Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
San Marino, this small landlocked state in the heart of Italy, offers a unique experience for travelers seeking a change of scenery. However, even in this idyllic setting, it’s not uncommon to feel homesick, especially during an extended stay. Here are some tips to help you manage this nostalgia and make the most of your time in the oldest republic in the world.
Create Your San Marino Cocoon: The Importance of a Comforting Routine
Homesickness often manifests as a feeling of losing your bearings. To counter this, it’s essential to create a new routine in San Marino. This daily structure will help you feel more at ease in your new environment.
Start by establishing simple habits: choose a local café for your morning breakfast, where you can enjoy a cappuccino and a cornetto while observing the daily life of the Sammarinese. Plan regular walks through the picturesque alleys of the old town, setting discovery goals for yourself. For example, you might decide to explore a new neighborhood each week.
Incorporate elements from your previous life into your new routine. If you used to do yoga at home, look for a studio in San Marino or practice in your accommodation. Maintain your evening rituals, like reading before bed, to create a sense of continuity and comfort.
Don’t hesitate to adopt new, typically Sammarinese habits. Join the traditional evening passeggiata on Piazza della Libertà , or get into the habit of stopping at a gelateria after dinner for some artisanal ice cream. These small daily pleasures will help you feel like a part of local life.
Good to know:
Routine doesn’t mean monotony. Vary your activities while maintaining an overall structure to feel grounded in your new life in San Marino.
Stay Connected Without Staying Hooked: The Subtle Balance of Ties with Loved Ones
Keeping in touch with your loved ones is crucial for managing homesickness, but you need to find the right balance so you don’t remain trapped in your old life.
Schedule regular video calls with your family and friends, but avoid making it a daily obsession. Set up weekly or bi-weekly appointments to share your experiences and catch up on their news. Choose a time when you can talk quietly, for example from one of San Marino’s panoramic viewpoints, to show them your new surroundings.
Use social media in moderation. Share your discoveries and photos of San Marino, but avoid spending hours scrolling through the posts of friends back home. This could fuel your nostalgia and prevent you from fully immersing yourself in your new life.
Create a blog or a journal to document your experience in San Marino. Not only will this allow you to stay connected with loved ones who can follow your adventures, but it will also help you fully appreciate every moment of your stay by forcing you to reflect on your daily experiences.
Good to know:
Technology is your ally for staying in touch, but don’t forget to live in the present moment in San Marino. Set time limits for your communications with loved ones so you don’t miss out on the opportunities available to you on the ground.
Dive into Sammarinese Life: Immersion as a Remedy for Homesickness
One of the best ways to combat homesickness is to fully immerse yourself in the culture and local life of San Marino. The more integrated you feel, the less nostalgia for your home country you’ll experience.
Participate in local events. San Marino is full of festivities throughout the year. Don’t miss the Palio delle Balestre Grandi, a crossbow competition in medieval costumes held every September. Attend the changing of the guard ceremonies in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, a daily spectacle that will immerse you in the living history of the republic.
Learn the local language. Although Italian is widely spoken in San Marino, taking language classes will help you feel more comfortable in your daily life and forge deeper connections with locals. Look for evening classes or language exchanges to practice.
Explore Sammarinese cuisine. Sign up for a cooking class to learn how to prepare local specialties like piadine or strozzapreti. Frequent local markets and chat with producers to discover typical ingredients from the region.
Get involved in the community. Join a sports club, a hiking group, or a cultural association. For example, you could join a group of history enthusiasts to explore the many historical sites of San Marino, like the three iconic towers that dominate Monte Titano.
Good to know:
Cultural immersion is a gradual process. Don’t put pressure on yourself to understand everything and do everything immediately. Take the time to appreciate each new discovery and each new encounter in San Marino.
Managing homesickness in San Marino takes time and patience. By creating a new routine, maintaining a balanced connection with your loved ones, and immersing yourself in local life, you will gradually transform your feelings of nostalgia into a rich life experience. Remember that homesickness is often a sign that you’ve left behind people and places that are dear to you. It’s a natural emotion that, when managed well, can help you appreciate your new life in San Marino even more.
Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
