Another way to help lessen the effects of cultures shock is to establish a sense of purpose. This can be difficult for some in a time when you are going through a lot of soul-searching, possibly re-evaluating values and ideals, and trying to discover who you are. Having a sense of purpose can help you find a starting point to answering other questions about your life. Make sure you have a clear idea of what you specifically want to accomplish by studying abroad. Whether it is learning a foreign language, making life long friends, or having a party semester, make sure you have some sort of goal to shoot for during your time away from home. During your free time, especially regarding travel decisions, keep in mind your own priorities for the destinations you feel are important to experience. On the other hand, it is important to keep an open mind and be willing to pursue the unexpected, especially taking advantage of any opportunities that come your way.
It may be helpful to try to figure out what you want to accomplish during your travels by asking yourself the following questions:
- Who am I? What are my personal beliefs and attitudes?
- Where do I come from? What are my cultural beliefs and customs?
- Where am I going? What are the foreign cultures and customs of my destination?
- What am I going for? What are the experiences I want to return with?
- What am I willing to consider? How open-minded will I be in regards to my experiences?
Knowing the answers to these questions is a good place to start in evaluating your current life situation and making adjustment to another culture less stressful.
Reverse culture shock
The shocking thing about culture shock is that it doesn't end when you return home. You will probably experience a type of "reverse culture shock" upon re-entry to your home country. Coming back home after spending time abroad doesn't mean the end of your inter cultural experience. Just as you had to adjust to your host country, the new you--the one you discovered abroad--will have to get to know your family, friends, and home culture all over again. Inter cultural encounters affect people differently, so while some find returning home to be an easy transition, others find it more difficult than when they went abroad initially. While your exciting experiences abroad will always be with you, learning how to integrate them into your home life is essential.
Upon returning home, you may find that you and your friends aren't as close as you were before you went abroad. All of you may have changed a bit, so easing back into the relationships might be a good idea. Be sensitive about dominating the conversation with references to people and places they haven't shared. Even though you don't intend it, some people interpret constant references to your experiences as bragging. It is important to remember that while you were away, your friends also had new experiences. Make sure to get filled in on their latest news too. Also, be sure to stay in touch with the friends you made abroad. Staying in touch with them can keep the memories of your experiences fresh. Try to get involved with students on your campus who are thinking of studying abroad so you can offer your experience as a guide for them as well.
Perhaps the most profound difference you will find upon returning home will be in yourself. Living abroad gave you opportunities to test and refine your decision-making abilities, organizational skills, motivation, and drive, and these experiences result in a remarkable personal growth. You've probably become accustomed to a high level of activity and anticipation, confronting new places and meeting new people constantly. Without this, some people feel a bit restless or depressed when they return home. Give your body and mind time to adjust. Take time to think about how you have changed and how your experience abroad contributed to the "new you." You may want to contemplate how studying abroad has influenced your life goals, especially now that you're home.
Being aware of potential problem areas in adjustment to studying abroad and returning home can help you adapt more easily to the changes. It is important to handle culture shock with adaptability, a sense of humor, and a lot of common sense. Give yourself time to become accustomed to the cultural differences. It can be valuable to keep a journal. Don't compare everything with home. Discovering cultural differences and experiencing culture shock are both powerful tools to gain a higher sense of self-understanding and personal growth.
There may be difficult and even frustrating times for you during your study abroad experience, but be sure that good experiences will far outweigh the bad ones, and that even the bad ones will prove to be extremely valuable.
