Why Your First Month Abroad Is So Overwhelming—and How You Can Respond.
You did it.
You flew across oceans, nations, and comfort zones to pursue your ambition. A higher degree. A brighter future.
You hauled your baggage, said goodbye to your folks at the airport, avoided bawling throughout the layover, and now — tada.
- New city.
- New timezone.
- A new number.
- New flatmates.
- A new university.
- New Student Accommodation
And a thousand things you never imagined you'd have to learn — in a language that's never second nature, in a society that's both strangely familiar and terribly foreign.
They promised you the trip of a lifetime.
But nobody prepared you for how difficult the first few weeks would be.
The Day of Your Arrival
At first, it seemed unreal.
It was cold outside, but your heart felt warm.
You took your first photos at the airport, stared in astonishment at skyscrapers, and giggled half-heartedly with your new classmates at orientation.
You paid your first visit to the general grocery store. I stumbled onto coins.
Tried a food that baffled your taste receptors.
Signed your lease and eventually turned on your laptop to say, "I made it!"
However, something shifted between the pleasure of coming and the mundane setup.
It wasn't necessarily homesickness. It was a stickier, more intricate, and deeper sense of discomfort.
The Lost Type That No One Prepares For
The sense that...
- You can't focus in class since your mind is still wandering.
- You chat with buddies on instant messaging yet they don't exist.
- You miss the cuisine, of course, but you also miss being heard.
Does this sound familiar?
Say hello to the First Month Fog. Acolyte Living provides you with the greatest student accommodation in London.
What is the fog of the first month?
It is not depression. It is not burnout. It is not the classical definition of homesickness.
Emotional jet lag is a significant psychological detachment between your body, environment, memories, and reality.
It's what happens when your mind is still trying to catch up with the fact that your entire life has changed.
When you move overseas, you are not just moving; you are re-creating yourself.
Suddenly you are:
- A stranger.
- A foreigner.
- A flatmate.
- A student.
- A decision-maker.
- A reflection of your entire family's aspirations.
That's a lot of burden to carry.
Emotional baggage for first-generation students studying abroad
If you're the first in your area or family to study abroad, you're probably carrying more than just filthy socks and textbooks.
You are juggling:
- Cultural acclimatization
- Academic Pressure to Succeed
Visa requirements:
- Budgeting for Money
- Time zones away from the people you love.
- And the overwhelming anxiety of: "I can't screw this up or let it down."
You want to prove something, not only to yourself, but also to everyone who has supported you along the way. Every letdown is magnified. Every emotion is in your face. Every eat-alone dinner is a failure.
But hear me out.
Even if you are in pain, this does not preclude you from participating.
It means you are human.
Culture shock is real—and it comes in stages.
The rollercoaster you're on is known as Culture Shock.
And it arrives in stages, even for those who are well prepared.
Phase One: The Honeymoon
It's all fresh, shiny, and Instagram-worthy.
You're learning, discovering, snapping selfies, and texting your homegirls and homies while staying in the ideal student accommodation, such as a student hostel or an apartment, which you found with the help of Acolyte Living.
You've got friends. You cooked biryani in a London flat. You're familiar with the corner shop that serves masala chips.
You're not just surviving abroad; you're living abroad.
If you are reading this, you are most likely in Stages 1 or 2.
Do not worry about it. And you are not alone.
"But Everyone Else Looks Fine…"
We get it. Everyone else is coping just as well.
Their Instagram stories read, "Best Uni Life Ever???"
They shared Snapchat stories of themselves dashing between places.
They take selfies in galleries, while you mourn in your neighborhood.
But what they don't share:
Panic attacks.
They regret spending £8.50 on mushy fast food.
The two-hour call to mummy, when they sobbed in quiet tones
The anxiety of being the "other" person in a tutorial class
Social media users share the highlight reel.
Real life is what happens between those stories.
What You Are Able to Do Now
So, how do you deal with the fog in your life?
When days pass in a blur and your sense of self makes you embarrassed.
This is what has helped hundreds of students like you.
- Reconnect with Your Inner Home.
Create anything at home.
Put on your favourite tune from home.
Put on your old hoodie.
Burn incense. Watch a Shah Rukh Khan flick. Do not be frightened to wear your kurta.
These are not throwbacks; they are reminders.
Home is not something you leave behind.
It is something you carry with you.
- Establish One Genuine Relationship
You do not need to form a friend group straight away.
Start with one:
Tell someone how much you admire someone's shoes.
Ask someone about the professor's accent.
Share a snack.
Attend a society event—even if it's embarrassing.
It's not ideal. Its presence.
- Establish a Pattern
Your space may be disorganized, but your routine doesn't have to be.
Create a sensation of anchoring with:
Same wake-up timings.
Daily walks.
Sunday Laundry
Weekly calls home.
Study sessions on the same library chair
These anchors relax your mind.
- Give yourself permission
To cry.
To be imperfect.
To eat Maggi for the third time this week.
To say "I'm not okay" without explaining why.
You're not here to be flawless.
You came here to learn, and one of the things you'll do is learn about yourself.
How Acolyte Living Enables Your Entire Journey
Let's get real:
Finding a place to live overseas is difficult enough.
But what about living abroad? That is an emotional marathon.
That's why Acolyte Living offers more than just listings and leases.
We provide:
Pre-arrival virtual tours of the best student accommodations in London.
Clear contracts ensure that you are never left in the dark regarding rent or guidelines.
Education support for mental health, cultural adjustment, and roommate conflicts.
The community reminds you that you are never alone.
Support in your native language (yes, including Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil, or Punjabi).
Need a Room That Feels Like Home?
Looking for a location where you may be heard, loved, and seen?
Acolyte Living can help you find the greatest student apartments in London, Manchester, and the rest of the UK - with enthusiasm.
