The new term is finally here, which means, of course, it’s time to return to school.
For many students across China, it also means having to leave home for the next several months and move into a school dormitory.
Being away from our family for a long time, however, often leads to homesickness, a feeling that most students have experienced at some point.
A study by the UK’s National Union of Students found that up to 70 percent of UK students living away from home experience homesickness within their first few weeks of being away.
But homesickness isn’t just a feeling of sadness that happens in our mind, it can also affect us physically.
According to Klapow, the body reacts physically when it’s placed in an unknown situation such as being separated from one’s familiar surroundings (环境) for a long time.
“It’s an evolutionary (进化的) thing that makes us protect ourselves from danger when something is unknown,” he told HufPost.
“When we think about home,” we know that the sense of unknown is not happening there, so we want to return.”
So, how can we overcome these physical reactions?
Ruth Hardy of The Guardian offered advice for students who are feeling the effects of being away from the safety of home.
“Try and establish routines (常规) quickly. This can make your new environment feel more stable and will hopefully make you feel more settled,” she wrote.
Making friends with others who are in your situation is also a great way to feel less homesick, according to Hardy.
The most important thing to remember, however, is that homesickness is completely normal and is nothing to be ashamed of.
And once it’s gone, you’re free to enjoy the adventures and challenges of a brand new school year.
【小题1】The study by the UK’s National Union of Students is mentioned to ____.| A．prove it’s common for students to feel homesick |
| B．introduce some causes of homesickness |
| C．show how all young people are troubled by homesickness |
| D．show how homesickness causes harm to students |
| A．Avoid seeing things related to your home life. |
| B．Talk about your problems with your friends. |
| C．Take part in as many activities as possible. |
| D．Get into a routine as early as possible. |
| A．It’s only a feeling in our mind. | B．It has a physical influence on our body. |
| C．It usually disappears after a few weeks. | D．It always happens once we visit an unfamiliar place. |
| A．It drives people to get used to changes. |
| B．It encourages people to express their feelings. |
| C．It keeps people away from possible dangers. |
| D．It shows people the importance of their family. |
