Before arriving in Nicaragua, I had a serious of orientation and
information sessions regarding my study abroad. A large portion of the
orientation process was opening a discussion about culture shock: what
it is, how it manifests and how to cope with it. Now all of this
information was good, but I pretty much thought I was exempt from the
whole phenomena and set it aside.
Despite all the warnings, I truly believed I would be unaffected.
Even more, I thought I would not miss home at all. However, the last
three weeks, I have missed my home, friends and culture more than ever. I
have been so homesick, that I have even begun to miss things that I
generally hate about my home city. For instance, I miss the cold weather
of fall. I miss wearing a rain jacket. And I even miss my busy
university schedule with classes paired with an internship that barely
leaves me room to take a shower. This feeling of homesickness has
definitely surprised me and has not felt good, but after some time in
self-pity, I have been able to begin reflecting and feeling gratitude.
The truth is, that I miss being apart of a community. Back home I
have so much support from friends and family, and I am familiar with the
resources in my community that I need to succeed. All of this
contributes to my quality of life, and I bet if I stayed in Managua for
two years, I would be able to build the same understanding here that I
have back home. It just takes time.
Through all the homesickness, I have been able to make use of the
coping mechanisms that my coordinators suggested before I left the
states. I talk to friends and family on a daily basis, I treat myself to
foods that remind me of home, I wear my rain jacket even though people
look at me like I am crazy, and I listen to lots of music that I don’t
get to hear in Mangua. Now that I have less time left than I have been
here in Nicaragua, I am back to feeling excited and just want to make
the most of every day that I have here. There is lots of travel to come
in the next month and I will have many stories to tell!
- Kine Camara
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