There is one point that is oftentimes not mentioned to before studying abroad: it is inevitably going to end, and you’re going to be stuck in what I like to call “the post-study-abroad-blues.”
Symptoms of this includes endless Facebook scrolling of old pictures, constantly starting stories with “when I was in (insert wonderful place here), craving food not available in your home country, oddly longing for using public transportation, crying simply at the sight of an old receipt from your favorite coffee shop and random bursts of nostalgia at every turn.
More seriously, coming home from study abroad can make you feel disconnected with friends and family at home, craving adventure so deep you can feel it to the bone and almost feeling like a foreigner in your own town.
Fortunately, there are ways to combat the overwhelming nostalgia you feel after returning home that will help you fall back into your routine and ditch those blues.
Keep in touch with friends you made abroad
I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Mainly due to the fact you will soon realize the ugly truth that no one is going to be as excited to hear your stories as you thought they would be. Sure, they’ll lend an ear to listen, but they will get tired of hearing your constant stories and comparisons pretty quick. They have had their own lives happening while you were gone and probably won’t want to hear over and over again what an amazing experience you had. This reality can be hard to digest, which is why you need those fellow friends in misery who are also trying to adjust back to life at home. They won’t mind hearing your stories over and over again, because chances are they are a part of many of them. Keeping friends you had when you were abroad means you always get to have someone to listen to how sad you are about being home, a story you are telling for the 15th time and how much you miss where you all studied abroad. If you are lucky enough to have those friends with you at your university, keep them close. If they are attending a different school, stay in touch through Facebook, e-mail, phone calls, whatever it takes. You are going to need that person to lean on.
Don’t intentionally make yourself miserable
Yes, you are going to want to constantly look through all your old pictures and have every “Throwback Thursday” be a picture from abroad, but know your limits. If it is just going to make you sad, rethink about posting and scrolling. Sure, those pictures and posts are good for old times sake, but they can come with a cost. If they are making you feel even more down, occupy yourself with something or anything else. There is no use in making yourself more miserable than you already are.
Get involved more back home
If your mind is still stuck back to when you were abroad, you are going to miss many amazing opportunities back home, so get involved. Join a new club, volunteer, become a mentor, get a job, anything to get your mind off study abroad and better yourself. The faster you do this, the faster you will get in a new routine to get your mind off your time abroad. Your involvement can be associated with your study abroad trip, such as becoming a study abroad peer advisor or volunteering at your university’s study abroad office.
Scrapbook your memories
This might sound like some bizarre form of torture, but hear me out. When you have begun to adjust back home, start scrapbooking your experience. It is a great way to relive the memories and you will enjoy your time doing so. The product of your nostalgic outlet will be a great keepsake to look back on. Also, get creative with it. Don’t just add pictures, but also ticket stubs from museums, bus passes, or any other thing to give the book more meaning. Make it reflect you and your trip as much as possible.
Plan the next big excursion
Who says your big adventure had to be your last? Once you get the travel itch, you’re going to be scratching at it for the rest of your life. Take the knowledge and wisdom you gained from your last excursion to aide in planning your next. Chances are you’re going to want to return to where you studied abroad, but expand your horizons and plan to go somewhere else if you can. Part of the enjoyment of a trip is the planning process. It will help bring you back into the mindset and ease your blues.
Adjusting to life back home and leaving the place that changed your life is never easy. The memories, experiences and adventures will be in the back of your mind; but don’t let it rule your world. Embrace your life back home. Just remember; life can still be beautiful, wonderful and exciting back home, you just have to have the right mindset.
(Feature Photo via We Heart It)