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90 Finn: Well, I think you can often feel very lonely, especially if you’ve moved to a foreign country where the language is different to yours. You can feel quite isolated – feeling that you’re on your own with no one to help. Jennifer: That’s true. It’s often very difficult when you don’t know many people. It’s stressful. It can be hard to make friends, and you will often think about your friends and family back at home. Finn: You could say that you pine for your home. That means that you really want to go back and see some familiar faces, or people you know. Jennifer: I miss my friends and family lots. But when I’m feeling homesick, I also miss places, sounds and smells! Finn: You might see a picture of your hometown, which can make you feel a bit sad, because you’re not there. Jennifer: Food is something else that I long for – I want it very much – when I’m away from home. There are lots of regional foods which you can’t get in London, but the thing I miss the most is my mum’s home cooking. If I smell something that reminds me of home, I feel extremely homesick! Finn: You’re starting to make me feel homesick now! Nowadays lots of people live, work or study away from home. People travel all over the world, and homesickness is a growing problem. Jennifer: Lots of people will experience mild homesickness – so they feel a little sad, but they can deal with it. Other people have more extreme homesickness. Finn: They might experience panic attacks or nightmares… Jennifer: … and some people withdraw from society altogether. That means they don’t go out or interact with anyone. Finn: Some people think that if you feel that homesick, you should just go home! But often it’s not as easy as that, especially if you are studying or working somewhere. Jennifer: There are ways to make it better, though. Modern technology has helped a lot of people to stay in touch with their families by using video- calling software, such as Skype or FaceTime. Finn: That’s a good idea, because actually seeing someone talk to you is much better than just hearing them on the phone. Social media also helps people to communicate with the people they left behind. Answer: 70 % of all students feel homesick.