Returning from Education Abroad
Welcome back to the US and your home communities! Education Abroad would like to acknowledge your profound experience by offering you the chance to share your ideas, stories, photos, and knowledge of new cultures. Below are some of our recurring events, workshops, and contests that welcome your expertise and contributions.
Please do not forget to attend your mandatory re-entry session and to complete your program evaluation. As a reminder, completion of these last steps are necessary for a passing grade in your ISP 599 course.
For a list of available Re-Entry Sessions, click here.
Volunteer your time- Volunteers are always needed for Education Abroad Fairs, classroom presentations, and other campus events. If you are interested in giving your time to encourage other students to go abroad by sharing your stories, contact Sonya Cunningham, Education Abroad Advisor, by email: sgcunn2@email.uky.edu.
Submit your photos- For information on the annual Education Abroad Photo contest, please contact Sari Cason,Education Abroad Office and Data Manager, by email: sari.cason@uky.edu.
Get published- Several publications routinely seek submissions for publication from returned students. If you have found a publication not listed below that you would like us to know about, please tell us!
Please do not forget to attend your mandatory re-entry session and to complete your program evaluation. As a reminder, completion of these last steps are necessary for a passing grade in your ISP 599 course.
For a list of available Re-Entry Sessions, click here.
Get Involved
Volunteer your time- Volunteers are always needed for Education Abroad Fairs, classroom presentations, and other campus events. If you are interested in giving your time to encourage other students to go abroad by sharing your stories, contact Sonya Cunningham, Education Abroad Advisor, by email: sgcunn2@email.uky.edu.
Submit your photos- For information on the annual Education Abroad Photo contest, please contact Sari Cason,Education Abroad Office and Data Manager, by email: sari.cason@uky.edu.
Get published- Several publications routinely seek submissions for publication from returned students. If you have found a publication not listed below that you would like us to know about, please tell us!
Join a workshop- Education Abroad offers some recurring and occasional workshops and presentations on topics related to students who have had an education abroad experience. Bookmark our website so that you can check for announcements regarding these workshops.
Current offerings include: "Education Abroad in Developing Countries"
Return the favor- Remember when you were the new international student? The Office of International Affairs holds orientation weeks for incoming international students at the beginning of each semester. We are always looking for local UK students to assist the international students in settling into campus life and the city of Lexington. To find out how you can help, contact Suzanne Anandappa, Graduate Assistant, by email: smanan3@email.uky.edu, or by telephone: 859-257-4067 ext. 225.
Volunteer in the community- Did you improve your language skills while abroad? Do you want to share a new skill or talent? Do you have a new cause to support? Use these skills in Lexington or your home community. Many community organizations seek volunteers who have specific language capabilities or cultural sensitivity. There are online resources for finding volunteer possibilities in Lexington or farther afield.
Volunteer in the community- Did you improve your language skills while abroad? Do you want to share a new skill or talent? Do you have a new cause to support? Use these skills in Lexington or your home community. Many community organizations seek volunteers who have specific language capabilities or cultural sensitivity. There are online resources for finding volunteer possibilities in Lexington or farther afield.
Volunteermatch.org
Idealist.org
Tell us about it- We want to hear about your experience, and although the Program Evaluation captures part of the story, we know there is much more to tell. Our Education Abroad Advisors welcome you to make a re-entry appointment with them. Your opinions and suggestions about your program assist the advisors in preparing future students, which is another way to pass along your expertise to the benefit of others! Time with returned students is treasured by the advisors, as your knowledge, enthusiasm, and stories are priceless. We guarantee to prod you with questions long after your friends' eyes have glazed over!
Do it again- Many returned students come home with a desire to do it all over again, either in the same country, or somewhere new. Maybe your program was not long enough, or perhaps you want more of an immersion experience. There are options to fit every priority and personality. In addition to the traditional academic program abroad, there are many options to explore, including volunteering, internships, service-learning, and work abroad programs. Academic credit may be possible for some of these options, so check with an Education Abroad Advisor for policies and procedures
Managing Reverse Culture Shock
You have just returned from a unique, rewarding, and challenging time that has probably changed you in ways you may not have realized until you returned home. Be patient during the first few days and weeks as you adapt to jet lag, climate, food, and even language differences. You may have just left friends and host families behind whom you miss terribly. Although you are glad to see your own family, it can be a shock to your system. This is the reverse culture shock that we mentioned in the Pre-Departure Orientation, something that may not make sense until you are experiencing it. For some students, reverse culture shock may be more pronounced than the initial culture shock in their host country.
Education Abroad has resources for students who are experiencing reverse culture shock, and we have found that one of the best ways for a student to integrate his or her new world view with the home culture is to get involved on campus or in the community. We hope that you will let us know if you have ideas for workshops, discussion groups, or special interest sessions not listed on this page.
The same theory that applies to overcoming culture shock in a new environment applies to overcoming reverse culture shock. Find creative outlets, reach out to an old friend or a new person in the community, talk to other students like you who are new again on campus, or get out and explore. You may have taken a public bus for the first time in Chile. Have you taken the bus in Lexington? Are there museums and events locally that you can attend? However you make your way back into life in Lexington, the most important consideration is time. Be kind to yourself and know that reverse culture shock is different for everyone, but almost everyone experiences it.
Additional web resource:
What's Up With Culture? The same online resource we suggested in pre-departure has a special module dedicated to returned students.
Idealist.org
Tell us about it- We want to hear about your experience, and although the Program Evaluation captures part of the story, we know there is much more to tell. Our Education Abroad Advisors welcome you to make a re-entry appointment with them. Your opinions and suggestions about your program assist the advisors in preparing future students, which is another way to pass along your expertise to the benefit of others! Time with returned students is treasured by the advisors, as your knowledge, enthusiasm, and stories are priceless. We guarantee to prod you with questions long after your friends' eyes have glazed over!
Do it again- Many returned students come home with a desire to do it all over again, either in the same country, or somewhere new. Maybe your program was not long enough, or perhaps you want more of an immersion experience. There are options to fit every priority and personality. In addition to the traditional academic program abroad, there are many options to explore, including volunteering, internships, service-learning, and work abroad programs. Academic credit may be possible for some of these options, so check with an Education Abroad Advisor for policies and procedures
Managing Reverse Culture Shock
You have just returned from a unique, rewarding, and challenging time that has probably changed you in ways you may not have realized until you returned home. Be patient during the first few days and weeks as you adapt to jet lag, climate, food, and even language differences. You may have just left friends and host families behind whom you miss terribly. Although you are glad to see your own family, it can be a shock to your system. This is the reverse culture shock that we mentioned in the Pre-Departure Orientation, something that may not make sense until you are experiencing it. For some students, reverse culture shock may be more pronounced than the initial culture shock in their host country.
Education Abroad has resources for students who are experiencing reverse culture shock, and we have found that one of the best ways for a student to integrate his or her new world view with the home culture is to get involved on campus or in the community. We hope that you will let us know if you have ideas for workshops, discussion groups, or special interest sessions not listed on this page.
The same theory that applies to overcoming culture shock in a new environment applies to overcoming reverse culture shock. Find creative outlets, reach out to an old friend or a new person in the community, talk to other students like you who are new again on campus, or get out and explore. You may have taken a public bus for the first time in Chile. Have you taken the bus in Lexington? Are there museums and events locally that you can attend? However you make your way back into life in Lexington, the most important consideration is time. Be kind to yourself and know that reverse culture shock is different for everyone, but almost everyone experiences it.
Additional web resource:
What's Up With Culture? The same online resource we suggested in pre-departure has a special module dedicated to returned students.
Students who are having particular difficulty with reverse culture shock are encouraged to make an appointment with their Education Abroad Advisor who will be able to direct them to professional resources on campus if needed.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Some links on this site require the use of Adobe Reader to access PDF files.
This Web site provides links for the convenience of its users. The University does not review, control, or take responsibility for the contents of those sites.
Last modified 08/25/2009
