By Doug Thompson
A few weeks ago, I went to OIL and ISL’s homesickness workshop. After everyone got some food, we watched a video about what homesickness looks like and talked in small groups and thought definitions of homesickness. There was a group prompt that where everyone had to draw a picture of what homesickness meant to them. I drew a picture of me and my siblings playing in our backyard in the summer. Then, Fatima and Edwinna talked about their personal experiences with homesickness. Finally, there was an activity where we filled two bulletin boards with sticky notes of normal and abnormal behaviors when experiencing homesickness. I learned a lot about how people go through homesickness and how I can support others when they are experiencing symptoms of homesickness. I also learned about things I can do when I am feeling homesick, such as talking to health advisors, studying with friends, Talking to family, and going outside for a walk in nature.