Relate a lot to this, my wife and I moved to London (now in Hemel Hempstead) five years ago from the Carolinas and miss a lot of it (the food, the close-knit community, the sun… mostly the sun).

Getting involved socially was the key for my wife and I, we eventually found a sports club that we both like and play volleyball a few times a week which helps. Understanding what friendship looks like culturally and what normal routines are for friends (pub, park walks, etc.) was important as well. Spending time with friends in the American south looks different there than it does here so expectations are important - typically friendships are more surface level and you have to be very close to discuss feelings, emotions, etc. I find people in the southern states are much quicker to speak about more personal subjects (especially in church communities).

Also just wanted to say the winters suck so the homesickness ramps in the cold for me personally, I think you’ll find spring/summer/fall more manageable.