Welcome home, juniors. We know you’re all excited to be back in good ol’ Colorado, but it can be tough to re-adjust after a whole semester of new experiences abroad. Ask any returner, and they’ll tell you they’re in a “funk” or that being here feels “weird.” The study abroad office calls it reverse culture shock. Some call it reverse homesickness or the adjustment period. Call it what you may, here you will find the Clarion’s guide to avoid it.
1. Host a study abroad story party
Are you sick of telling every new friend you see how fantastic and exciting your program was? How you learned so much about the culture and had so many adventures? Have you memorized a little speech to say all of this without thinking to anyone who asks? Hold a study abroad party with your friends instead. Let everyone have a chance to share their story in depth. Tell the funny stories, show pictures, go all out. That way you only have to tell it once rather than 15 times, and everyone gets more than a memorized speech.
2. Designate library hours
Be honest here. How much did you really care about your study abroad classes? You probably didn’t spend half the amount of energy preparing for them as you would for DU classes because you were traveling or exploring instead. And now that your GPA factors in again, it hurts. That’s why it’s imperative to force yourself to work seriously again. If the library isn’t your thing, set aside time at home for each class. Get on a schedule and you’ll thank yourself later.
3. Maintain habits you’ve learned while away
Although it may not feel like it, your time abroad did happen. It wasn’t just a long extended dream, and you’ve come out of it a slightly different person. You should apply that to your life here. Did you learn how to speak a new language? Keep practicing it. Did you learn a cultural tradition you enjoyed? Keep doing it. Now, if you went to Europe and learned only how to drink more than you ever thought you could, this doesn’t apply to you, but you get the point.
4. Get a Job
This one is simple. Whether you traveled Ryanair flights all around Europe, backpacked through New Zealand or explored the rainforests of Costa Rica, you probably spent a lot of money doing it. If you haven’t already, try to ease the damage by getting a part-time job.
5. Eat your favorite food you couldn’t have while abroad
Isn’t peanut butter delicious? Isn’t it all you wanted at some point during your trip, but couldn’t find it? Grab a giant spoonful of the stuff (or any other food you missed) and remember a time when you desperately wanted to do just that. It’ll make you thankful (at least for a bit) to be back.
6. Stay in touch with your host family (or any local friends you made there)
They were a huge part of your life for four months, so there’s no reason to stop your relationship there. Staying in touch can even help you continue your cultural experience from home, and who knows, some could even end up becoming life-long friends.
7. Make a favorite meal from abroad
There’s no reason to go cold turkey on everything you loved while abroad. If your host mom made something you loved, try to recreate it. Maybe even hold a food-tasting event with friends and try cuisine from all over the world.
8. Focus on the new
What’s ahead may not be a trip to Istanbul or a visit to the beaches of Ecuador, but it might be a cool summer internship, living in a new house or the chance to use your season ski pass. Remind yourself that your life here is certainly not boring. There are plenty of things to be excited about that weren’t possible while abroad. Enjoy them. Don’t wallow in the past.
9. Reconnect with old friends
Is there someone you were friends with before you went abroad but now you’ve lost touch with? Reach out to them. You’ll be glad you did, and it’ll help you start to settle into the way life was before your big adventure.
10. Remember, you can always go abroad again
This was not a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so there’s no need to be depressed that it’s over. If you really loved your time abroad, start thinking about taking a trip back, or the next place you want to visit.
