As anyone who has studied abroad knows, re-entry into normal American life after four months (or more) of fun, adventure, new places and new faces can be a bit jarring to say the least. After all, if you’re anything like me, study abroad is something you’ve thought about since freshman year, and once you get home it’s just sort of…over. What is there to look forward to now? Being a real adult? If adulthood doesn’t come with real Belgian chocolate eaten in Belgium or sushi prepared by a chef in Japan, then count me out. While we can’t help you avoid impending adulthood, the Clarion does have you covered with tips on how to re-adjust and cope with those all too real post-abroad blues.

1) Keep in touch with your abroad friends

These are not only the people that you laughed and cried with for the time you were abroad, they are also the only people who know exactly what you’re going through. Whenever you miss going to that one club on Mondays or think about how much you want a coffee from the best cafe in your abroad city, message your friends so you can all sympathize with each other’s pain. Re-adjusting back tolife in America is hard for nearly everyone, and having people who you can talk to about it and reminisce on the good times will offer moral support and a little taste of abroad to help you ease back in. Besides, these people can be your lifelong friends, so don’t neglect them once you return home.

2) Spend time with your friends at DU

While they may not understand exactly how good the food was in Chile, your friends do know your favorite restaurant to eat at around DU. Going back to school and business-as-usual in the U.S. is strange after being in such a radically different environment for so long, but being around your friends and remembering all of the reasons you love DU and Colorado will help you to get back in the swing of things. So get a group together and make a homecoming at Illegal Pete’s (if you’re not completely broke, that is) and try to get excited about the fun you’ll have now that you’re back on your home turf.

3) Do more than talk about your experience

While plenty of people have probably asked about your time abroad, and nothing that you say probably feels like it even comes close to conveying what it was like, sometimes simply giving people the standard spiel doesn’t feel like it’s bringing you or them any closer to your experience. Try cooking a meal from your abroad country or, even better, get some other friends who studied abroad to bring dishes from their countries and have an international potluck. Food is such a strong and genuine aspect of a culture, it’s a great way to show others an important part of your country’s culture while also giving you a little taste of your home away from home. You can also do small things like decorate your room with mementos that you picked up abroad or listen to music that reminds you of your experience.

4)Take action

Don’t let this newfound love of travel and appreciation for different cultures disappear as your reverse culture shock wears off. Make a goal to travel to another country in the long term and even start saving up for it. You could even start making plans to travel to a state that you’ve never been to, perhaps to visit a friend you met while abroad. You can volunteer to teach English to those for whom it isn’t a first language and, in exchange, get to learn about another culture. You could commit to learning another language, or trying food from a new culture every month and so on. There are so many great things that travel awakens in a person, so put them to action and never quell your love for other places and people.