There are lots of reasons to look forward to going home, but there are also a number of psychological, social, and cultural aspects that can prove difficult--often because they are unanticipated. The following list was generated by students like you who have successfully been through the study abroad experience. They offer these thoughts on re-entry in the hope that they will make your return both more enjoyable and productive. Want to talk about your own experience? Stop in and talk to one of our Peer Advisors in 250 Bascom Hall, or arrange a meeting with others.

You can't Explain
Even when given a chance to explain all the sights you saw and feelings you had while studying abroad, it is likely to be at least a bit frustrating to relay them clearly. It is difficult to convey this kind of experience to people who do not have similar frames of reference or travel backgrounds, no matter how sympathetic they are as listeners. You can tell people about your trip, but you may fail to make them understand exactly how or why you felt a particular way. It's okay.

Boredom
After all the newness and excitement of your time abroad, a return to family, friends, and old routines (however nice and comforting) can seem very dull. It is natural to miss the excitement and challenges which characterize study in a foreign country, but it is up to you to find ways to overcome negative reactions--remember a bored person is also boring.

"No One Wants To Hear"
One thing you can count on upon your return: no one will be as interested in hearing about your adventures and triumphs as you will be in sharing those experiences. This is not a rejection of you or your achievements, but simply the fact that once they have heard the highlights, any further interest on your audiences' part is probably unlikely. Be realistic in your expectations of how fascinating your journey is going to be for everyone else. Be brief.

Reverse Homesickness
Just as you probably missed home for a time after going abroad, it is just as natural to experience some reverse homesickness for the people, places, and things that you grew accustomed to in your host country. While writing letters or e-mail messages, phoning, and keeping in contact can help, feelings of loss are an integral part of international sojourns and must be anticipated and accepted as a natural result of study abroad.

Relationships Have Changed
It is inevitable that when you return you will notice that some relationships with friends and family will have changed. Just as you have altered some of your ideas and attitudes while abroad, the people at home are likely to have experienced some changes. These changes may be positive or negative but expecting that no change will have occurred is unrealistic. The best preparation is flexibility, openness, minimal preconceptions, and optimism.

People See the Wrong Changes
Some people may concentrate on small changes in your behavior or ideas and seem threatened or upset by them. Others may ascribe any bad traits to the influence of your time abroad. These incidents may be motivated by complex emotions: jealousy, fear, or feelings of superiority or inferiority. To avoid or minimize them it is necessary to monitor yourself and be aware of the reactions of those around you, especially in the first few weeks following your return. This phase usually passes quickly if you do nothing to confirm their stereotypes.

People Misunderstand
A few people will misinterpret your words or actions in such a way that communication is difficult. For example, what you may have come to think of as humor and ways to show affection or establish conversation may not be seen as wit, but aggression or showing off. Be aware of how you look to others and how they are likely to interpret your behavior.

Feelings of Alienation/Critical Eyes
Sometimes the reality of being back home is not as natural or enjoyable as the place you had created in your mind. When real daily life is less enjoyable or more demanding than you remembered, it is natural to feel some alienation, see faults in the society you never noticed before or even become critical of everyone and everything for a time. Mental comparisons are fine, but keep them to yourself until you regain both your cultural balance and a balanced perspective.

Inability to Apply New Knowledge and Skills
Many returnees are frustrated by the lack of opportunity to apply newly gained social, linguistic, and practical coping skills that appear to be unnecessary or irrelevant. Adjust to reality as necessary, change what is possible, be creative, be patient, and above all use all the cross-cultural adjustments skills you acquired abroad to assist your own re-entry.

Loss/Compartmentalization Of Experience
Being home, coupled with the pressures of job, school, family, and friends, often combine to make returnees worried that they will "lose" the experience; somehow becoming compartmentalized like souvenirs or photo albums kept in a box 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.

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