As an international student there are so many things that we have to navigate. We have to learn and adapt quickly to a new culture, we need to keep up with and get stay on top of  classes. Sometimes we even need to learn a new language, especially if we speak a different one. But the most difficult thing we deal with is the separation from home. There’s nothing that fully prepares you for being away from your family and that initial bout of homesickness that you feel. For me, I’ve been away from home for three years, and, don’t get me wrong, I love New York;. I love the people, I love the diversity, I love everything New York has to offer and what it represents to for me, but it’s been two years since I’ve last returned home to Guyana and I must say I fully miss it.

The thing is we all need to find a way to cope and deal with the homesickness and sometimes getting back to our home helps reset the weariness that comes when you’re away for too long. How did I make it this long though? I surrounded myself with an amazing group of friends who are also from the Caribbean. We laugh, hang out, and go everywhere together. We’re also all Resident Assistants and we’re always in each other’s buildings.

And sometimes, amazing things happen and you get the opportunity to go home and today I got the most amazing news! I’m going back home for the Easter Recess for 6 days! I am so excited and I haven’t told my mom yet. My plan is to surprise her and just show up outside our home and knock on the door. I’m hoping I don’t give her too much of a scare!!

Daniel Haynes is an international student from Guyana studying Journalism at St. John’s University in New York.