ALUMNI RESOURCES
Re-Entry and Reverse Culture Shock
Just as culture shock can affect students in various ways, coming back home can also affect students in different and unexpected ways. Reverse culture shock, or the shock and adjustment period when returning home, is common for students returning from extended trips overseas.
Reverse Culture Shock
Whether abroad for four weeks or eight months, your study abroad experience will likely have a large impact on your life. Your time abroad means being surrounded by new people, customs, foods, and sights. These new sights and experiences will likely change who you are as a person. You may develop new perspectives, habits and attitudes, sometimes without even realizing these changes have happened.
Returning home can be a huge shock for students. Many expect returning home to be easy since it is an environment with which they are familiar. And while initially it can feel great to return home and see friends and family that you missed, that initial euphoria may wear off quickly.
Home may not be the same as when you left it. People might not be as interested in your stories from abroad as you’d hoped. Others might not be interested in the new foods, customs, and traditions that you have come to appreciate and wish to share. And you will likely miss your host family, teachers, and new friends that you made overseas. Meanwhile, your friends and family had their own lives and experiences while you were away. They may have changed, which can come as a surprise to some. In addition, you and your perspectives may have changed, affecting how you view the people and situations around you at home. Things that you once may have enjoyed may not hold the appeal they once had.
While all these factors can be a lot to take in upon returning home, there are ways to cope.
Find other people with similar experiences. Join clubs with an international focus, volunteer at your school’s study abroad or international office, or find meet-up groups with people who have also studied abroad.
Write about your experience. Blogging or writing articles is a good way to share your experiences with others. It’s also a good way to find an audience that has similar interests to your own.
Space out your stories. Since you probably will have many great experiences overseas, the tendency is to recount as many stories as you can from abroad once you return home. While you may have a lot to share about your study abroad experience, it can be a lot for others to hear all at once. You will have plenty of time to share stories with family and friends, so try to space them out.
Make sure that you try to learn what has been going on with your friends and family while you are gone. Don’t get too caught up in sharing your own experiences without listening to the stories of those around you.
Be patient. Although initially it can be frustrating, you will adjust to life back home.
The articles and links below talk about some of the common signs of reverse culture shock and strategies to help deal with reverse culture shock.
GoOverseas - How to Deal With Reverse Culture Shock After Studying Abroad