Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse culture shock comes about when students realize their overseas experience has ended and begin missing their experiences abroad. It is entirely normal, is seldom severe or long lasting, and the effects will vary from student to student. Some of the symptoms of reverse culture shock can include temporary symptoms such as physical and mental disorientation, feeling alienated from family and friends, frustration over the loss of things they became used to overseas, irritability at minor events, rejection of their own culture, boredom, and lack of direction. Students often find that they seem to have little in common with their old friends and, beyond polite inquiries; no one seems interested in listening to your stories of your time overseas. You may develop feelings that life at home or on your home campus can feel restrictive and unexciting and no one really understands what you have experienced. After the initial period of readjustment, these feelings of reverse culture shock are usually short-lived. (Information obtained from Hoffa, William. "Study Abroad: A Parent's Guide" 1998).
To help yourself adjust into life at home faster, look for ways to promote study abroad on your home campus so that you can use your experience abroad to encourage other students to study overseas. Continue to use and develop the language skills you acquired overseas, maintain an interest in and contact with the host country and culture, and get involved by meeting other international people or others with international experience.
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