Managing the emotional highs and lows of life abroad

Howdy, traveller!

Congratulations you made it. After a long journey across the globe, you’ve reached your dream destination. It’s time to explore, learn, grow, and step into your brand-new life abroad.

But here’s the thing about living overseas: it comes with incredible highs… and very real lows.

If you’re on a working holiday or international placement, you can expect emotional waves. That’s normal. In fact, most people experience four main phases when adjusting to life abroad:

The Honeymoon Phase
The Homesick Phase
Love and Thunder
Reverse Culture Shock (Homesick, Part II)

Properly managing the emotional highs and lows of life abroad is essential to staying healthy and happy. So let’s walk through what to expect and how to handle it.

The Honeymoon Phase: The Excitement of Living Abroad

And so, the adventure begins. Joy. Wonder. Excitement. Fascination. Everything feels new. Every street smells amazing. Every conversation feels electric. You’re energized, curious, restless, ready to experience everything at once. This is the honeymoon phase of living abroad and it’s powerful.

Get Out and Explore

Visit tourist spots. Try the food. Explore museums. Wander local markets. Working holiday programs are designed to give you time to discover your new country so take advantage of it. Just maybe keep an eye on your spending.

Build Your Routine Early

Even in the honeymoon phase, it helps to build structure:

Find your grocery story
Learn public transportation
Pick your favourite café
Join a gym or community group

Establishing routines makes long-term adjustment easier.

Meet New People

This is the perfect time to put yourself out there. Join local clubs. Volunteer. Attend language cafés. Connect with coworkers and other trainees. Use community forums to meet nearby travellers. The honeymoon phase might last days, weeks, or months. Everyone’s different. Enjoy it but know it won’t stay forever.

The Homesick Phase: Coping With Homesickness Abroad

Then one day… it hits. A smell. A song. A familiar tree. And suddenly, you miss home. Homesickness is a completely normal part of adjusting to life abroad. You’re human. You left behind people, routines, and comforts. Learning how to cope with homesickness while living abroad is essential. Hear from some A Way To Work alumni about their experiences with homesickness.

Embrace the Feeling

Homesickness isn’t weakness. It’s proof that you love where you came from. Allow yourself to feel it — but don’t live in it.

Get Up and Go

Routine fights homesickness. Stay active. Set goals. Volunteer. Learn new skills. Create momentum in your life abroad. Progress builds confidence. Confidence fights loneliness.

Stay Connected (But Not Dependent)

Keep in touch with family and friends back home. Talk when you’re feeling overwhelmed. But avoid using them as your only emotional anchor. You’re building independence too.

Bring Keepsakes From Home

Photos. Blankets. Small comfort items. These help during emotional dips.

Adjust to Culture Shock

Culture shock fuels homesickness. Frustration with language, customs, or daily routines can make you long for home. Stay curious. Learn about local traditions. Try to understand differences instead of resisting them. Growth happens here.

Love and Thunder: Finding Your Rhythm Abroad

And then… something shifts. The excitement returns but this time, it’s steadier. Stronger. Real.

You’ve adjusted. You’ve built friendships. You’ve found purpose. You’ve learned how things work.

You might still miss home sometimes. But now, this place feels like home too. This is when you’ve truly settled into life abroad.

You’ve created a new routine. Built confidence. Found belonging. That’s powerful.

Homesick, Part II: Reverse Culture Shock

And then comes the return home. This part surprises people. Reverse culture shock can feel harder than leaving in the first place. You once missed home while abroad. Now you miss abroad while home. Everything feels familiar — yet slightly off. You’ve changed. Life at home hasn’t. Managing reverse culture shock is just as important as managing homesickness abroad.

Stay Connected to Your Life Abroad

Keep in touch with friends you made overseas. They understand what you’re feeling.

Reconnect at Home

Catch up with friends. Share your stories. Rebuild routines. Yes, things may feel different. That’s okay.

Bring the Best of Both Worlds Together

You’ve grown. You’ve learned new habits, perspectives, routines. Instead of feeling frustrated by differences, bring the best parts of your life abroad into your life at home. Growth doesn’t disappear just because you’ve returned. Living abroad is transformative. It stretches you emotionally, socially, and mentally.

At A-Way to Work, we understand how complex life abroad can feel. If you ever need support, we’re just a message away.

If you’re ready to explore the world while building skills and earning income, a working holiday could be one of the most rewarding decisions you make. Your adventure starts here…check out our different destinations at awaytowork.ca