Returning to Santa Clara from abroad
Dear Study Abroad Returnees,
Welcome
back! We trust that your readjustment to life back on campus is going
well. If you haven’t already felt the re-entry culture shock, you
probably will at some point in your readjustment to life back in the US and Santa Clara.
Coming back can be a stressful and confusing time as you cope with all
the emotions of missing the study abroad experiences. But this is also
the time when incredible personal growth can occur as you begin to
reflect on that whole experience. As you go through the re-entry
process, please know that this is a natural phase of cultural
adjustment similar to when you had to adapt to studying abroad in your
host country. We encourage you to get in involved on campus to keep
your international experience alive and meaningful. Below are a few of
the ways that you can do that:
RE-ENTRY: A Day to Reconnect & Reflect (and BBQ)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Williman Room) - Open to all who register
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - (755 Franklin Street) - BBQ only for International Ambassadors. (see below)
A day for returning study abroad students to reconnect with each other to reflect on your study abroad experiences and the
inevitable readjustment process. The first part of the program is open
to all interested returnees and the BBQ portion is only for students
who join the International Ambassador Program.
INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADORS: Share Your Experience
Opportunities to share your experience with prospective study abroad
students. For information and online application, please visit: http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/ambassadors/index.cfm
EVALUATION: Complete the Study Abroad Evaluation
Please take about 5-10 minutes to fill out our survey based on your
study abroad experience. The results of the survey will be made
available to students who will be researching their study abroad
options. Your help is greatly appreciated. To complete the online
survey, please visit: http://www.scu.edu/survey/?s=77 (You’ll need your Groupwise username and password to access it)
WORKSHOP: Resumes for International Aficionados February 8, 2010, Williman Room
, 5:00 – 6:00 PM
(Room Changed from Lucas Hall to Williman Room)
Learn how to integrate your international experience on your resume.
Find out how to communicate skills that are valued in a global market.
Take
away tips for approaching an international job search. Limited seating.
For more information and RSVP online to secure your spot:
http://www.scu.edu/events/rsvp.cfm?sched=24613
CONFERENCE: Lessons from Abroad
Saturday, March 6, 2010, Saint Mary's College of California, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Lessons from Abroad Conference offers study abroad returnees and
international students the opportunity to reflect on their recent international
experiences, connect with other study abroad alumni with similar interests,
network and gather resources from professionals in internationally-focused
organizations, and gain important skills for continual learning and application
in their future career and academic paths. Conference highlights include a
Keynote Presentation from a highly regarded mentor in the field of international
education, an "Opportunities Fair" of internationally-focused organizations,
various panel discussions and workshops providing instruction on
resume-building, graduate schools, career opportunities, international
volunteering/service-learning, job interviewing and more! For more information and registration: http://www.lessonsfromabroad.org
Fee: $10
(includes lunch, all day conference registration, parking & conference
materials). Please note that online registration is open until February 12th for $10,
after that registration will then be $15 for walk-ins only. Spaces are limited
so please register soon.
CLUB: Join the International Club
Join international students and other study abroad returnees for social
and educational opportunities. For more information and to join, please
visit: http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/exchange/club.cfm
MENTOR: Be a Student Mentor to an International Exchange Student
Want to serve as an American student mentor to an international
Exchange Student who will be coming to study for a term or year at SCU?
For more information and to sign up, please visit: http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/exchange/mentor.cfm
SERVE: Pre-Departure Orientation 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010. Mayer Theater, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
We could use your help to co-facilitate the group meetings following
the general session on that Saturday. Please sign up to be an
International Ambassador and be on the look out for emails from us. For
more information: http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/orientation/index.cfm
REFLECTION: Submit article or photos to One World
Submit an article or photos on your experience abroad for One World, Santa Clara’s
social justice magazine. Copies of the magazine can be found outside of
Campus Ministry. For more information, please email Zena Andreani or Kate Bradley at oneworldscu@gmail.com.
PHOTO CONTEST: Show Off Your Best Photos
An opportunity to share your study abroad experience with the Santa Clara
community, alumni, parents, prospective students through images.
Winning photos will be featured in calendars, on our website, and other
University publications. Photo Contest rules
and guidelines will be emailed to you soon; categories may include the
following: Cross-Cultural Immersion, Scenery, Broncos in Action,
Justice Overseas, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I expect my abroad grades to be posted to my ecampus account?
Your patience is needed for this phase as it all depends on the
efficiency to which your program provider sends transcripts to SCU.
This process can take several weeks (sometimes months) before Carol
Bonney at the Registrar’s Office receives your transcript As soon as
she gets it she will forward it on to Lori Johnson at the Drahmann
Center who makes the appropriate credit transfer to your ecampus
account based on the Study Abroad Course Approval Form you submitted to
her before you left for your program. If you want to know the actual
timeline of when your transcript will be sent to SCU, feel free to
contact your program provider (e.g. IES, CIEE, Syracuse, etc.) directly and they will advise you.
HELPFUL READING: What is Re-Entry?
Excerpts from the Study Abroad Office at Middlebury College.
Re-entry
can be defined as the often unexpected and sometime difficult
experience of re-adjusting to life in one's home culture after living
abroad. Some study abroad returnees do not find re-entry to be
difficult; however, most returnees experience some degree of stress
upon returning home. In fact, for many students the process of
re-adapting to home after study abroad is even more difficult than
adjusting to the host culture! Re-entry is different for everyone, just
as your experience abroad was unique and special. However, there are
some common re-adjustment issues that study abroad students report:
Personal Growth and Change--You
may have experienced a challenge to your beliefs, convictions, values
and world view while you were immersed in a different culture. You may
have also experienced more academic freedom and personal independence
while abroad. You may feel that you have matured and become more
self-confident. You have undoubtedly changed in many ways. One of the
greatest challenges of re-entry is having to adjust your "new" self to
your "old" home. It is very common for returnees to experience loss of
identity during this time.
New Knowledge and Skills--Just
as your attitudes changed while you were abroad, you probably developed
new knowledge, skills, and behavior patterns. For example, you probably
developed competencies that helped you survive in your everyday life
overseas, such as learning to find your way around a new city, to act
in a culturally appropriate manner, and to converse about new subjects,
and of course, foreign language skills. Other new competencies may
include new knowledge about your major, new research skills, and new
problem-solving skills. Some returnees feel frustrated if they feel
these skills are of little use once they return home.
Relationships with Family and Friends--Some
study abroad returnees say the most difficult issue to deal with when
they return home is relationships with family and friends. It is
important to realize that other people did not stay the same while you
were gone. Also, all of your changes will undoubtedly affect your
family and friends. Many returnees describe feelings of alienation, and
some say they feel pressure from family and friends to revert back to
the person they were before study abroad. Perhaps the most difficult,
and most common, aspect of this issue is telling others about the
overseas experience. Many returnees find that beyond polite inquiries
and general questions, their friends and family do not seem to be very
interested in hearing about their experiences.
How does one cope with re-entry?
There
are many positive ways of coping with re-entry. The process of
re-adjustment can take weeks or months, and it is very important to
give yourself time to cope with the experience. Perhaps the most vital
coping strategy is to recognize that what you are going through is
normal and very, very common. Expect a period of stress, and know that
re-entry is a natural part of the re-adjustment process. The following
are coping strategies suggested by study abroad returnees:
Talk with people who understand your situation. All of us in the Office
of International Programs have spent time abroad and love to hear about
your experiences, and we can also help put you in touch with other
returnees. Keep in touch with people from your host country and from
your program.
Tell others about your
study abroad experience. Let the Office of International Programs know
if you would be interested in speaking with prospective study abroad
students or helping with pre-departure meetings or other international
events. Write an article for the One World Social Justice Magazine, or
other school publication. Telling others who really want to hear about
your experience can be a wonderful way to keep your study abroad
experience alive.
Continue being a
multi-cultural person. Seek out situations in which international
experiences and perspectives are appreciated. The Office of
International Programs can tell you about opportunities to get involved
in working on international events on campus, for example. Use your
international perspective and skills to work on issues in the United States.
In
conclusion, re-entry can be a time of stress, confusion, and tremendous
personal growth. As you go through this experience, remember that
re-entry is just another phase of cultural adjustment, and just as you
adapted to your host culture, you will be able to re-adapt to the United States and to Santa Clara.
Remember to look positively on your re-entry experience, and allow it
to help you look at your own culture as if you were discovering it for
the first time.
We look forward to hearing
about your study abroad experience. Feel free to stop by our new
location at 755 Franklin Street (next to Henry's Mexican Restaurant, across from Alumni Science).
Cheers,
- International Programs Staff
