Dealing with Reverse Culture Shock, and Readapting to Life in the U.S.
What is reverse culture shock?
Culture shock is the phenomenon experienced when the cultural rules and norms you are used are changed. Culture shock can result in feelings of frustration, depression, alienation, anger, and loneliness. Culture shock is most noticeable when you leaves your home and go to another country, but it can occur “in reverse” when leaving a foreign country and returning home.
Just as you probably missed your home in the U.S. and had trouble adjusting to the new culture while gone, it is natural to miss your “international” home and the new culture you have learned. For some time after you return to the U.S., you may experience feelings of reverse culture shock, including a desire to return to the foreign country and a tendency to negatively stereotype U.S. Americans.
These are all normal feelings and ones that you must work through on your own; however, please feel free to visit our office to discuss your feelings and learn ways to deal with the re-entry process.
Tips for dealing with the re-entry process
- Allow yourself time to re-adjust, re-learn, and re-adapt to your life here
- Seek support networks by meeting with students with similar interests and befriending international students
- Recognize personal growth and identify positive changes by journal writing, submitting articles and photos to contests, speaking to community groups, and volunteering with international groups
- Incorporate your experience into your academic work by tailoring writing, research, and presentation topics toward your experience
How to keep the international experience alive
- Keep up your language skills by continuing course work, meeting international students, and keeping in touch with friends abroad
- Read internationally minded publications like the Economist or foreign newspapers
- Volunteer with internationally-minded organizations
- Volunteer to tutor refugees and immigrants English language skills
- Continue a habit picked up while abroad, such as afternoon tea, walks through the park, or chatting with friends at a coffee house