Are we always homesick? Maybe and that’s okay.
Homesickness isn’t a phase. For many of us who moved away from India, it’s a quiet background feeling that never fully leaves.
It shows up in small, unexpected moments, when I hear a favorite song from back home, when I crave a spicy snack and a hot cup of chai, or when I’m sick and just want someone to sit next to me and say, “It’s going to be okay.” Sometimes, it shows up for no reason at all.
We miss the sense of belonging. We miss our parents, extended family, and that feeling of being truly known, without having to explain ourselves first.
Luckily, we live in times where we can talk to our families through WhatsApp and FaceTime. I truly can’t imagine doing this before smartphones or the internet. In that sense, cell phones really are a blessing in disguise.
It doesn’t matter how or why we moved, whether it was for higher education, marriage, work, or because we had no choice. Whether we moved two years ago or two decades ago. That ache for home still finds us. Our hometown always holds a special place in our hearts.
Childhood memories sneak in often. Sometimes when we’re scrolling through old photos, sometimes through a smell, a taste, or a song. We feel connected through the dozens of WhatsApp groups we don’t even participate in (lol). Some of us hang onto the occasional message from an old classmate. Some of us scroll Facebook just to see what our high school crush looks like now. But let’s be honest, nothing compares to sitting down for chai and talking in person.
I miss home the most during the holidays, Diwali, Pongal, New Year, weddings, baby showers, family gatherings. I miss doing fireworks with neighbors during Diwali, the chaos in the kitchen, and the joy of eating my mom’s sweets without counting calories.
By January, many of us are already planning our summer trips to India. Where to shop? Who to visit? Should we take the kids to that temple or to that beach town? How long can we work remotely? And of course, all the schedule juggling between school holidays, spouse calendars, and endless logistics. Somehow, we always get prioritized last.
Life keeps moving. We miss weddings, births, and funerals, the big, important moments when we just can’t leave “just like that.” If you’ve ever had to grieve or celebrate through a screen, you know what I mean.
So, how do we stay grounded while being so far away?
Here are a few things that have helped me (and might help you too):
Stay connected - even if it’s just a short voice note, a photo, or a “thinking of you” text. A 10-minute call during your commute or coffee break can work wonders.
Invest in real friendships - not just surface-level acquaintances. Quality over quantity. Meet a friend for chai. Go on a walk. Build your circle.
Move your body every day - it sounds unrelated, but it’s powerful. A 20-minute walk, yoga, dancing to Bollywood songs in your kitchen… it all counts. It clears the fog.
Above all, prioritize you - If there’s a wedding or any event you really want to attend in India, just go. The work will wait. The kids will manage. There will never be a perfect time, but that doesn't mean it's not the right time.
Being homesick doesn’t mean you’re not happy where you are. It means you carry two homes and both matter.
We may live far away, but our roots stretch across oceans. And every time we call home, cook our mom’s recipe, or cry during a Bollywood song, we bring a little bit of home closer.
Do you know someone feeling homesick, especially someone who’s recently moved abroad?
Forward them this newsletter. You never know who might need it today.
And tell me, how do you deal with homesickness?
Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear.
Signing out,
Sana