Reverse Culture Shock: What to Expect After Studying Abroad

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IES Abroad
 June 17, 2025
My friend Addy looking at the sunrise as we get off our plane in Paris

You’ve finished your classes, packed your bags, said your goodbyes, and maybe shed a few tears—now it’s time to come home from your adventure abroad.

It’s likely you were prepared for some culture shock when you first arrived in your host country, but many students experience something similar when returning home too—reverse culture shock.

So what’s the difference?

Culture shock and reverse culture shock are very common, but the good news is typically neither lasts too long. Many students who study abroad experience some sort of transitional period when leaving or returning home, and while they often feel similar, there are some important differences.

Culture shock may leave you feeling disoriented, stressed, or out-of-place for a while when introduced to a new environment, or way of life. Being away from loved ones, eating new foods, unfamiliarity with a language, and in general being unsure how to interact with the customs and social norms of a new place can all contribute to feeling a little uneasy.

Reverse culture shock, on the other hand, refers to feeling overwhelmed, misplaced, or even disappointed after returning home from an extended period abroad. Oftentimes, students find that they themselves have changed, and they aren’t quite sure how to settle back into their regular lives. We’ve seen this countless times in our students, and even ourselves. Studying abroad shakes up your habits, pushes you to grow beyond your comfort zone, and opens up your worldview. Coming home means having to rediscover what your life looks like for the post-study abroad version of you.

What can you do?

Fear not, we’ve been doing this for 75 years now, and helped countless students through every step of this process.

Overview Metadata Embed Quito, Ecuador Mitad del Mundo Exploring with friends Clara Smartt
  1. Listen to what you need. Checking in with yourself, and your needs post study abroad is important. Some people need to be around others, spend time with friends and family, and reconnect after being away. Others might require more solitude, and alone-time to reconnect with themselves and their world before jumping back into their full social life. Returning home from an adventure abroad can come with a lot of emotions. Happy to see your family again? Sad to leave your host country? Frustrated, your college city doesn't have a high speed rail system? Whatever you’re feeling, feel it! Listening to yourself, and your needs will help you transition back to home life and ease you back into a routine that works for you.
  2. Take a piece of your host country with you. Just because you’ve come to the end of your time abroad (for now!), that doesn't mean you have to give it all up. Incorporating parts of your host culture into your home life can not only help you readjust, but keeps you connected to your host country. Practice your Arabic, cook up some kimchi, stay connected with the friends you made or your host family, listen to some flamenco, or check out some cinema! There’s lots of ways to stay connected even after you’ve returned home.
three black students laughing by the sea
Kachelle P. • Lindenwood University
  1. Reflect on your time abroad. Studying abroad, for many students, is a time of growth and change. You’ve seen more of the world, met different people, and learned more about yourself. Taking time to reflect upon that fact, and appreciating how you’ve evolved is a good way to transition back as well. Understand that things may feel different, you may feel different—and that’s ok! Try journaling, sharing stories, or simply looking back on pictures and videos from your time abroad. Reflect on what you’ve missed from home too! The quiet of your home town, air conditioning, boxed mac-n-cheese, American football, friends. All the things you missed about home are right here now! Don’t forget to enjoy that too!
  2. Become a tourist in your own city! Life abroad is exciting and new, filled with new friendships, delicious food, amazing places, and lots of adventure. Adjusting back to your home life sometimes means adjusting to a simpler schedule, feeling like you’re back to the same-old. You may experience boredom or restlessness as a result. The good news is adventure and excitement exists everywhere—you just have to look for it! Explore your city, try a new restaurant, or join a new club. If you were a student studying abroad in your home city, where would you want to go? What would you want to see?
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  1. Feel all the feels. Whether you’re happy, sad, frustrated, or a combination of everything—allow yourself to feel it. Adjusting back to life at home is different for every student. Luckily for you, many IES Abroad alumni have shared their thoughts! Bloggers like Nina Pollak discuss their experience with the highs and lows of adjusting to life post study abroad.
  2. Stay connected to the IES Abroad community! Just because your time in an IES Abroad program has come to a close doesn't mean we have to say goodbye. Check out our blogs for readjusting to your home life, keep an eye out for alumni meet ups, or check out our film festival—maybe you even want to submit your story!

Studying abroad is the adventure of a lifetime, and the return journey is a part of that experience! Re-entry, and reverse culture shock can come with their own challenges, but we already know you can take that on! You faced frustrating and challenging situations abroad, conquered them, and grew from them. This is no different. Listen to yourself, and find what works for you, you’ll be ready for your next adventure in no time!

Want to learn more about adjusting once you've returned home from studying abroad? Check out our re-entry resources.

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