<p>Is this normal? </p>
<p>I live in California and attend college in Boston, pretty far away. </p>
<p>After a long break (esp. winter break), when I return back to school, I feel homesick and anxious about the new classes that I will have to take. Do any of you feel like this?</p>
<p>I know this will not persist, however, I feel homesick the first 2-3 days I'm back from a long break.</p>
<p>I did, and I only live 20 minutes away! It went away once classes started. It’s hard to adjust when you go back and forth.</p>
<p>It’s normal!</p>
<p>Second semester is always harder in the beginning.</p>
<p>You’re just coming off the hardest part of the semester (finals being your most recent school experience) and have a true idea of the slog that is before you, that whole semester of work and papers and exams that is ahead. The weather is gray and cold and wet and gloomy…when you arrived for fall semester everything was green and sunny and the quad beckoned–it wasn’t just an express of tundra to hurry across to the next building where you could get inside.</p>
<p>And the biggest difference…you’re lacking the excitement of going to college. Been there, done that and the bloom is off the rose.</p>
<p>But in a few weeks you’ll be back in the swing of things–busy with friends and classes and everything will be going by way too fast. My oldest son once said that he feels it’s a shame that you only get 8 semesters at college…that once he had the hang of it he didin’t have all that many more chances to enjoy it.</p>
<p>my older daughter is going back this weekend; is already dreading it…and she’s a sophomore…</p>
<p>Funny thing is… I’m a sophomore! Things seem to be alright now; I think I need 2-3 days to adjust back to the college atmosphere. I think the best way to not feel homesick is to be busy!</p>
<p>^ I try to keep busy by staying on top of my work. I get a lot of work at my school.</p>
<p>@rodney: so it doesn’t get better after freshman year?</p>
<p>If you’re from southern California I imagine a bit of your feelings are due to the differences in temperature and season. I know all my friends from warm states would always be even more miserable the first week or so of the winter semester when I was going to school in colder climates.</p>
<p>(Now I’m the one missing the weather at home after a break. I shouldn’t be wearing shorts and sandals in the middle of January!)</p>
<p>I think this is pretty normal. I know I was freaked out about going back for second semester but it’s Thursday of the first week of the semester and everything’s back to normal now. Part of it has to do with friends–after being away from each other for a month, things can feel awkward at first, especially if you’re a freshman and haven’t known each other that long. Also, the prospect of entirely new classes can be daunting, because at least from my experience there is some measure of comfort that comes from routine. </p>
<p>Once you go to your classes a few times and meet some more friendly faces, things should get better.</p>