Welcome Back, Study Abroad Returnee!

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."  -Nelson Mandela

Few people anticipate experiencing culture shock upon returning home, but many students actually find that it is just as challenging to get used to being at home again as it was to get used to living abroad. 

Some students find that they have changed and grown a great deal while abroad, but that home, family and friends have not, and this gap makes it challenging to slip back into old places and old relationships. You may find that your old “world” just doesn’t look the same through new eyes. You should expect a certain amount of this if you have had a full and enriching experience overseas.

Things you may experience during this period of “reverse culture shock”:

• Impression that you can’t fully explain your experience or its importance
• Realization that others do not want to hear much about your adventures
• Sensation of being “out of place” despite being home
• Boredom with being home
• Experiencing “reverse homesickness” for the place where you studied abroad
• Seeing that relationships with family and friends have changed
• Feeling that others misunderstand your growth, or see the “wrong” changes in you
• Assessing your home in a way that is judgmental or overly critical
• Feeling that your experience abroad is lost or cut off from the rest of your life
• Feeling frustrated by lack of opportunities to apply your new skills
• Fear of losing memories from your time abroad

If you find yourself experiencing difficulty after coming home:

• Try to use the same cultural adaptation skills that you developed while you were getting used to being abroad to make the transition to being home
• Just as you did while abroad, show respect and patience in dealing with the temporarily-unfamiliar culture of “home”
• Seek the company of people who understand you, who may not be the same people who understood you before your life-enriching travel experiences
• Maintain connections with “the international life” through the many opportunities available at Purdue (see below)

Seek help from Counseling and Psychological Services if you feel that your readjustment is not going well, or if the rough period lasts longer than a couple of months. You can also view these additional resources:

• Top Ten Immediate Reentry Challenges (IES)
• Reentry Information (Gilman Scholarship Program)
• How to fight the post-abroad blues (USA Today)
  

Now that you have returned to the U.S. and Purdue, there are many opportunities to share the interests and skills you gained while abroad! Many returned students find it important to build a social circle of people who have had international experiences similar to their own. The Study Abroad Office organizes callouts, information tables, and orientations for prospective Study Abroad participants. Be creative in applying what you learned overseas so your growth can continue. 

Stay connected with Purdue Study Abroad. Follow us on social media or visit our website to stay up to date on any workshops or events we may be offering. If you worked with a Study Abroad Advisor prior to departure, reach out to them for a debrief of your experience once you've returned.

Email the study abroad office with questions about the following opportunities:

• Volunteer to share your story with prospective Study Abroad students at the annual Study Abroad Fair or the regional orientation sessions.
• PASSPORT is the “Purdue Association of Student Study Abroad Participants and Other Recent Travelers."  This group of returned study abroad participants and visiting international students is primarily a social club. 
• The Study Abroad Office welcomes returnees to submit favorite photos from their time abroad to studyabroad@purdue.edu. We may feature these on our website, promotional materials, or social media accounts.
• Purdue is home to many International Student Organizations, and the One Community Grant is available to groups that develop programs providing meaningful interactions between international and domestic students. 
• Study Abroad Ambassadors are returned study abroad participants who do classroom talks, meet with new program participants, hang posters, and staff information tables (among other tasks) to promote study abroad across the Purdue campus.
• The International Friendship Program pairs local volunteer hosts with new international students and scholars, providing the opportunity to learn about American culture, build lasting friendships, and have community support while at Purdue.
• If you studied in Germany and would like to encourage others to do the same, apply to become a DAAD Ambassador for the German Academic Exchange Service.

Other ideas:

• Volunteer to talk about your experience to clubs and groups, on campus and off, including adults and children. Teachers and civic organizations are always looking for interesting speakers! 
• Pass it on! Encourage your friends to study abroad. 
• Talk with students from your program or others who have studied abroad.
• Join international organizations and clubs and other multicultural groups on campus.
• Write about your experiences for the Purdue Exponent.
• The School of Languages & Cultures has regular tea & coffee hours for speakers of other languages and hosts cultural events such as screenings of foreign films.
• The International Center of West Lafayette, a nonprofit community organization unaffiliated with Purdue, offers numerous cross-cultural programs organized by international and US residents from the community. 
• The West Lafayette Global Fest celebration (Labor Day weekend) always needs volunteers.
• Now that you are used to eating formerly “unusual” things (sushi…brie…haggis…vegemite…), try some of the Lafayette area restaurants that you always used to pass by. Click here for a list of restaurants within easy reach.

Many returned students tell us they would like to go abroad again to study, volunteer, or work. 

If you are interested in participating in another study abroad program through Purdue, visit the Program Search page or contact the Study Abroad Office to learn more about available opportunities.

If you are thinking about graduate school, be sure to ask if the program that you are considering offers the possibility to spend time abroad doing research, taking classes or teaching. Many graduate programs do not offer study abroad opportunities. Click here to read about international education opportunities that are open to graduate students at Purdue and other institutions.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program supports more than 1,200 US citizens in all fields of study annually for a year of study, research, teaching experience or professional training in the arts in more than 140 different countries. The program is meant for recent BA/BS graduates, masters and doctoral candidates, young professionals, and artists.

If you would like to work, teach, volunteer, or intern abroad, Purdue offers information on these options, some available to current students and others to post-graduates. Check out this page for details.

Study abroad allows students to develop and demonstrate many of the skills most sought after by employers. Though impressive, it is not enough to simply list that you have studied abroad on your resume. You’ve got to know how to make yourself stand out even more. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase yourself as a valuable, internationally-informed job candidate. 

You must plan how to best highlight relevant aspects of your study abroad experience on your resume and during the job interview. 

Helpful Tips:

• Don't simply tell stories about your experiences. Be prepared to expand the conversation by mentioning or describing unique skills you gained from your experiences. Talk about what you learned from your time in and out of class, citing examples of how you successfully dealt with challenges abroad, and how you adapted to different cultural norms and academic systems.
• Keep a list of notable accomplishments during your time abroad. Since there will be many memorable experiences during your time abroad, it is not surprising that some experiences could be forgotten. Keep a list of what you’ve done and other notable facts and refer to them when planning your interview strategy and revising your resume. The latter should list the relevant courses you took abroad, the assignments you completed or the job-specific knowledge you gained. Include any organizations you joined, the local events or volunteer  groups in which you participated, or the special projects you initiated. In short: make explicit how your overseas study experience was more than just taking courses.
• Prepare responses before the interview. Be ready with specific examples and anecdotes to showcase the skills and personal attributes you honed while you were studying abroad. Illuminate how these relate to the job for which you are applying. Emphasize the intercultural nature of these experiences and how your cross-cultural competence will be an asset to the company.
• Tie in your study abroad experience with common interview questions. Common interview questions include asking the interviewee to describe how they are able to:
  • Creatively problem solve
  • Accept responsibility
  • Communicate across cultures
  • Learn a new task
  • Appreciate diversity
  • Adapt to new environments
  • Learn through listening, observing, and making mistakes
  • Achieve goals despite obstacles
  • Handle difficulties and stress
  • Manage, organize, and multi-task 

You can view the On-Demand Advising Hub for more videos and resources on marketing your study abroad experience.