Returning Home

When you return to United States and the TLU campus, it is important to know that this, too, will require cultural adjustment.

Readjusting

For some students, the return home can be more challenging than the culture shock experienced abroad. Living and studying abroad changes us. It broadens our perspective and gives us new insight into ourselves and our home culture. However, we often lose sight of the fact that changes are happening at home, too.

Adjusting from reverse culture shock, like the initial adjustments you went through abroad, progresses through stages. How strongly you will be affected cannot be predicted. Even those who have studied abroad and returned home before may, after a second experience, find themselves more deeply affected than they were the first time. As with your journey outward, though, you will emerge from this period of adjustment.

Here are the general stages that categorize cultural readjustment:

Cultural readjustment begins before you even leave your host country. It begins as you prepare to depart and say your farewells to the new friends and “family” you made abroad. You may feel anticipation and excitement at the prospect of seeing your family and friends at home, and you may also feel some regret that your experience is coming to an end. These emotions, mixed together, may make you feel ambivalent about your move and unsure of how you will feel when you do arrive home. Being very intentional about your leave-taking and creating some sort of closure to you studies abroad can help.

Your first weeks home will likely be exhilarating. You will experience the thrill of rediscovering your home and reconnecting with those you love. Friends and family will make you the center of attention, so there will be many opportunities to talk about your experiences abroad.

After those first few weeks, as life begins to settle back into its routine for both you and those around you, you may begin to slide into reverse culture shock. You may resist or resent the way that you are expected to fall back into the routines of home, work, and classes at TLU. You may find yourself unfavorably comparing the United States with your host country or feel that people and things at home have changed too much—or have not changed enough—in your absence. You may also find yourself feeling “homesick” for your life abroad.

With time, you will adjust to life back home. You will reestablish connections and make new ones. You will find yourself able to see both American and host-country cultures in perspective and to value their differences. You will also begin to integrate your experiences abroad into your life back home.

When you return to TLU, stay engaged. Doing so is a way to share your experiences and enthusiasm and can help you as you readjust upon your return. Turn your study abroad experience into a lifelong learning process.

Complete the Online Evaluation

Completing the online evaluation for your study abroad program is a good way to say “thank you” to your program provider. This will help them advertise their programs so more students can participate in international experiences.

Study Abroad Photo Contest

Submit photos to the study abroad photo contest—or just post some to the TLU Study Abroad Facebook page.

Study Abroad Fair

Participate in our fall study abroad fair. This is a great chance to talk about your experiences and help encourage other students to study abroad.

Study Abroad Information Sessions

Attend study abroad information sessions and the pre-departure orientation to talk with prospective study abroad students.

Write About Your Experiences

Write a short piece on your study abroad experience. We love posting those on our website and sharing it with the TLU Marketing and Communications Department.

Talk About Your Experiences

Take advantage of the speaking engagements that the International Education office takes part in, like FREX classes, prospective visit days, Family Weekend, and other classes.

Continue with Your Language Education

Continue your language instruction and look for volunteer experiences that allow you to use your language skills.

Talk with Faculty

Talk with faculty and staff members about your experiences. Not only do they enjoy hearing about them, but you’re a valuable source of information that they can use in class.

Stay Involved On Campus

Join clubs and attend co-curricular events with an international and/or cultural focus. Attend the welcome-back events the International Education office plans.

Market Your Skills to Future Employers

Go to the Office of Career Development. They can help you think about ways to build on your international experiences and how to incorporate them into your resume, cover letters, and future job interviews.

Tell Us About Your Trip

Stop by the TLU International Education Office. We would love to hear all about your experiences, what you learned, stories you may have, and anything else you would like to share with us.

Keep Your International Connections Alive

Contact the friends you made while abroad. Stay in touch with them. You never know when you could be going back or vice versa.

Seek Out Other International Experiences

There are multiple ways to go abroad again, from volunteering, teaching, working, interning, or studying abroad again.

Stand Out to Employers

When speaking to domestic or international employers, it is crucial to develop ways to market your international experience to help you get the job you desire.

Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience

Articulating the skills you acquired while abroad will enhance your ability to compete as a top job candidate. Start by visiting the TLU Career Development office, then check out these tips to help you get started.

Employers are typically looking for candidates with the 3 C’s: critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. These are three skills you may have gained from studying abroad.

Companies want candidates with good problem-solving abilities, the ability to work in teams, and those who have good verbal and written communication skills.

Building Upon Your Experiences

Include your study abroad experience on your resume, and refer to it in your cover letter, portfolio, and job interviews.
When writing a cover letter, it is important to match your skills and abilities to the needs of the employer. Use the cover letter to highlight one or two of your top skills or attributes when referring to your travel experience.
Be prepared to speak about the specific cultural traits of your study abroad host country.
As to language skills, indicate the level of reading, writing, and speaking skills you have acquired.
Recognize the value of the general skills you developed while abroad.
Participate in campus or community programs that provide opportunities to practice articulating what you learned and the steps you took to gain or strengthen intercultural and professional skills.
Be professional in describing your study abroad experience. Avoid shocking stories or misadventures.
Use the language of your future work. Avoid using too many names and titles that will be foreign to your prospective employer. Avoid detailed geographical descriptions.
In dealing with international employers, don’t mix personal goals with career goals. Never announce to potential international employers that your career goal is to live in Paris or to travel extensively in Asia. Employers want to hear about goals that match their skill requirements.

The skills and attributes gained while studying abroad are as diverse and varied as each individual’s study abroad experience. The following list offers examples of skills often developed through living in other countries. Have one or two examples ready for each skill you focus on.

Communication/Language skills (in foreign language, if applicable)

Overcoming language barriers
Oral competence
Written expression
Listening and comprehension skills
Vocabulary/grammatical structure improvement

Analysis/Problem-Solving

Capacity to ask for and receive help from others
Willingness to confront problems and look for alternative solutions
Ability to listen and observe carefully
Ability to think critically
Organizational and time-management skills
General travel and navigational skills

Global Point of View/Cultural Awareness

Experience and capability in balancing two or more cultures
Appreciation for diversity
Cultural awareness (sensitivity to customs and cultural differences)
Ability to interact with and relate to many different people
Ability to perceive things from another person’s point of view

Openness/Observant

Ability to compromise and be flexible
Openness to new experiences and activities
Awareness of and respect for the beliefs of others

Resilience/Perseverance

Patience and adaptability
Ability to keep a sense of humor in stressful situations
Capacity to deal with failure
Strength in handling unpredictable and unfamiliar situations

Confidence/Independence

Ease in establishing relationships with people from a different culture
Willingness to take risks
Awareness of personal strengths and weakness
Self-sufficiency
Ability to identify, set, and achieve goals
Motivation and initiative

Examples: As a result of studying abroad, I have…

Strengthened Cross-Cultural Skills

Adapted to cultural differences and customs through daily interaction with my host family over a period of four months
Overcame societal differences and fostered cultural understanding through a short-term work experience at a local business
Gained a greater appreciation for diversity and cultural differences through voluntary service experience at a local school

Developed Language Competency/Communication Skills

Passed proficiency examination in [name of language] or obtained certificate for intensive language study at [name of college or institute]
Cultivated language and communication skills through sustained dialogue with my host family and others whom I met in my host country
Learned to use nonverbal and verbal communication to overcome language barriers

Demonstrated Flexibility/Risk-Taking

Learned how to adapt to unanticipated situations and improvise new plans due to periodic travel mishaps and unexpected events
Modified my way of life to maximize exposure and opportunities for learning in my local community

Building Upon Your Experience

Please see the 75 Long-Term Outcomes from an International Experience for more skills/attributes that you may have acquired while abroad and that could be added to your resume/cover letter to enhance your candidacy for a professional position

A good interview is about telling a good story. It’s about weaving a narrative in response to questions about your ability to do a job, carry out your duties, and adapt to the organization and its expectations of its staff.

When speaking to employers, address the value of both the general and specific skills you developed while studying abroad. It’s important not to assume that the interviewer will realize how your international experience is relevant to your candidacy.

An interviewer may provide you with an opportunity to tell a story based upon your international experience, and your answers to any question should not be too short or too lengthy. Questions such as the following may be posed:

What did you learn about yourself as a result of your study abroad experience?
Why did you choose to study in [name of country]? Why was it important to you?
How did you get engaged in the local culture outside the classroom?
Can you describe a time when you had to change your behavior to accommodate or adjust to different local conditions?
How much did your [language studied – if applicable] improve and how?
You had to adjust to a different way of learning. How did you accomplish that?

Careers Abroad

By working or volunteering abroad, you develop intercultural communication skills and enhance interpersonal skills.

Working, Teaching, & Volunteering

Just as studying abroad taught you independence, self-confidence, and adaptability, working abroad will continue to increase those skills. Working in an international office, like working in an office in the United States, affords you the chance to learn more about your chosen field and to develop new work skills.

More than that, though, you will learn how to be a part of a multicultural workforce and will develop an international network of colleagues. And lastly, you will improve your language skills, learn about another culture, and possibly even learn more about yourself and your own culture.

On this page, we offer links to some programs that can help you find overseas work placements and links to some websites that offer advice to U.S. citizens working abroad. Please note that we do not endorse the programs listed below; rather, we offer them simply as a place where you can begin your research.

BUNAC

BUNAC provides ethical, low-cost abroad programs across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Cultural Vistas

A nonprofit organization specializing in international exchange opportunities.

ENLACE

The Electronic Network for Latin American Careers and Employment.

Intrax Global Internships

Internship opportunities in Chile, China, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Go Abroad

GoAbroad.com is committed to providing the most comprehensive international education and alternative travel resources.

InterExchange

Opportunities available include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, India, Latin America, and New Zealand.

Overseas Jobs Express

This site features overseas jobs and international employment opportunities for professionals, expatriates, and adventure seekers.

Transitions Abroad

The ultimate guide to articles, programs, and resources for jobs overseas.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

Worldwide program linking volunteers with farmers. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodations, and the opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.

YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission)

YAGM invites ELCA young adults ages 21–29 into a transformative, yearlong journey in international service. Locations include Argentina/Uruguay, Cambodia, Hungary, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, Southern Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Teach English Abroad

English language teachers are in demand worldwide, and taking a position as an English language teacher is one of the few ways in which recent U.S. college graduates can find paid employment overseas. But more importantly, teaching abroad offers an incredible opportunity for your own continued education and growth.

Teaching abroad offers you the chance to live and work in another culture. In doing so, you will improve your own foreign language skills. Through your interactions with students and coworkers, you will gain a greater understanding of the culture in which you live and work, and you will also learn a great deal more about your own culture as you try to explain it to your students.

You will gain valuable work experience, whatever your future plans. You’ll learn to be part of a multicultural workforce as you gain practical work skills and you’ll create an international network of friends and colleague. You will become more adaptable, flexible, and confident.

There are many more reasons to work or teach abroad, but you will have to find them out on your own. Below, we offer some guidance on gaining experience and finding a teaching position, and provide links to some organizations and government agencies that help place English language teachers.

You don’t need to be an education major to find work teaching English abroad. However, acquiring some experience as a teacher, a tutor, or a mentor, will make you a more desirable candidate and also better prepare you for your role as a teacher. So here are some ideas:

Take Advantage of Campus Opportunities

There are ways you can gain teaching experience here on campus. Become a tutor in your discipline or look into student organizations that mentor or tutor students in local schools.

Volunteer in Your Community

There are also lots of opportunities for you off campus. Certainly, you can join an organization that will connect you within Seguin and the surrounding communities or find a local organization on your own. Also think about volunteering in your home community over the summer and during breaks.

TEFL/TESL/TESOL Training

While being a native English speaker is a desirable trait, it alone is not sufficient to qualify you to teach English. Teaching requires patience, effective communications skills, and thoughtful lesson planning. Because of all this, you may want to look into an English training program.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) courses provide valuable training, including reviews of English grammar, training in creating lesson plans, information on cross-cultural communication styles, and general teaching tips—all of which can make you a more qualified and desirable candidate.
Courses vary widely in length, depth of training, and costs, so do some research and think carefully about the type of training you want or need. Try looking at actual job postings to see what qualifications are required for the country, type of school, or length of contract you are looking for.

Placement Programs

Paid and volunteer positions
Predetermined placements and support from the program provider

Government-Sponsored Programs

Paid positions through established government programs
Often do not require previous experience but may be more competitive than other options

Teaching at a Private School (independently arranged placement)

Research available positions and contact the English school directly
Negotiate the terms of your contract

CIEE

CIEE offers paid teaching positions for university graduates looking to share their language and culture while immersing themselves in new communities around the world.

English Language Teaching

As one of the longest established and most popular international English Language Teaching job sites, TEFL.com has acted as the conduit between teachers and language employers since 1997.

Footprints Recruiting

Footprints is a global leader in recruiting certified teachers and ESL instructors for rewarding teaching jobs abroad. Founded in 2001, Footprints has ESL jobs in Korea, China, and Japan.

InterExchange

English Teaching programs in Chile, Italy, Spain, China, Thailand, and Vietnam

WorldTeach

Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Pacific Islands

Government-Sponsored Programs

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships

Opportunities for English language and conversational classes are available in several countries in Asia, Europe, and South America. Grant duration, requirements, and grant amount vary by country.

Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme

Work as a teaching assistant in a Japanese school. One year in duration with an option to renew the contract.

North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain

Promote cultural, educative, and scientific knowledge exchange. Support Spanish teachers in teaching and students in learning the Spanish language. Foster understanding and appreciation between different cultures.

Peace Corps

Teach middle school, high school, or university students in one of more than seventy countries around the world. This is a two-year commitment.

Many organizations can provide an opportunity for you to volunteer your time and skills abroad. You can volunteer with a local nonprofit or religious group, apply to a U.S. government-based program like the Peace Corps, or work through an organization that can help you find a volunteer placement abroad. The opportunities to volunteer abroad are many.

Finding your own placement through a local organization offers you a chance to work with people you already know and with whom you feel comfortable, but it can also be difficult and can require a lot more effort and energy on your part.

Using a placement organization opens up greater possibilities, but will require that you pay some sort of fee to offset the cost of the services the organization provides.

Tips & Advice

Readjusting

Reverse Culture Shock+

Leave-taking and Departure+

Initial Euphoria+

Irritability and Hostility+

Readjustment and Adaptation+

Ways to Stay Engaged on Campus+