In this episode of Nailing Homesickness, we meet Nouvelle, a Year 8 boarder at Canberra Girls Grammar School, whose upbringing in an Australian Defence Force family has shaped her ability to adapt, connect and grow.
Having moved frequently throughout her childhood, Nouvelle shares how boarding school offered something deeply valuable – stability and a sense of belonging. While she began boarding with excitement, homesickness arrived a few weeks in, reminding her just how much she loved and missed her family. What followed, however, is a story of resilience, self-awareness and growth.
Nouvelle speaks candidly about the strategies that helped her through: staying busy, getting involved in sport and co-curriculars, building friendships across year levels, leaning on trusted staff, and staying connected to home through phone calls and handwritten letters. She also shares how boarding helped her develop strong time-management skills – something she never expected but now values enormously.
This episode is full of reassurance for new boarders and their families, reminding us that homesickness is normal, it does pass, and it often sits alongside incredible personal growth.
As a companion to this conversation, we also recorded a beautiful interview with Nouvelle’s mum on Letters from Home, sharing the parent perspective of boarding school within a Defence family. Listen here.
A must-listen for families navigating change, distance and the early days of boarding school.
A big thank you to Little Big Dairy Co for sponsoring our Nailing Homesickness miniseries. A family owned and operated dairy that brings fresh milk to your fridge.