VII. Post-Program/Re-Entry

Program participants usually return home during a break from on-campus classes and are thus disconnected from others who shared their overseas or off campus learning experience. Readjustment can be difficult and participants may experience what has been referred to as “reverse culture shock”: a state in which one encounters difficulty reacclimatizing to their home culture. Additionally, participants can feel overwhelmed when asked by family or friends to tidily sum up their experience at a time when they themselves are still processing all that they have experienced and learned.

Have a social gathering before you leave

Have a social gathering before you leave your host country and discuss possible re-entry issues. Also discuss major themes and lessons learned and how participants can think about drawing upon these to improve life for themselves and others. Let them know about their responsibility to share their increased knowledge and awareness with family, friends and the LC campus community.

Have a social gathering when students return to campus

Once students have returned to campus, they will enjoy an opportunity to reconnect with fellow program participants, reminisce about the program and share stories about life back at home. This gathering should have no agenda, but rather simply be available as a light-hearted forum in which students can be reminded that they are not alone in their efforts to reacclimatize to U.S. and on campus life. The Overseas & Off-Campus Programs Office will reimburse up to $15 per student for this gathering.

Returning from abroad programming

We have a great number of Returning from Abroad resources on our website. These include in-person gatherings, ways to return abroad, and our annual International Photo Contest.

Stay in touch

Keep in touch with past participants and encourage them to keep in touch with one another. When something happens that reminds you of something on the program, share it with your former participants. Let people know ways in which your leadership of the program is shaping and contributing to your professional goals.