hey olivia, i moved to the UK to start my PhD, leaving a real home (long term "cohabitating" partner, lots of friends) and a reasonably good job behind. here is the advice people gave me, and which i found to work in my case:
- take something, can be small, with you that will let you make your room your home. something that will make it YOURS rather than a random room with hotel-feeling, and which gives you a feeling of home. i had a small music box, a metal cat figure, and some pictures and postcards. i stuck them up on the walls the very first day after i arrived.
- skype, with webcam. ok another VOIP service will do too - but free endless videocalls with my partner kept the relationship alive. and it's easy to keep in touch with others, too.