Homesickness - What should I do?

[mr.sumo.snr]

Well, I just looked up some stuff and it looks like I have laryngitis. YAY. Also, unless it persists for more than a week I'm apparently not supposed to go to a hospital since the most likely cause is that I just killed my vocal cords

Japanese self-diagnosis site or North American one? Whichever, you've got insurance - why no use it and shut your host family up. Would you have visited your family doctor at home by now? If so then why not the Japanese family doctor - in a hospital yes, but that's the system here.

BTW tell your volleyball team captain to stick it - sounds like she needs a lesson in manners.

 

[budd]

ever been away from home before? for how long?

 

[Nuala]

Okay this may seem dumb and you may not like the games but there are usually alot of go or chess parlors in Japan. I don't know about your area but there usually are.
They are great games and you should give them a try if your bored.

 

[Kamisama]

i dislike hotmail sometimes... laryngitis is fun, when i get it i like to curse at my loudest.. no one can hear me. ^_^;

try and use yahoo email.
ooh.. get your friends to join jref.com!!! yay

 

[DragonChan]

mr.sumo.snr - Hah, sorry I had to laugh at the insurance bit. I have it I think. My dad swears that he got me some but I think he didn't in an attempt to save money. So I'd really rather not test it unless I'm actually sick. Besides my voice came back a bit today. I can talk somewhat though I think I sound sorta like something crawled in my throat and died. Anyway, thanks. I'll feel much better when I can talk again, though I recent figured out that I can just type what I want to say in my cell phone and show it the the person I'm 'talking' to.

budd - Longest I've been away before was 2 weeks, and it was a completely different situation. I used to volunteer at a summer camp and I was a counselor and looked after the kids.

thor, kamisama, ewok - Thanks for the ideas! As I said before though, lack of time isn't the problem. It's more disliking what I have to do with it.

Anyway THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I am going to stay, no worries. You all had really good points, I mean...when am I ever going to get this chance again?

 

[Elizabeth]

I also really dislike the school system, and I also face a problem in that I need to use alternate methods for learning things like math and kanji...I don't understand the usual ways. But the school insists that if I just spend a few hours a day I'll be able to read all of them by the time I leave. It's an ongoing fight that makes me feel rather stupid each time they pull me aside. They have very unrealistic expectations when it comes to the other exchange student and I.
In the end...the things that drive me crazy are the ones I have to do everyday.

I've had a very similar problem learning to write kanji while I'm there which has almost caused me to fail two courses (how stupid is that in this age of word processing and text messaging?). I simply don't and will never have the visual/artistic talent necessary for it, even my handwritten kanas look terrible, but the schools unfailingly insist everyone can improve just by motivation alone and consistently putting in that extra effort. When there are a million more important aspects to the language.....I mean it's good to have the philosophy all students can learn, but applying it so blindly and in exactly the same way for everyone is pretty destructive in my opinion. Especially when the classes are for credit which mine were not....

 

[Ewok85]

but the schools unfailingly insist everyone can improve just by motivation alone and consistently putting in that extra effort

Its a thing with Japanese schooling, doesnt matter as long as you put in the effort! :arghh:

DragonChan, if you have time, just sitting around, especially at home pretty much on your own, doing nothing, then you'll go stir crazy and become homesick. Only 2 things will get you through, thats the keep busy and always be moving forward, meet new people, do new things, go new places. You sound like a student so money is normally a problem (i had nothing ) so be creative. Have a look at where you are now, see if theres anything interesting to do. Try something japanese, like shodo (calligraphy) or ikebana (flower arranging) or maybe a wild martial art like kyudo (archery) or kendo (japanese fencing). I found all of the above to be great. Maybe some cooking clases? Go see your teacher at the school and ask that you be able to join in classes, take your favorites, and do PE, Home Economics, more PE, English (and help the teacher ).

Talk to people, talk to EVERYONE, when your waiting for a train/bus/cashier say hi, introduce yourself, ask how they are. About 9/10 they respond and you'll have wonderful conversations and find out so many interesting things. Make some penpals and maybe meet them.

Got a bicycle? No? Get one ☝ Now ride it! I used to just get on the bike and go "right, today im going... this way!" and just go down a road and see where it led me. As a result I knew my town like the back of my hand, as well as all the big towns around and the major roads there (which will be good as i'll have a motorbike next time )

Just keep busy, keep a positive mental outlook (a negative one will only make your time there draaaaaagout and drive you batty as well as make you sick) and enjoy your time here. I know some of the people on this board would fight tooth and nail battle royale style to have what you've got. (And hows the photos coming along?)

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

I'm surprised the school doesn't insist that you pay Japanese national health insurance. Though now I've said that...I'm scratching my head as to how your contributions would be calculated.

As a matter of interest, did any of the former ryuugakusei students contributing to this thread actually buy into the Japanese health insurance system?

 

[Ewok85]

Hah, not personally. The company that organized my trip may have but otherwise I have private insurance for health and property.

 

[Elizabeth]

Talk to people, talk to EVERYONE, when your waiting for a train/bus/cashier say hi, introduce yourself, ask how they are. About 9/10 they respond and you'll have wonderful conversations and find out so many interesting things. Make some penpals and maybe meet them.

For me as well -- some of the best insights about the culture have come from not being afraid to strike up conversations with strangers on the street. Although the Japanese friends with you may be a little embarrassed, the people you're talking to are usually very pleased a foreigner is taking that much interest in them. Plus, for the real-time language practice and you can't go much wrong. At least you won't be mugged or assaulted.

 

[Nuala]

mr.sumo.snr - Hah, sorry I had to laugh at the insurance bit. I have it I think. My dad swears that he got me some but I think he didn't in an attempt to save money. So I'd really rather not test it unless I'm actually sick. Besides my voice came back a bit today. I can talk somewhat though I think I sound sorta like something crawled in my throat and died. Anyway, thanks. I'll feel much better when I can talk again, though I recent figured out that I can just type what I want to say in my cell phone and show it the the person I'm 'talking' to.

budd - Longest I've been away before was 2 weeks, and it was a completely different situation. I used to volunteer at a summer camp and I was a counselor and looked after the kids.

thor, kamisama, ewok - Thanks for the ideas! As I said before though, lack of time isn't the problem. It's more disliking what I have to do with it.

Anyway THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I am going to stay, no worries. You all had really good points, I mean...when am I ever going to get this chance again?

I'd run away for a few years. It's not that hard.

 

[budd]

"Longest I've been away before was 2 weeks, and it was a completely different situation."
that is it that is it that is it
THAT is IT

but WHAT to DO NOW?
i DON'T KNOW
maybe remember what type of recreation was liked at home and try to recreate it there?
don't know if it was suggested already because some of these people i tend to ignore mostly nowadays
think about how lucky one is to be able to have the perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
or that they got the slot of someone else who might not have got homesick and would be thus blowing up the spot?
therefore they should enjoy SOMEHOW SOMEWAY no matter what?
sending prayers. peace.

 

[Hiiragi]

It's good that you're staying.
You would probably regret is later if you leave now...

 

[Zalesky]

you're going to make it

Hello from the States! I can only imagine what it's like to be in such a foreign environment for so long, but the most important thing is to make friends. Being able to hang out with other people like yourself, or maybe not so much like yourself, makes time fly and will open up a new and more comfortable Japan for you. I realize that it's hard to just "make friends" but keep your eyes open for people that seem to share a common trait...besides the very popular anima/manga. There's more than that to you, and there's more than that to other people. It's hard not to be shy in such a new and intimidating environment, but being shy won't help you adjust sorry to say. So explore Japanese culture- maybe even go see some Japanese rock shows (very entertaining) if you like live shows, if you feel out of place, watch movies that make you feel comfortable and not so foreign (even if they're old or Canadian); don't be afraid to wander around a little by yourself even just around your neigbhorhood and don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask them if they'd like to do something sometime. You have absolutely nothing to lose...you can always go home..but you want to go home thinking that you really gave it your best shot and learned something, not that you didn't have what it took to make it. If possible, maybe think about taking a martial art class or anything else that you've been secretly interested in doing. Now is the time to do it, to explore activities and yourself. There is no one to judge you so do have a good time and relax. Remember that everything will still be there when you get back home. You're not missing out if you're doing something great where you are. So give it one more shot then pack your bags. Good luck,
JZ

 

[hungtakwai]

Eat Atkin's, weightlift, play DDR, understand that you are living a life people dream of, and think about fun stuff that you could do in Japan that you haven't already. Perhaps you could bust a move and go to parties or else chill and find new friends that are interesting. Like in digimon, the characters all had cool stuff to do with each other. They all had stories and activities and their own lives.......... I think homesickness is in the head. I've never really been homesick. I rather burn this house down. I'd live on the streets if it were warm and legal.

I agree with this gay, just like in the anime digimon, you are made to get away from home, then you will treasure it. But try to enjoy yourself... When you have to leave where you are staying, you got to miss it. Anyway, take it easy Mr. Chan.

By the way, I like digimon too, do the friend I quote got some interest too?

 

[user42784]

you found it any better with the advice people have been giving you?

hope it gets easier

i have spent a long time in Mexico and in teh south of England away from my family when I was younger and I just tried to keep myself preoccupied with something to keep me going.

do you do sport or what are your hobbies?

 

[Aurura]

Erm... DragonChan, the OP, started this thread back in December 2004... it's possible that he doesn't even post/visit JRef anymore.

Although I, too, wonder how things turned out...

 

[user42784]

cheers for that, lol

just trying to give advice but yeh years ago ha ha