It’s officially Family Weekend, which means the campus is glowing with relatives visiting and experiencing Smith for the first time, as well as great food, numerous activities and a lively campus center. As amazing as it feels to see the campus overflowing with beautiful families, autumn leaves and pumpkins, it can also feel a bit isolating to those of us who are far away from home and/or don't have our families visiting at this time. While there may not be a universal remedy for those of us experiencing Family Weekend alone, here are some things I do when I miss home.
1. Grab some comfort food
Unfortunately, Northampton has neither a corner store or a dollar pizza shop (although Sam’s Pizzeria is worth the money). Since I can’t just walk to the nearest corner store, the next best thing to do is make my own comfort food. If you have access to a kitchen and love baking or cooking, I’d recommend putting on some music, inviting some friends over and having a small get together. I love baking chocolate treats or calling my nana to learn how to make more complicated meals or desserts. If cooking is not your thing, try finding a local restaurant or shop that caters to your needs or plan a meal with friends at your favorite dining hall.
2. Watch a movie
There have been countless movies that have taken place in New York City and my favorite would probably be “The Devil Wears Prada.” It’s always fun to see places I’ve walked through countless times on the big screen (my other favorite thing to watch is Million Dollar Listing NY, ridiculous, I know). Even better, the movie or show doesn’t have to take place in your hometown to make you feel good. It can be your favorite movie, or something that you’ve enjoyed watching with your family that puts you in a good mood. It’s not so much about the content, as much as it is about the good memories you’ve had watching with people you love.
3. Communicate
Communication is key in all relationships. If you miss somebody, let them know! Pick up the phone, use Skype, send them a text, use FaceTime, use whatever form of communication works best for you! Sometimes, I like to send cards especially on special occasions like birthdays, so they know that I’m thinking of them. But there is also fun and comfort in just checking in whenever you need to. Figure out what communication style works best for you and don’t just call when you need something!
4. Build a playlist
During my first year at Smith, I felt extremely homesick, even though I live a mere five hours away. Regardless, it’s always hard to transition to new surroundings and people. Without really thinking about it, I had curated much of Jay Z’s discography and would listen to it while I was studying. Music has always made me feel better and listening to an artist from New York reminded me of home. I began making different playlists and started realizing the different types of artists and genres that I enjoyed listening to, to get me out of a funk.
5. Plan a trip
If it’s possible, plan a trip to go home or have someone come and visit. This may not be a feasible for everyone, but if it’s been awhile since you’ve seen your loved ones, a visit can be extremely gratifying and a great stress reliever. One thing that I appreciate about living relatively close is that my family reminds me that I can come home whenever I need to, not just for holidays or emergencies. Knowing that I don’t need an excuse just to come home because I want to or I miss my family, friends and a home-cooked meal, makes it easier for me to make it through the semester knowing that I have that option and support.
6. Be with your friends
Friends are the family that we get to choose. I also want to acknowledge that not everyone has a great relationship with their families and often friends can be a source of support, understanding and comfort. If your friends have family visiting during Family Weekend, ask if you can tag along. If you know that’s not an option, try to plan something together for another time or take this opportunity as a chance to get to know other Smithies on campus that may be going through a similar situation!
7. Sleep it off
This is probably the least productive thing that you can do. But depending on how you like to cope with being alone on Family Weekend, one option would be to try and distract yourself with other activities. Sleep in, watch Netflix, take yourself out, take this time to do things for yourself. In other words:
