Information for Returning Students: Reentry Challenges
Believe it or not, coming home can be as difficult an adjustment as going abroad. Some of the challenges will be:
Boredom After all the newness and stimulation of your time abroad, returning to family, friends, and old routines can seem very dull.
No One Wants to Hear No one will be as interested in hearing your stories as you will be in sharing them. Be brief.
You Can't Explain It is very difficult to convey your experience to people who do not have similar frames of reference or travel backgrounds, no matter how sympathetic they are as listeners. It's okay.
Reverse "Homesickness" You might feel homesick for the people, places, and things that you grew so fond of while abroad. You can write and telephone to those you left behind, but the bottom line is that these feelings of loss are a natural result of studying abroad.
Relationships Have Changed Just as you have developed new ideas and attitudes, the people at home are likely to have changed as well. The best preparation is flexibility, openness, minimal preconceptions, and tempered optimism.
People See the Wrong Changes People may seem threatened by small changes in your behavior or ideas. Others may ascribe any "bad" traits to your experience abroad. These attitudes may be motivated by jealousy, fear, or feelings of superiority or inferiority. Just be aware of this phenomenon; it normally passes quickly.
People Misunderstand Your new ways of conversing may not be seen as witty, but aggressive or "showing off." New clothing styles can be viewed as inappropriate; using a foreign language, as boasting. Be aware of how you may look to others and how your behavior is likely to be interpreted.
Feelings of Alienation When daily life seems less enjoyable or more demanding than you had remembered, it is natural to feel some alienation, to see faults in the society you never noticed before or even to become quite critical of everyone and everything for a time. In time, you'll regain your cultural balance.
Inability to Apply New Knowledge and Skills You might be frustrated because you lack the opportunity to apply your newly acquired social and linguistic skills. Be creative, be patient, and above all, use your cross-cultural skills to adjust to your own reentry.
"Shoeboxing" Your Experience You might be worried that somehow you will lose your study abroad experience, that it will be stored away like souvenirs in a shoebox and only occasionally taken out and looked at. You do not have to let that happen. Maintain your contacts. Talk to people who have experiences similar to yours. Practice your skills. Remember and honor both your hard work and the fun you had while abroad.
University of Richmond Office of International Education Puryear Hall, Middle Floor Office Hours 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday studyabroad@richmond.edu
