We talked to students from Mauritius, India and Germany about how they stay close to home while living in Kingston
If you are an international student living away from home, you will know what I mean when I say it can be tough. Living away from family often means dealing with homesickness, loneliness and time differences that limit contact over the phone.
In those moments, we look for things to stay connected to home. For many, it is through community on campus, keeping up with our local culture or heritage online. For me, the solution lies in the kitchen.
As a student from Mauritius, I have found food to be one of the strongest connections to home. When I miss my family, I often cook spicy boiled noodles with lamb salmi. It is a dish that helps me recreate a sense of familiarity when home feels distant.
And food as a gateway to home is an experience shared by other international students.
For Vignesh Cahaneea, a fellow Mauritian student, food plays a central role in maintaining routine and cultural connection while studying at Kingston University.
Growing up, homemade meals and moderation were part of everyday life for Cahaneea.
“Eating freshly cooked homemade food rather than eating out helps me stay disciplined and organised,” he said. Cooking gives structure to his routine and helps him reflect upon the values he was raised with.
Although Mauritius is known for its diverse food culture, Cahaneea finds himself drawn most to Indian cuisine. He explained that the spices and flavours remind him of family traditions. “With the different spices that add flavour to the dish, it makes me remember the sweet taste of home,” he said.
Food helps Cahaneea connect with others. “When I talk with my Indian friends about food, I realise how similar some of our traditions are,” he said.
“For example, serving food on a banana leaf when there is a prayer, is common in both cultures, and that immediately feels familiar to me.”
For Pavan Sundar, a student from India studying for a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Analysis, food is also closely tied to family. He regularly prepares dosa, a traditional South Indian dish. “It reminds me of my mother’s cooking,” he said. “Preparing the meal often leads to phone calls home, where recipes are discussed and compared. It is never the same as what my mum makes, but it still feels like home.”
To manage his time, Sundar has started doing meal-prepping. This allows him to continue cooking traditional food while balancing his studies. He also attended cultural festivals like Diwali, organised by the Students’ Union. A variety of Indian sweets were shared, creating a space where food helped foster belonging and cultural pride.
For Jasmine Derijck, a dance student from Germany with Belgian roots, food is her main comfort. “When I feel homesick, I usually make kartoffelsalat (potato salad) because it reminds me of home and is simple to prepare,” she said.
Traditional food and drinks such as bratwurst, homemade bread also remind her of her daily routine. “A Weißbier [white beer] reminds me of family get-togethers back home,” she said.
For me, homemade food still feels like a way of grounding myself when everything else feels unfamiliar. A familiar taste can briefly shrink the distance and make a new place feel a little bit like home.
