I've been away from home for 6 years now: 4 years undergrad and 2 years grad school. I think it was hard at first when I first left and the initial excitement wore off. But you get used to life quickly somewhere new. I've spent the last two years in Germany and a year abroad in undergrad in England, and even life in Europe becomes very normal after a while. My family always calls and wants to know what exciting things I'm doing, but I just do my work, go out with friends, and enjoy my life. Then when I have my free long weekends or vacations, I indulge in as much travel, sightseeing, and entertainment as I can afford. In my opinion, I think it's good to cut the strings for a while and go somewhere new unless you have serious family commitments already in place. Maybe you won't like it as much as I have, but it gives you a lot more perspective on different people and different ways of life. I'm not saying anyone need do anything as dramatic as I have done by moving continents, but if you never leave one place, then you just never know what else you could have experienced. Now I'm going to med school 3.5 hours from my family starting this summer, the closest I've been to "home" in a long, long time. I'm happy to go back, but I'm sure I'll have many more adventures in many new places during my life. Anyway, I don't know what I'm getting at after writing so much, but know that most people get homesick sometimes, but most of the time new experiences are worth it.
