Returning Home

We hope that your study abroad program was the experience of a lifetime and that it encouraged you to expand your worldview. You are likely coming home with new stories that you can’t wait to share with all of your friends and family. You probably are returning feeling more independent, confident, and eager to continue to explore more new places. 

Student volunteering at the International Jayhawk Festival
Student volunteering at the International Jayhawk Festival

Reverse Culture Shock

You may also return to campus and experience a bit of reverse culture shock. You might feel a bit disconnected and confused with why things may seem different than before. You may miss your life abroad and feel sad that the experience has come to an end. All these are a normal range of emotions when returning home from studying abroad and Study Abroad & Global Engagement is here to help support you as you transition back to your life in Lawrence.

Connect and Engage

Similarly to when you arrived in your host country, you will need time to adapt to the shift in your environment. One way you can manage reverse culture shock is by getting involved with our KU global community. Below are a few ways that you can connect with our office and engage with the Jayhawk community about your time abroad. 

  • Submit a student feature form to showcase your experience on our social media accounts! Here you are able to send us your favorite photos from your time abroad, and talk all about what made your experience special through the questionnaire. We would love to hear your perspective to share with other Global Jayhawks who are trying to decide what program may be a good fit for them. 
  • Volunteer to write articles for our Jayhawks Abroad Blog. Do you have any packing tips, cuisine recommendations, or insight on your international academic experience that you think would be useful to students wanting to study abroad? This is an opportunity for you to share your unique perspective and help prospective study abroad students better prepare for their experiences around the world. 
  • Participate in the Jayhawk Exchange Friends Program! This is an opportunity for KU study abroad returnees to volunteer to get to know incoming exchange students and help welcome them to KU. Check out the website to learn more about how to get involved.
  • Attend one of our study abroad events such as the International Jayhawk Festival or Global Brunch.
  • Reach out to us at studyabroad@ku.edu to see if there are any upcoming events where you can volunteer for us. Our study abroad fair and student orientation are great opportunities for you to share your wisdom with students who have not departed on their program yet. 

Provide Support

You also can provide support for our office by logging into your Jayhawks Abroad account and completing returnee items including managing your alumni information and completing your program evaluation. We appreciate your candid feedback for us to continue to improve existing programming and develop new opportunities for students at KU.