Returning from Abroad
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Many of the resources in this section were contributed by James L. Citron, Vija G. Mendelson, and Stacey Woody Thebodo.
Put your global knowledge and intercultural skills to use. Many of the world's most effective social, environmental, peace, and political movements have started on college campuses. While at university you have rich educational resources and information at your fingertips and, most importantly, the passion of thousands of like-minded peers, creating a powerful combination for taking action in your local community and on behalf of some of the world's most pressing issues (especially those you learned about abroad). Click here for helpful resources, as well as for organizations that welcome student involvement and input. Click here to find out about Careers and Fellowships.
Websites
World Learning, an Abroad View Sponsor, offers a comprehensive on-line toolkit designed to help students with the transition home, integrate their experiences into academic and professional pursuits, and inspire a continued commitment to global citizenship. This toolkit is a "starting point for you as you readjust to home life." World Learning's goal is to provide you with resources to help smooth your transition, integrate your experiences into your academic and professional lives, and take action to remain an engaged global citizen. Visit the World Learning re-entry page to download a PDF of this toolkit.
What’s Up With Culture: An excellent on-line cultural training resource for study abroad developed by Dr. Bruce W. LaBrack, Professor of Anthropology and International Studies, University of the Pacific. Welcome Back! Now What? (Module 2) provides reflection exercises and anecdotes.
The Center for Global Education's Re-entry Culture Shock Section
Abroad View's articles, archived by region, are a terrific place to begin your journey home. Read about your peers' experiences and global initiatives, and share your own.
Transitions Abroad is chock full of informative articles from former study abroad students. Plus, you'll find all the stories and resources you need for following in the footsteps of other re-entry students who have found meaningful ways to return overseas by working, independent traveling, and volunteering abroad.
Articles
Coming Home: and Unpacking
When you’re the one going through cross-cultural re-entry, it’s normal to experience the transition as both positive and negative. You may even feel like you are on a roller coaster—one minute excited to be home and proud to share all you’ve learned, and the next bored or frustrated and feeling out of sync with those people who have always been closest to you. Having ups and downs is common, and whether you see your glass as half-full or half-empty may depend on whether you are having a good day or a bad day.
Surviving Cross-Cultural Re-Entry
Re-entry can be defined as the often unexpected and sometimes difficult experience of re-adjusting to life in one's home culture after living abroad. Some study abroad returnees do not find re-entry to be difficult; however, most returnees experience some degree of stress upon returning home. In fact, for many students the process of re-adapting to home after study abroad is even more difficult than adjusting to your host culture!
Between Here and There
As an attempt to recover from a serious bout of jetlag caused by a 30-hour flight from Colombo to Raleigh, I immediately tried to re-enter my day-to-day routine. My eyes, however, were still heavily lidded when I realized that the reverse culture shock I was about to experience from my recent trip to Sri Lanka was not going to be smooth.
Packaging Your International Experience: Score a new job by marketing your study abroad background—from the resume to the interview, employers say they are looking for global experiences.
Keeping in Touch Across Borders: Fresh ways to stay connected to friends around the world whether you are about to study abroad or are returning home.
Cultural Implants: Tips for maintaining ties to a foreign culture.
What Not to Lug Home: Find out how to keep your luggage light and legal.
Books
The Art of Coming Home (Intercultural Press, 2001) by Craig Storti
Veteran trainer, consultant, and adventurer Craig Storti takes you step by step through the reentry experience and provides practical suggestions to the returnee for successful repatriation.
Back in the USA (NAFSA, 1999) by Dawn Kepets
This book helps to put your cross-cultural growth into perspective, compare differences in lifestyles and academic environments, and prepare for what may be the toughest part of studying abroad: the return home.
Maximizing Study Abroad: A Student’s Guide to Strategies for Language and Culture Learning and Use. R. Michael Paige, Andrew D. Cohen, Barbara Kappler, Julie C. Chi and James P. Lassegard (Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota, 2002)
Cross-Cultural Re-Entry: A Book of Readings by Clyde Austin. Abilene, Texas: Abilene Christian University Press, 1986.
Culture Shock at Home: Understanding Your Own Change - The Experience of Return by Allison Bruce. Transitions Abroad. January/February, 1997.
Short-Term Study Abroad: Integration, Third Culture Formation, and Reentry by James Citron. NAFSA: Association of International Educators (www.nafsa.org).
Students Abroad: Strangers at Home by Norman L. Kauffman, Judith N. Martin, and Henry D. Weaver (Intercultural Press, 1992)
Back in the USA: Reflecting on Your Study Abroad Experience and Putting it to Work by Dawn Kepets. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, 1995 (www.nafsa.org).
Survival Kit for Overseas Living by Robert L. Kohls (Intercultural Press, 1996)
The Art of Coming Home by Craig Storti (Intercultural Press, 1997)
The Art of Crossing Cultures by Craig Storti (Intercultural Press, 1990)
Programming for Reentry: Issues and Solutions for Study Abroad Returnees by Stacey Woody Thebodo (Transitions Abroad, Mar/Apr 1998)
Films
L’auberge Espagnole is a recommended movie about a French student’s experiences studying abroad in Barcelona, from his preparations to his conflicting feelings about returning home.