of course it's difficult being away from your family and friends for long periods, and it takes time to adapt to the new culture you are living in. but after a while you find that you have a new home and a new set of friends, and there is no time to get homesick as there are so many new things to discover. the other main concern is the safety aspect-it can be daunting to think that you are responsible for the safety of all the people you instruct luckily everyone under my instruction has escaped unharmed-touch wood