Many assume that once they or their loved ones return from studying abroad, the experience is over. Not True! Your return is the beginning of an inevitable transition: merging your new experience into your old life. You have spent several months comparing the culture of your host country to your own culture. It is probably safe to assume that you were introduced to new things, new ways of interpreting things and new ways of doing things. If you do not prepare for this, you may find you feel disconnected, isolated and rootless. This is what we call "reverse culture shock" or "re-entry shock". Click here for more info on how to cope with re-entry shock.
When you return to the US, you may experience some degree of “reverse culture shock” or “re-entry shock”. Although it may not be as significant as the initial culture shock you experience upon going overseas, it can be more upsetting as it is often unexpected.
(Dr. Bruce La Brack, School of International Studies, University of the Pacific)
Reverse culture shock has a number of stages, which you can imagine as a U shape curve. At first, you may be excited to return home-seeing friends and family members, wearing the rest of your wardrobe, and eating at your favorite restaurants. However, this initial euphoria may not last long and you might find yourself feeling out of place in your own culture. Here is when you may experience reverse culture shock. This is the bottom of the curve, and is often the roughest part. Although it may take time, you will begin a gradual adjustment back towards feeling comfortable with where and who you are.
You probably spent months planning for your time abroad, which helped you mentally prepare to live in a new environment. While abroad, you may have realized how difficult it would be to leave your program, however, it is unlikely that you spent any significant time prepping yourself for the challenges of being home again. After all, shouldn’t this be the easy part?
In reality, you have changed a great deal. You are likely to find that your family and friends have not changed that much since you left. Although they are happy to have you back, and inquire politely about your experiences, they may seem uninterested in listening to the details about your time abroad. Many students are surprised to return home to this lack of interest, understanding and support. You may also find that your interests have expanded while abroad, often differing from those of your friends.
Although it takes time, you can use the same tools you learned while abroad to help you cope with this new adjustment. Here are a number of other suggestions.
Keep in touch with people from your program, or your host families abroad. They understand the experiences you went through, and are most likely to have their own trouble adapting back home! Also, come to the Office of International Study Programs to show Dawn or Dauri your photos from abroad. They want to hear about your experiences!
Volunteer to talk to perspective study abroad students (they will be your best audience!) Write an article for the NU News or other publications. Talk to professors in your academic department to find other ways to incorporate your newfound knowledge into your academic experience. Use the Office of International Study Programs as a resource to come up with creative ways to share your experience.
Take care of yourself physically as well as mentally. Exercise and a healthy diet can help keep your stress levels low.
Remember that being flexible and expecting the unexpected helped you get through the difficult times abroad. The same attitude can help you back home. Reverse culture shock is a transition, and an important learning experience. Use this time to rebuild relationships, interests, and your new worldly self!
Read magazines, newspapers and web-sites from abroad. Become an international student orientation leader at Northeastern University. Get involved with international organizations and/or student clubs. Go backpacking. You can travel cheaply here like you did abroad, and meet international travelers in youth hostels in the United States and Canada.
If you return to the same place a different person, redefine the place. Take up a new hobby, residence, sport, mode of transcport.
