keep up with kids and family life that is not your own.... it is a lot to handle in the beginning...

I recommend just taking some time for yourself every day.. whether that is 20 min, 30 min, 1 hour or whatever you can spare... take that time at least in the beginning because you need to get your mind straight about being where you are...

Don't stress! Homesickness is normal... I am 4 months in and still get really homesick. Talk to your host parents about how you are feeling.... in my situation they are so understanding about what I am feeling - they always make sure I am doing and feeling okay and that helps so much!