Believe it or not, you may experience difficulties re-adapting into your former routines and habits after returning to the U.S. 
There are many reasons:

• Personal Growth and Change-- you’ve changed as a result of your time abroad!  One of the biggest challenges that many returnees report is adjusting their “new” self to their “old” home.  Your world view may have changed.  You may have had more academic or personal freedom while abroad.  You probably matured and became more self-confident. 
• New Knowledge and Skills-- just as your attitudes changed while you were abroad, you probably developed new knowledge, skills, and behavior patterns. For example, you probably developed competencies that helped you survive in your everyday life overseas, such as learning to find your way around a new city, to act in a culturally appropriate manner, and to converse about new subjects, and of course, foreign language skills. It is not uncommon to feel frustrated if you are not using these skills once you return home.
• Relationships with Family and Friends-- does it seem as though your friends and family are not really interested in your stories about your experiences?  Are you finding that it is hard to fall back into the old patterns of your relationships with your parents or friends?  This is not uncommon. You’ve changed and they’ve changed while you were gone.  Many returnees describe difficulties with adjusting to their old relationships after their time abroad. 

So, how do you cope?

Be patient with yourself. It's going to take time to readjust to your “old” life and loved ones. The best way to cope is to recognize that what you are going through is normal and very, very common. Expect a period of stress, and know that re-entry is a natural part of the re-adjustment process.

Here are a few strategies to readjust to being in the US:

• Talk with people who understand your situation. The CGE staff has spent time abroad and loves to hear about your experiences. Watch the CGE Events calendar for events that will help you meet and talk with other study abroad returnees. Keep in touch with people from your host country and from your program.
  
  
• Tell others about your international experience. Join the CGE International Leadership Program and talk to other students about your experiences.  We look for returnees to participate in workshops to promote programs to other TU students, and we seek to involve returnees in the Pre-Departure Orientation for outgoing students so that you can tell them what it was really like. 
  
  There are also opportunities to write about your experiences.  The CGE is constantly seeking articles for its news pieces; please contact Laura Semenow if you are interested in contributing.  Other publications, such as Abroad View and Glimpse, also regularly seek students to write about their experiences abroad. Finally, Share Your Experience or submit photos from your time abroad to the CGE’s annual “STUDY ABROAD. It’s A Trip! Photo Contest”
  
  
• Remain globally engaged. Seek out situations in which international experiences and perspectives are appreciated. Volunteer with the CGE.  Get involved with TU Global Campus Connections. Continue studying your language.  Consider going abroad again, perhaps with another study abroad program or perhaps to work. Apply for a scholarship or fellowship to continue researching a topic you discovered while abroad.

Click here to read about students’ experiences with culture shock while studying abroad and how they adapted.