reverse culture shockreverse culture shock
Upon returning home, you will be glad to see your friends and family, and happy to be back in familiar territory. But at some point you will probably feel frustrated at not being able to communicate all of your thoughts and feelings about your life abroad. You may also find it difficult to integrate the life you lived abroad into how you used to live in the US.
Many newly returned students express feeling one or more of the following:
- Restlessness, rootlessness
- Reverse homesickness-missing people and places from abroad
- Boredom, insecurity, uncertainty, confusion, frustration
- Need for excessive sleep
- Change in goals or priorities
- Feelings of alienation or withdrawal
- Negativity towards American behavior
- Feelings of resistance toward family and friends
This phenomenon is known as "reverse culture shock" or "re-entry shock." Although reverse culture shock may not be as significant as the initial culture shock you experienced upon going overseas, it can be more upsetting as it is often unexpected. After all, you are returning to your "own" culture.
In some cases, particularly where a person has adjusted exceptionally well to the host country, reverse culture shock may cause greater distress than the original culture shock. (Kohls, Robert, Survival Kit For Overseas Living )
You may notice that, although your friends are happy to see you, they are not interested in hearing every last detail of your time abroad. You may feel somewhat alienated, finding that while you have grown and expanded your horizons, your friends have not. They may seem somewhat provincial and not interested in anything international.
During this transition period, it is especially important to keep in contact with your fellow study abroad students (that you met during your CIEE program orientation)—they can provide a great support system. They will be interested in your experiences and will want to share your feelings about being back home.
As with initial culture shock, it requires time and effort for you to make a successful readjustment. There may be some frustrating moments at first, but it will all be worth it. Not only will you have learned about another culture, but you will also have gained a greater understanding of yourself and your own culture.
Suggestions for overcoming reverse culture shock are:
- Participate in our Alumni Ambassador program or enter your story, photos, or a video in our Student Contest.
- Keep in contact with fellow study abroad students; you will all want to share your re-entry experiences.
- Get involved in groups or activities both in and outside of your high school that are international in focus or continue a new interest that you acquired while overseas.
- Ask a trusted friend to make a list of fads, vocabulary, TV shows, what's "in", etc. that may be new since you left to study abroad. This will help you feel in tune with what's going on in America now.
- If you learned a new language while studying abroad, try to keep it up. Join a conversation group or seek out international students with whom you can speak the language. They will welcome the opportunity to speak their native tongue and, as fellow international students, will enjoy sharing common experiences.
- Keep a journal in which you can freely express your feelings, emotions and recall events that you want to remember.
- Start thinking about how you can most effectively utilize your international experience. See Leveraging Your Experience for some hints as to terms you can use to describe yourself for your university admittance or in the long-term, on your resume.
CIEE has created a brochure as a part of our Knowledge Series* that details more information about the re-entry process.
*Note: The Knowledge Series has been created as a resource by CIEE Study Abroad programs for university students, however, most topics are relevant to High School Study Abroad participants, and will be found useful.
