Changes in your student:

You can expect that your student will be more mature, more knowledgeable, perhaps a bit critical of the U.S., and with some strange new habits. You may find that the student may now call attitudes and habits that were once taken for granted into question, and he/she may feel some frustration, loneliness, and homesickness for the “home” he/she just left. This is a normal part of returning home, and it may take some time before you’re back in the same rhythm of things as before your student left.

How you can help:
Be a listening ear for your student. Others will tire quickly of hearing, “when I was in France,” but your student is not trying to brag or boast, only trying to make sense of returning to his/her home which was supposed to be familiar, but is strange and awkward instead. Listening to your student’s stories will help them from feeling alienated and lonely. Try not to feel jealous or fearful that your student is going to move permanently to the country they left! Instead, remember how he/she missed the U.S. and glorified it while gone; it is the same process at work here. Help your student identify ways that he/she has grown and changed, and list these new skills and traits. Encourage him/her to find productive ways to keep the international spirit alive! Some suggestions:

• There are a variety of student groups at TCU which focus on international activities. Your student can help a non-native speaker practice English, socialize with international students, or help outbound study abroad students.
• Encourage your student to talk about his/her experience in class, and incorporate what he/she learned abroad into his/her studies, research projects, speeches, etc.
• More information on how to get involved is here.