Returning home after a period of travel carries a unique mix of emotions, blending the comfort of familiarity with a touch of nostalgia. Study-away students may be glad to see family, friends, and pets, to be able to hop in their car and drive to their favorite spot. But often there are also strong regrets: leaving new friends or a host family, the lack of public transportation in the U.S., or even, simply, the lack of a good croissant or loaf of crusty French bread.
Regardless of how annoying parts of the foreign culture might have been, suddenly it may be your home culture that seems all wrong. New perspectives and insights may be hard to reconcile with your old reality. Your family may not recognize the confidence and independence you’ve developed and still treat you like the former, younger you.
GEO’s advice? Be patient with yourself. Ask friends and family to be patient, too. We talk a lot about culture shock, but re-entry shock is a thing, too.
Utilize the resources here to ease the transition and recognize that coming home, too, is a reflective moment, allowing you to cherish both the thrill of exploration and the stability of home.
