Nyda Mukhtar is a freshman from Pakistan who-interestingly enough-feels more at home at the University than many of her fellow classmates.

“Wash. U. has helped the international students settle in and make new friends with its Explore program. Initially, I felt homesick. But not anymore,” Mukhtar said.

Nevertheless, despite the University’s best efforts to smooth the transition to college life, many other freshmen continue to experience a longing for home.

To battle homesickness, freshman Elizabeth Romaner frequently talks to her family in Florida using a web cam.

“You can distract yourself all you want, buy things all you want and have great things going on around you, but it can’t change the fact that you are away from your family. Nothing can fill that void inside you after you leave home,” she said.

Freshman Jason Lin is having difficulty with his new life at Wash. U., as well.

“I call home a lot-I’ve used like 300 [cell phone] minutes in the past four days,” he said. “I probably miss my friends more than they miss me, because it’s always me calling them.”

Sophomore Michelle Waddell, co-director of public relations for Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling Service, said that homesickness is a common issue among freshmen and usually sets in around September or October. Fortunately, there are several outlets for freshmen who are feeling homesick.

“They should keep in contact with people from home, their friends and family, because their friends and family want to hear from them too, and it will make [freshmen] feel like they are less far away from home,” Waddell said. “They should also join activities, particularly continue to participate in activities that they enjoyed in high school. If they ran track at home, they should run track here. This will help them feel more at home and meet people who share their interests.”

Homesick freshmen can also talk to a number of people about their feelings and concerns, Waddell said.

“They should talk to their friends, people on their floor, other freshmen-and they shouldn’t be afraid, because everyone is in the same boat. They can also talk to their resident advisers or someone at Uncle Joe’s because both have been trained to deal with homesickness,” she said.

Junior John Spratt, an RA in Koenig, said that RAs are available to talk if their floor residents are feeling homesick.

“A lot of times people just need to vent, and a lot of what we do is listen to people,” he said.

Spratt admitted that he felt a little homesick his freshman year.

“I never really spent time away from home; it took some getting used to,” he said, adding that he felt totally adjusted by the end of his freshman year and is now having a great time in college.

But many freshmen, like Jordan King, are already having the time of their lives.

“I’m not homesick because Wash. U. is so great. I love the people, the great food and my freedom,” said King.

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