Christmas is a time when people all over the country travel home to be with family. After spending three months living independently away from home, what will it be like staying back in your old room with your old rules? How do you navigate that trip home? Meic has some hints and tips.
Travelling home from uni, especially if it’s in your first year, can be both exciting and daunting. You’ve missed your family and can’t wait to see them, but you’ve also had 3 months living independently and being able to do what you want when you want! Your family back home may have grown used to you not being around. They might even have made some changes whilst you were away. You too might have experienced some changes, both within yourself and in your appearance. It’s probably a good idea to check in with your folks about what you or they might surprise you with! Then there are all the practical things – booking travel tickets, how much stuff to pack, which books and work to take home with you.
Top tips
We found a couple of blogs with advice for going home for Christmas with some useful tips.
Save the Student’s ’15 things to remember before going home for Christmas’ has some top tips including booking travel early, not overpacking to leave space for presents, switch gas and electricity off and emptying the fridge.
Bournemouth Univeristy’s ‘8 best and worst things about going home for the Christmas’ takes a humorous look with gifs about pros such as actual food in the fridge, and negatives like having your every movement watched.
Urban Student Life has some top tips specifically about travelling home for Christmas, including booking early, avoiding peak days and times, being aware of train strikes and more.
“You’ve changed”
University, for some people, can be a whole different culture to home and their community. Fitting back into your old world can be difficult. Your friends and family might find it difficult to accept this ‘new’ or changed person. You may have a new look or new ways, but reassuring them that you’re still you and you still love them can help. It also helps if you’re aware of what the differences are or might be, and are able to accept that there’s not much you can do about it. Try and look at it positively and embrace those differences for what they are.
Listen to other students
If you really struggle with being back home, there are student forums where you can share how you’re feeling, and you can also get in touch with Meic anytime between 8 am and 12 midnight, even on Christmas day! Details below.
Enjoy the rest
Being back home probably means that you can relax and not have to think about shopping for food, doing all your own cooking, laundry and tidying. Use this downtime to really give yourself a rest, and recharge your batteries ready for the new term in January.
It’s advisable to schedule in some time for uni work, perhaps when you’re well rested and over the whole Xmas festivities thing. You’ll return to uni knowing that you’re on top of things, making it a more positive experience.
Most of all, try to enjoy your time at home as much as you can, and have a great Xmas holiday! 🎄
