Introduction
You probably have experience homesickness, when living abroad or have people talked about it. One of the most unexpected challenges of living in abroad that not many people talk about is food homesickness. I mean you love where you live and you don’t particularly miss the country you are from, but one thing you do miss is the food! Before moving to Korea, I thought I could live on Korean BBQ, Bibimbab, Korean Fried Chicken every day! Now after more than three years here, the absence of certain comfort foods has become increasingly noticeable. It becomes more noticiable whenever you go visit your home country after a while and think to yourself “How could I survive without this dish for so long?!” For me it’s home made Pho, it’s something I have yet to find in Korea. (Please recommend me good Pho in Seoul)
The Unexpected Food Challenge
When planning a move abroad, we typically focus on things like language barriers, cultural differences, and finding accommodation. Rarely do we consider how deeply food is connected to our sense of identity and comfort. Food isn't just for survival, it's memory, tradition, and a tangible connection to our roots.
I've been fortunate that my background has made the transition relatively smooth. As someone who grew up in Germany and in a Vietnamese household, I got to enjoy European dishes and Asian dishes and I’m not particularly a picky eater, adapting to Korean cuisine hasn't been too difficult. The Vietnamese food I grew up with shares similarities with Korean dishes, both center around rice, feature numerous side dishes, and incorporate plenty of vegetables. But after a while I noticed that my stomach can’t handle Gochujang (Chili Paste) that’s just present in almost all Korean dishes.
Cultural Food Differences
Many of my European friends struggle with more bigger adjustments. Bread is a perfect example of how differently cultures approach the same food. For Europeans, bread is a dietary staple, often unsweetened, hearty, and consumed daily, especially at breakfast. In Korea, however, bakeries typically offer sweeter options, as bread is considered more of a dessert or occasional treat rather than an everyday food.
I've witnessed this culture shock from both perspectives. When Korean friends visited me in Germany, they quickly tired of the bread and potato-heavy diet, craving familiar Asian dishes like noodle soup after just a day or two. Similarly, European expats in Korea often lament the lack of "proper bread" for their morning routines.
Both Europeans and Korean will tell me how expensive their food is in the other country. However, what we often fail to recognize is that our "normal" isn't the local normal. What makes everyday food for us may be considered exotic or specialty cuisine in our host country.
Understanding this economic reality doesn't make missing favorite foods any easier, but it helps frame our expectations. What we consider "overpriced" may simply reflect the true cost of providing non-native cuisine in a market where it's considered special rather than standard.
Finding Balance in Daily Eating
While traveling, trying exotic new foods is part of the adventure. Living abroad, however, requires establishing sustainable eating patterns. The key is finding a balance between embracing local cuisine and maintaining connections to your food heritage.
This often means being a little more strategic about what dishes you try to recreate from home. Trying to prepare meals that require ingredients uncommon in your host country can become frustratingly expensive. You might find yourself paying premium prices for items that would be basic and affordable back home. My solution is, whenever I go back I pack a lot of spices and ingredients that are expensive in Korea. (Make sure to get information of what you can bring into the country)
Special Dietary Considerations
For those with specific dietary requirements, such as vegetarians or vegans, the challenge intensifies in countries where such diets are less common. In Korea, where meat features prominently in many traditional dishes, finding suitable options often requires extra research and planning.
Many expats with dietary restrictions rely heavily on online communities and forums to discover vegetarian-friendly restaurants or exchange recipes and shopping tips for home cooking. These virtual support networks become essential resources for maintaining your dietary needs while living abroad.
Coping Strategies and Finding Joy
Despite these challenges, there are ways to navigate the food homesickness that often accompanies expat life:
- Create fusion dishes: Combine local ingredients with cooking techniques from home to create hybrid meals that satisfy both curiosity and nostalgia.
- Connect with others from your culture: Sharing meals with people from similar backgrounds can provide both emotional comfort and practical food solutions.
- Embrace local cooking classes: Learning to cook local specialties helps you appreciate the cuisine more deeply while expanding your culinary skills.
- Schedule "taste of home" days: Rather than trying to eat familiar foods every day, set aside specific occasions to prepare special dishes from home.
- Pack or bring back essential food items: When visiting home, allocate luggage space for ingredients that are difficult to find in your host country.
Sharing Your Food Culture
One of the most meaningful aspects of living abroad is the opportunity to share your cultural heritage through food. Food becomes an ambassador of your identity, a delicious introduction to where you come from.
Whenever I travel, I always pack some snacks from my home country to share with friends. It's about sharing your culture and helping others expand their taste horizons. These small moments of culinary exchange create bridges between different worlds.
Food often serves as the first exposure to another culture. When I find a good Vietnamese restaurant or European restaurant in Korea, I make it a mission to take my Korean friends there or recommend it to them.
Introducing food from your culture to your friends is showing them a piece of yourself, a memory, a tradition. It helps them understand where you come from and how your food experiences shaped your upbringing. There's something intimate about saying, "This taste reminds me of my childhood" or "My mother would make this every weekend"
I've found that even when language barriers exist, sharing food creates an immediate bond. The universal expressions of enjoyment when tasting something delicious transcend any need for words. Food becomes a language of its own.
These exchanges work both ways. While I introduce my friends to Vietnamese and German dishes, I gain a deeper appreciation for Korean cuisine through their explanations of ingredients, cooking techniques, and the cultural significance behind certain meals. This mutual culinary education enriches everyone involved.
If you're living abroad, I encourage you to become a culinary ambassador. Host small dinner parties featuring dishes from your homeland, bring traditional snacks to office gatherings, or simply invite a local friend to cook together. These food-centered connections often blossom into the most authentic cross-cultural friendships.
Conclusion
Living abroad is a journey filled with unexpected challenges, and food homesickness is one that catches many expatriates by surprise. I know many of you have never considered this a challenge or thought about it as you are preparing for your life abroad, as you have to consider all the different paperwork, visa, accommodations and just getting settled down. My tip is to bring some snacks from your home country. Not only to share your culture with friends but also, for days where you miss home.
Food is one of the deepest connections to our own culture we sometimes just take for granted, but there is pride and traditions behind it. Also, growing up eating certain dishes leaves deep memories in you. These flavors become part of our identity, comfort zones we return to when feeling disconnected or overwhelmed in a foreign environment.
While adapting to a new food culture can be challenging, it also presents an opportunity for growth. Learning to appreciate local cuisine while finding creative ways to maintain connections to your food heritage creates a rich, blended experience that represents the beauty of cross-cultural living.
Remember that food homesickness, like other aspects of culture shock, typically ebbs and flows. What seems impossible to live without during your first months abroad may become less urgent as you discover new favorites and create new food memories in your host country. The goal isn't to perfectly replicate your home cuisine but to build a satisfying food life that honors both where you're from and where you are now.
What foods do you miss most when living away from home? I'd love to hear your experiences and strategies in the comments below.
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