Re-entry Guide

Common problems and possible solutions

Problem: You may feel confused, especially during the first few weeks after your return, because the values, attitudes, and lifestyles you learned while abroad conflict with those back home.

Solution: Differences in cultural patterns require time to explore and understand. Take time to evaluate both cultural perspectives before deciding on your preferences and integrating them into your lifestyle.

Problem: Family and friends at home do not seem interested in hearing about your experiences abroad.

Solution: Realize that they may be adjusting to changes that have taken place in you. They may never have had an experience comparable to yours and so may have difficulty relating to it. Be patient and seek out other returnees who can help put your experience in perspective.

Problem: Friends and family treat you as the same person you were before you left, without recognizing the changes you have been through. As a result of these changes, however, you feel a need for new or modified personal relationships that acknowledge the new dimensions of your personality.

Solution: Remember that your friends and family may not have been expecting you to change. They may uncertain about how you feel and how you have grown. Discuss your feelings with them and try to encourage positive changes in old relationships. Also, seek out new friends who are compatible with who you have become.

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