“The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land.” ~G.K. Chesterton

Now that you’re back…
Studying overseas was undoubtedly one of the most academic and culturally enriching experiences of your life. It is an experience that will forever change how you view the world, and how you interact with it. It is vital that you find ways to use this experience in your life at home, both to make the most of your own experience, and to share your experience with those around in order to change their lives. We hope that we are able to help you draw upon this.

The return home and process of integration is often not an easy one. It is often difficult to fully realize the impact of your cultural transition until you return home, and you will most likely be surprised at how integrated into your new culture you became. Upon returning home, you also probably become frustrated or annoyed by some aspects of your home community. Cultural adjustment in reverse is generally overcome much more quickly, but can be just as intense (almost a grieving period for your life abroad), and many students wish that they were back in their host country. There are many things that you can do to ease the transition of re-entry. The key is to achieve an ideal balance of reconnecting with your life back at home, while at the same time staying in touch with your new experiences abroad.

Your reactions to re-entry may vary, and may include one or more of the following:

•Restlessness
•Boredom
•Depression
•Uncertainty
•Confusion
•Isolation: Wanting to be alone
•Reverse homesickness: Missing the people, places, attitudes or lifestyle of your host country
•Changes in goals and priorities
•Negativity or intolerance towards the your home country including behavior, attitudes, customs, and common social practice

No matter how much time you spent abroad, you will experience differences in yourself, your family and friends, and your surroundings upon your return home. At times, you may feel that no one understands how you’ve changed, and it may be difficult for you to realize that life has not only changed for you, but it has also changed for your friends and family. All of these things can make you feel a little out of place at home. In fact, you may sometimes feel like a stranger in a familiar land. This new, uncomfortable feeling may be characterized as re-entry adjustment.

It is also common for your experience abroad to lead you to loudly voice your dissatisfaction with your own culture. You may be judgmental about your home country, but be careful not to alienate your friends with your new opinions.

You might feel panicked that you will lose part of your identity if you don’t have an outlet to pursue new interests that were sparked abroad. You may have also had expectations about returning home that were not met.

This process is much like the cultural adjustment you experienced when you first went abroad, only in reverse. Similar to having to adjust when you go to another country, you must make some adjustments coming home as well. The coping skills and strategies that were successful in helping you adjust to your host culture will be just as helpful coming home: get involved, identify a support group of other study abroad students, suspend judgment until you understand a situation, and always, always keep a sense of humor.

•Continue writing in the journal that you used abroad, or purchase one if you have not yet done so. This will help you keep your experience fresh in your mind while keeping things in perspective. Remember that life is a continual learning experience.

•Know that you’re not alone in your feelings. Most students experience the discomforts of re-entry, although degrees of severity differ greatly. Usually, students who were the most immersed in the host culture have the most difficulty readjusting to life at home.

•Understand that situations and people change over time. You may not come home to find everything just as you left it. Likewise, you may have changed yourself, and you need to learn how to assimilate back into the culture.

•Learn to share your experience in small doses and don’t forget to ask friends and family about their lives while you were away. Keep in mind that others could have had valuable growing experiences at home during your absence that they would like to share with you. Talk with them about what has changed and let them know you are interested in their lives.

•Talk to both former and future study abroad students on your campus. Relaying your experience to others will be valuable to both you and them.

•Get involved with international students on campus and help out with pre departure orientations and Study Abroad Fairs for future students.

•Stay in touch with the people you met while studying abroad. Your best link to the experience can be only an email or a phone call away.

•Go to an elementary, middle, or high school language class and do a presentation about your time abroad.

•Remember the adjustment you endured when you arrived in your host country. You may encounter similar feelings upon your return home, and remembering how you dealt with them may help you out.