BY STEFANNY LOYOLA

THE PROBLEMS THAT FOREIGN STUDENTS MIGHT

EXPERIENCE WHEN MOVING TO A DIFFERENT
COUNTRY THEN RETURNING HOME AGAIN.

There are many problems when changing your life from one moment to another when at first
you are very excited and then find out that it was not what you thought.
Nothing is perfect, and while studying abroad does come pretty darn close, it is not without its
problems. Whether it's the cultural norms tripping you up, you are missing home like crazy, or
you are lacking motivation for your studies, many international students experience a number of
different challenges unique to their life abroad.
However, a road bump here and there does not have to derail you or detract from your overall
time abroad. The best way to mitigate potential problems is to feel prepared to face them.
Returning home after an experience abroad can be challenging. The re-entry culture shock may
be even more “shocking” than the culture shock of your host country.
You can feel reverse homesickness when home is supposed to be familiar and comfortable.
However, after spending a substantial amount of time in another country, coming home may not
be as easy as you thought it might be. It is natural to miss the people, places, attitudes or
lifestyles that you grew accustomed to in your host country. Try to alleviate these feelings of
loss by keeping in contact with people you have met abroad and keeping your international
interests in other country.
Also, that relationships have changed because after a long period of separation, people often
need to renegotiate relationships and adjust to being together again. Just as you have altered
some of your ideas and attitudes while abroad, the people at home are likely to have
experienced some changes, too. Flexibility and openness are important qualities in successfully
developing "new" relationships with relatives and old friends.
In addition, the identity Issues when some students feel unsure of how to integrate their "old"
and "new" selves. Feeling frustrated about the lack of opportunities to apply recently acquired
social, linguistic and practical coping skills is also common. Be creative, be patient and above
all use intercultural adjustment skills to assist in your own re-entry.

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