Preparing to Return
While you prepare to take your finals and try to image packing all your possessions, you will probably also be preparing yourself to leave your new home and return to the US. This is not always an easy process, but there are steps that you can take in order to prepare yourself ahead of time.
Before you leave your international home:
- Collect contact information for your new family, friends, and professors.
- Write down your favorite recipes.
- Purchase those souvenirs and gifts you have been wanting.
- Gather your favorite music.
- Find out how to subscribe to the publications that you would like to continue reading.
- Check the Academic Credit information for information to ensure that your classes and credits are processed as quickly and smoothly as possible.
- Reflect on your experience and how you have changed due to your experiences abroad. The Putting It into Perspective (PDF format) activity is designed to help you with this process.
- Consider what has been going on while you have been away and what you will be returning to. The While You Were Away (PDF format) activity is designed to help you with this process.
- Write a letter and mail it to yourself in the US. Remind yourself of the things from the US that you missed, the things you are looking forward to, what you want to remember about your time abroad, and what new values/habits/customs you wish to continue. Reminding yourself of both the positive and not-so-positive experiences in both cultures can help you to keep things in perspective and not fall into the trap of glorifying one culture or experience over another.
- Write letters to friends and family to prepare them for your return. Tell them about some of the changes you have seen in yourself and would like to share with them the person you have become. Let them know that you would also like to get to know the person they have become in your absence.
- Talk with your program staff and other students about your time there and your thoughts on returning to the US.
Academic Credit
Check the Academic Credit page for steps to take to ensure that your classes and credits are processed quickly.