How can I prepare to deal with reverse culture shock?

[walbreeze]

I am currently studying abroad only for a semester. I will be going home in about a month and I am already scared that it will be very different. I've heard about reverse culture shock and I am freaking out and keep thinking that my life will be very different.

I already can see what will happen, and how I will feel. For instance, back home I am in a sorority. This semester my sorority has been very supportive of me going abroad and they talk to me all the time over facebook always wanting to know what I have been doing. It's great however I keep seeing pictures of everything that is happening and I am missing out on so many things so when I go back, I feel as if I won't have anything to say about anything they did together. I feel as if no one is telling me anything, the conversations are the same typical how are you basic convos even when I ask for details. Also, for rooms, everyone is already choosing who to live with for next semester and originally I was going to live with 3 other girls, but now, they keep telling me it's changing. It will be my last semester in the sorority and I wanted to get a room that I've always wanted and live with my good friends in my sorority, yet those girls are now saying they are living with other people and that the room I wanted to live in is already being called for by other people. So basically, I'm left in the dust and I already feel left out.

I can already feel the effects of reverse culture shock and I'm not even home yet! I'm a pretty sensitive person and I know I will probably be depressed at some point after I get home. How can I make it easier to deal with reverse culture shock when I get back home? How can I prepare for it? Thank you so much in advance!

[firefly_fliesby]

Been there, done that, have the t-shirt. The number one piece of advice that I can offer you is to find someone to talk to when you get home. It can be a friend, a family member, anyone who's willing to let you talk about your experiences and let you debrief. Also, be willing to engage in your regular school environment. Join a club or two, enjoy clubs you were in before you studied abroad, focus on your schoolwork, and push yourself to get together with your friends (even if you aren't living with them). The sooner you get back to normal, the sooner you'll stop missing your study abroad location. Hope this helps!

[Lindsay]

It's hard to feel like you're missing out on things back home. And, I won't lie and tell you that you'll just make a smooth transition once you get back home. The reality is that reverse culture shock does affect most people. But you should feel thankful that you had such a great opportunity to go abroad. Think about everything that you did and learned while you were away.

While it may be hard for people back home to understand what you went through, try to find someone else who has gone abroad and been through it. They will be able to relate to your feelings and be able to offer the most support.

Feel free to check out my digital magazine called Native Foreigner (http://www.nativeforeignermag.com). It is designed to help travelers just like yourself who are returning from a long-term international trip. If you subscribe to the magazine, you also receive free access to the online community, which is great for support. But there are also several blog posts on the site that provide advice on how to deal with reverse culture shock.

Best of luck and enjoy the rest of your time abroad!

[AVE]

As far as the housing situation goes...better to contact the house corp, house mom, or house manager directly to make sure there is someone advocating for you. You can't rely on your friends for accurate information especially since they don't control who gets what room.

When it comes to getting back into the mix my suggestion would be to plan your whole week with events. Coffee dates with your sisters so you can get back in touch and parties so you can have some "remember last friday..." stories to talk about right from the start. Ask your friends to plan a welcome home party for you even if it is just a movie night.