Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Leaving your country, habits, and comfort zone rarely leaves you unscathed. Whether you’re a foreign student settled in Tunis, a professional who has come to work in Sfax, or a Tunisian returning after years in Europe, homesickness can set in, sometimes subtly, sometimes with the force of a wave. Far from being a sign of weakness, it is an almost universal reaction to the loss of what is familiar to us.
Good to know:
Tunisia is both a host country and a country of departure. It receives migrants and refugees, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, Libya, and the Middle East, while also having a large diaspora living across several countries. Understanding how the feeling of ‘home’ is built and rebuilt in this context helps better tame homesickness.
Understanding what homesickness really is
Researchers describe homesickness as a form of distress linked to being away from one’s familiar environment. It combines sadness, nostalgia, anxiety, a feeling of being uprooted, and can even resemble a small grief. Some even speak of “cultural grief” or “grief of familiarity” to describe this pain of having lost one’s bearings, routines, sounds, smells, and familiar faces.
Example:
Psychological studies distinguish two main aspects of homesickness. The first is separation distress, which corresponds to the longing felt for family, friends, neighborhood, or home left behind. The second encompasses difficulties adjusting to the new life, such as learning new social rules, a different language, unfamiliar administrative procedures, or implicit codes. These two dimensions – longing for “back there” and the difficulty of settling “here” – often combine into the feeling commonly called “homesickness.”
The observed symptoms are very varied. Emotionally, we find sadness, irritability, anxiety, a feeling of loneliness despite the crowd, tears welling up for no apparent reason. Many describe thoughts that loop around home, country, loved ones, with an idealization of what was left behind. Physically, the body also speaks: sleep disturbances, fatigue, headaches or stomachaches, weight loss or gain, low energy. And in terms of behavior, this can manifest as withdrawal, difficulty concentrating at work or studies, a lack of interest in anything concerning the host country.
60
Percentage of first-year students abroad who report experiencing homesickness.
Why homesickness can be particularly strong in Tunisia
Tunisia occupies a singular position in regional migration dynamics. For many sub-Saharan migrants or refugees from war-torn countries, it was not necessarily the intended destination, but a landing point or transit country that sometimes became a long-term settlement for lack of a better option. For others, such as African students or NGO professionals, Tunisia is a choice for study or career. In all cases, the gap between expectations and reality plays a key role in the intensity of homesickness.
More than half of them feel their initial expectations have not been met. Many hoped to find here a country for a quick passage to Europe, or a more stable environment, and find themselves facing administrative hurdles, precariousness, or forms of discrimination. To this disappointment are added prior traumas for those who fled war, violence, or poverty. Psychologists speak of emotional “bags of rocks” that one carries and which homesickness makes heavier.
Survey among migrants and refugees in Tunis and Sidi Bou Saïd
Yet Tunisia remains culturally close to many countries of origin in some aspects (religion, certain social practices, importance of family) and very different in others (language, codes, attitude towards skin color, status of foreigners). This mix of familiarity and disconnect makes the experience complex: one can feel “almost at home” on some points and profoundly foreign on others. Research on refugees shows that this feeling of losing home – in the broad sense, not just physical – is one of the most painful aspects.
For Tunisians of the diaspora who return after years spent in France, Germany, or Canada, the paradox is the opposite. They return “home,” but sometimes find themselves out of sync in the country they left. Their habits, references, and rhythms have been shaped elsewhere. Many testify to a feeling of floating between two worlds: too “foreign” here, too “Tunisian” over there. This back-and-forth fosters a more subtle homesickness, not limited to a precise geography, but tied to the difficulty of feeling completely at home anywhere.
What studies say about the role of family and network
In mobility trajectories, the role of the family bond constantly appears as a major pivot. A quantitative study conducted on students in internal “exile” (far from their hometown) showed that strong family support – emotional, material, informational – significantly reduces the severity of homesickness. The more supported students feel by their family, the less they report being homesick. This result aligns with what associations working with migrants in Tunisia observe: the quality of the support network – family, friends, community, associations – makes the difference between homesickness that remains a phase and homesickness that degenerates into depression.
Tip:
Tunisian families with a member abroad heavily use tools like Skype to create a “virtual family space.” Qualitative research shows that these video-calling apps allow participation in important rituals, like preparing the iftar meal during Ramadan or celebrating a wedding, thus preserving a sense of home despite the distance.
For those arriving in Tunisia from abroad, the same type of technology plays an ambivalent role. Studies show that keeping in touch with the country of origin via social networks, calls, and messages provides real emotional support but can also intensify nostalgia when used as too much of a refuge. Researchers following international students note that the more frequent and focused the exchanges are on what one is missing “back there,” the more the feeling of longing becomes entrenched. Conversely, using networks to build connections with people present in the host country contributes to better adjustment.
Attention:
In Tunisia, where family is central, migrants from very close-knit families can be torn between the need for frequent contact to feel reassured and receive support, and the difficulty of settling in their new country. The goal is not to break this bond but to rearticulate it to allow integration without a complete break.
Creating a home in Tunisia: taming space and time
Geographers and sociologists emphasize one point: home is not just a physical place; it is a collection of emotions, routines, objects, smells, and implicit rules. For a migrant in Sfax as for a student in Sousse, feeling at home involves gradually populating the space with familiar signs.
Example:
A psychotherapist working with expatriates recommends starting by appropriating a small personal space. For a student in El Manar, this could be a few photos on the wall, a chosen blanket, or a corner dedicated to tea. For a family in La Marsa, it might mean a small library mixing books in Arabic, French, novels from the home country, and a relic from the family home. The important thing is that this space, however modest or temporary, feels like one’s own.
This work also involves the senses. In one testimony, a woman remembered that her grandmother’s house smelled of cinnamon. Upon arriving in a new country, she chose to steep cinnamon in hot water to recapture that soothing smell, then bought candles scented with the same aroma. In Tunisia, spices are everywhere: one can easily recreate scents from the home country (cumin, cardamom, ginger, etc.) or, conversely, adopt local smells (harissa, orange blossom, incense) to anchor new memories.
Table: examples of elements that help recreate a “home” in Tunisia
| Dimension | Examples related to the home country | Examples to anchor in Tunisia |
|---|---|---|
| Smells | Spices, family perfume, particular incense | Jasmine, orange blossom, Turkish coffee, fresh bread |
| Objects | Photos, carpet, dishes, scarf, book | Nabeul clay pot, painting of Sidi Bou Saïd |
| Sounds | Music from the country, local radio online | Tunisian music, call to prayer, markets |
| Routines | Evening tea, daily call to family | Walk to the market, coffee at the same spot each week |
Time also participates in building the feeling of home. Research on diasporas shows that migrants rely heavily on weekly or seasonal rituals to link their past, present, and future. In London, for example, Tunisians have turned certain markets into quasi-sacred Saturday places, reminiscent of the souks of their hometowns. In Tunisia, newcomers can appropriate Friday, weekend markets, seaside walks, or coffee appointments as stable landmarks.
Good to know:
To adapt to life in Tunis, it is advisable to create fixed routines: a day dedicated to the market, a weekly outing to a regular café, a scheduled video call with family, and a sport class at a consistent time. These habits help structure time and reduce the feeling of disorientation.
Socially anchoring oneself: finding one’s place between communities
The social dimension is another fundamental pillar. All studies converge: the richer the local support network, the more likely homesickness is to ease. This doesn’t mean multiplying superficial contacts, but establishing at least a few relationships where one feels seen and heard.
Support networks for newcomers in Tunisia
Main organizations offering support to students, migrants, and refugees to facilitate their integration and daily life.
Association of African Students and Trainees in Tunisia
A valuable support point for African students: organizing activities, meet-ups, and help with administrative procedures or daily difficulties.
Terre d’Asile Tunisia
An NGO offering support to migrants and refugees in their procedures and providing spaces for sharing.
Doctors of the World
An organization providing support, particularly medical and social, to migrants and refugees in their procedures.
CaritasInternational Organization for Migration (IOM)
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.
