How to handle homesickness
I wasn’t homesick. But because I had a perfect host family who immediately became my second family.
Usually AuPairs experience homesickness in their 2nd or 3rd month. It is because the beginning is always really exciting, everything is new and then, when you settled down and have a schedule, you realize that you are alone there without friends and family. That is when the most important thing is; DO NOT STAY HOME. Go, go meet AuPairs, there will be a TON around you. You will have to attend monthly AuPair meetings anyways, so go make new friends, there will be so many Whatsapp and Facebook groups, ask someone out for a walk, picnic, coffee, hike, whatever.
Try to spend as much time with your host family as you can to quickly improve your relationship. Hopefully they’ll invite you everywhere with them. Go to the mall, out for dinner, over to friends’ house with them and you will see, everything is gonna go smooth and easier.
Then go find a new hobby. You most likely won’t be able to find your favorite pastime activities in the States like the ones you loved in your home country. But don’t be afraid to try out new things. Go to the gym, go for hikes if you live close to the mountains, go to the beach, sign up for language or piano classes, whatever you like to do!
Do not stay home talking to your family from home all the time or you will end up crying a lot. Go for a walk while you call them, show them around on a video call!
I personally bought a drone and a GoPro and spent most of my time out in nature, hiking and wandering, taking photos and videos!