Overcoming Reverse Culture Shock

Reverse culture shock is the feelings you may experience from returning from your trip abroad. Not everyone will experience this phenomenon, but it's important to understand the 'symptoms' and be able to recognize them in yourself.

You may have found that it was not difficult at all adapting to the culture of your host country. However, upon returning to the US, you may see things differently and examine our culture through the lens that you acquired abroad. You may start to re-examine priorities and values, and be more critical of the US and our customs and policies. The better integrated you have become to your host country’s culture and lifestyle, the harder it is to readjust during re-entry.

The Center for Global Education describes 2 key elements that characterize re-entry for a study abroad student:
1) Idealized view of home
2) Expectation of total familiarity (the idea that nothing has changed since you

've been gone)


Stages of Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse culture shock is usually described in four stages: (from The Center for Global Education)
1. Disengagement
2. Initial euphoria
3. Irritability and hostility
4. Readjustment and adaptation

Stage 1 begins before you leave your host country. You begin thinking about re-entry and making your preparations for your return home. You also begin to realize that it's time to say good-bye to your friends abroad and to the place you've come to call home. The hustle and bustle of finals, good-bye parties, and packing can intensify your feelings of sadness and frustration. You already miss the friends you've made, a

nd you are reluctant to leave. Or, you may make your last few days fly by so fast that you don't have time to reflect on your emotions and experiences.

Stage 2 usually begins shortly before departure, and it is characterized by feelings of excitement and anticipation - even euphoria - about returning home. This is very similar to the initial feelings of fascination and excitement you may have when you first entered your host country. You may be very happy to see your family and friends again, and they are also happy to see you. The length of this stage varies, and often ends with the realization that most people are not as interested in your experiences abroad as you had hoped. They will politely listen to your stories for a while, but you may find that soon they are ready to move on to the next topic of conversation.

This is often one of the transitions to Stage 3. You may experience feelings of frustration, anger, alienation, loneliness, disorientation, and helplessness and not understand exactly why. You might quickly become irritated or critical of others and of U.S. culture. Depression, feeling like a stranger at home, and the longing to go back abroad are also not uncommon reactions. You may also feel less independent than you were while abroad.

Most people are then able to move onto Stage 4, which is a gradual readjustment to life at home. Things will start to seem a little more normal again, and you will probably fall back into some old routines, but things won't be exactly the same as how you left them. You have most likely developed new attitudes, beliefs, habits, as well as personal and professional goals, and you will see things differently now. The important thing is to try to incorporate the positive aspects of your international experience while abroad with the positive aspects of your life at home in the United States.

http://www.studentsabroad.com/reentrycultureshock.html

Get to Know the Locals

Depending on the program you are in, meeting native speakers may actually be a challenge.

Just like here, it's necessary to join clubs, organizations, and sports in order to meet people and feel connected to the campus. Students in host countries are often excited to meet foreign students--they just don't make the effort to find them, so that's where your job comes in! Be proactive in finding extracurricular activities and don't be discouraged if you find the language barrier immense. You only get better with practice.

Look for clubs that follow your interests, like a film critic club or community service group. ERASMUS is a program for European exchange students in European countries--keep an eye out for their activities because they often offer programs for foreign students to get to know each other.
Don't forget to ask questions of students you meet in order to get to know their culture better. They will undoubtedly have questions for you too!

Tip: Don't join clubs with students who want to speak English.

Alternative: Clubs with a goal of reciprocity in language learning.

Follow the News

It's fairly easy in the US to stay on top of current events and news with the Internet, Twitter, and TV.

If you are abroad, you may not have those luxuries, but it's still important to stay up to date on the happenings back in the US as well as in your host country.

From personal experience, it's actually quite easy to get behind on US news, but it's important to know what's going on for when you return--this will help ease culture shock (if you experience any). I suggest adding a news gadget to your home page. Yahoo mail gives you the ability to add news feeds for sources like the New York Times, as well as news headlines for different countries (I was able to stay up to date on French news--in French!!) Thanks, Yahoo.

Locals enjoy talking with foreign students about their view of events that happen in their country. Reading up on the news of your host country not only will help you practice the language (if it's different) but will help educate you and give you a better sense of the culture.

Wait, I have to Study Here??

Yes, studying abroad is much like an extended vacation,

but you really should go to classes!

Making a 3 or 4 day weekend for yourself often is not going to bode well for your grades. Professors will notice your absence and take that into consideration in your final grades, so make an honest effort to show up for every lecture.

Foreign universities are set up much differently than the system

we are used to. Professors don't hold your hand through new ideas or homework, which leaves a lot up to you to make sure you understand the topic. Final grades are based on midterm and final exams.

If you are taking classes in a foreign language, its important not only for your success in the class but for your improved command of the language, to participate actively in class.