Parents and Guardians:

As parents and guardians, you may have wrestled with apprehensions about your child studying abroad, sorted out financial issues and got health insurance in order before taking a deep breath and waving goodbye. SU Abroad recognizes the important role you’ve played in your child’s decision to embark on an academic cross-cultural journey and we encourage you to continue to support your child as they learn to navigate a new city, culture, and way of life.

Culture Shock

The inevitability of cross-cultural experiences is that ideas and notions of self and the other get challenged and reshaped by daily interactions, first-hand experiences, and lived knowledge. Students often find that their host culture is not how they expected, sometimes for better, other times for worse. This is generally termed ‘culture shock’ and as a parent you’ll often be a long-distance sounding board as your student tries to make sense of their new surroundings. Students report experiencing confusion and a range of emotions while abroad so you may receive an exuberant phone call one day and a very dejected email the next. Transitioning to a new way of life can be difficult and it takes a while to settle in and begin to put things in perspective. It is important for family and friends to recognize the normalcy of this struggle and to remain supportive. After some time, if you truly believe your student is having serious difficulty adapting to their new environment, encourage them to consult with a SU Abroad counselor or trusted staff member.

Re-entry & Reverse Culture Shock

Coming home can be just as difficult. This is particularly true for students who spend a semester or year abroad. It will take a bit of time to re-adjust. Your student will have grown personally and will not be the same child you said goodbye to at the airport. Your student may feel frustrated because he or she has experienced so much, but everything at home still feels ‘exactly the same.’ Expect them to experience some level of personal confusion and a wide range of emotions, including irritation and anger. Be patient and allow your student time to share stories and memories from their time abroad. With time, often several months, they will eventually fall back into step with life in the US.

Source:

Text partially compiled from Ball State University’s study abroad web page.