There are many things that no one talks about after studying abroad. As I’m sure you may know, I recently participated in an exchange program to England for the fall semester of my senior year in college. Studying abroad was one of the best things that I have done in my life, and I would be more than glad to do it all over again. This being said, I have since made it back to my home in Texas, and have had to adjust to being back. While I have missed my family, friends, and hometown very much, I would be lying if I said that there were no negative feelings about being home after studying abroad.
When researching studying abroad, you often come across articles discussing how to prepare for your time abroad or things you should know while you are there, however, I feel that there is little discussion about how you might feel after returning from your time abroad. With all of this being said, I have made a list of 5 things no one talks about after studying abroad.
Reverse Culture Shock
People often discuss the culture shock you might experience when you arrive at your destination abroad, however, very few talk about the reverse culture shock you might experience once you make it back home. After being away for a few months, you start getting accustomed to the way of life abroad. Once returning back home, things that used to seem normal may be irritating to you, such as the way that people interact or even just the speed of everyday life. It is completely normal to experience reverse culture shock after studying abroad, it will take time to get used to, but everything will fall into place eventually.
Re-entry Depression
Studying abroad is an eye-opening experience full of adventures and excitement. Once returning home, you may experience a sense of emptiness. The fast-paced life that you lived abroad has come to an end, and the regular life back home must continue. I know that I have struggled with this quite a bit. It is important to remind yourself, however, that this feeling is completely normal. You might feel a little underwhelmed with the way your life looks when you first return, but just remember that it is only because you have been able to experience so many things within the past couple of months.
Disconnection Between Friends & Family
When you think of returning back home, you might find yourself thinking things will just go back to “normal.” While this may be true, you might come to realize that you have changed during your time abroad. Studying abroad is an experience that allows you to push yourself and grow as a person. While you have experienced studying abroad, your friends and family back home have not. It is because of this that you may come to find that there is a slight disconnect between you and them. This is completely normal, as they simply may have not ever experienced what you have.
The Pressure to Relive the Experience
Once returning home from your time abroad you may find yourself being asked to repeat stories from your time abroad to family members and friends. While this is all done with good intentions, you can start to become exhausted by telling the same stories over and over again. This kind of ties into the previous point of feeling disconnected from friends and family. It might feel awkward to discuss your time abroad in casual conversation, as it is hard finding someone that can relate to your experience.
You Will Want to Plan Your Next Adventure
After studying abroad, you may find yourself thinking about when your next big adventure will be. Seeing different parts of the world truly does open your eyes to all of the possibilities of your future. It can be sad to think that you will not be able to travel abroad again for a while, so you might find yourself searching for ways to make it happen. While this can be exciting and inspirational, don’t let it dishearten you if you have to wait for a while to experience going abroad again. If there is a will, there is a way.
In conclusion, there are many things that no one talks about after returning home from studying abroad. From feeling low, to disconnecting with your friends and family, to wanting to do it all over again, you might run yourselves in circles. It is always important to know that you are not alone, and the feelings that you are experiencing are completely valid. If you are someone who has travelled abroad and you have no one around you who can relate to the way that you are feeling, I hope that you found comfort in this blog post. Travelling the world is something that many people are not fortunate enough to do, and the fact that you took the opportunity to do so is really inspiring. If you enjoy travel content and other life blogging, please feel free to subscribe. I look forward to seeing you in the next one!
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