First thing’s first, what is reverse culture shock? Is it exactly what it sounds like? Don’t worry, when I first heard of reverse culture shock I was a skeptic too. It isn’t until you arrive at the place you know to be your home and suddenly feel a stranger. You feel a longing for the place in which you just left, the place you won’t be returning to for a long while.
Still I sometimes find it hard to put into words exactly how I feel. You might begin to question who it is that you are or what exactly you are doing with your life; in this moment, in the next year, for the rest of your life even. Relax. Take a deep breath. These feelings are 100% real, but also 100% normal. It is how you handle reverse culture shock once it hits that really keeps you afloat.
Some pro-tips:
- Stay in shape. Whether you gained weight eating churros all summer or lost a few pounds carrying around your 80lb backpack in the middle of a European heat-wave… Exercise is an important tool that will not only keep your body feeling well, but your mind sharp as well. But really, there is a whole science connecting vigorous physical activity to the release of serotonin, the happiness hormone, in your brain.
- Don’t be afraid to say you’re feeling down to someone. Whether it’s a friend, family member, counselor, or even one of your study abroad professors. Talking about it helps you sort through your uncomfortable feelings and come to terms with them.
- Try yoga or meditation to help calm your soul and your mind. Get rid of feelings of regret or guilt about things you didn’t do while you were there or how much money you spent. Your financial planning will be a lot easier if you aren’t panicked and feeling like it’s the end of the world.
- Get involved on campus or in the community. If you learned a new language find a way to use it outside of class at least once a week; practicing will help you to retain your language skills as well as giving you the cultural outlet you are missing so much. Volunteering will help you feel fulfilled, appreciated, and valuable. Not to mention the opportunities and experiences that will be available to you, to help others, to meet new people and to grow as a person.
- Write down your experiences as they happen to you. I know that this honestly is easier said than done, but when you come home, how will you look back on your favorite moments? What will you remember from your 3 months abroad, 6 months after you get home? Journaling, blogging and writing letters to friends or family are all great ways to remind yourself of the amazing experiences you had, and don’t want to forget.
Whether you’re studying on the beaches in sunny Spain, teaching English in Africa or backpacking through the Andes in South America, you are going to have amazing and unforgettable experiences while you are abroad. Cherish those moments, and when you get home remind yourself that you are an incredibly blessed individual to have had those experiences. Also remind yourself that the uneasiness, anxiety, or depression that you feel will actually go away with time. Think back on how you’ve grown, the awesome people you were lucky enough to meet and all those beautiful places you found yourself in.
So when you look in the mirror and feel like you see a stranger, maybe it’s because you do. Don’t turn your back on her, smile, and get to know her. Chances are you might even like her.