Coming home can be a challenging experience for study abroad participants; feelings of anxiety begin well before the day you actually return to the USA. You will have a second period of adjustment, one which involves many conflicting feelings and will require time and understanding by you, your friends and your family. This last adjustment process, known as "reverse culture shock" or "re-entry shock," is sometimes worse than the original culture shock you experienced when first entering your host culture. Reverse culture shock occurs because upon your return home, you will not be experiencing that wealth of newness and feeling of adventure as you did when you first went abroad.

While preparing to return home, you may be very excited to see your family and friends. At the same time, however, you will probably be upset to leave your new home and friends. You will probably only then realize how close you've grown to your friends and/or host family and culture.

Your return home may also be as uncomfortable for your friends and family as it is for you. Give them time to re-learn you and take the time to re-learn them. You may use words that are unfamiliar, feel insecure away from your surrogate family and friends, feel superior for what you have accomplished and learned, experience a shift in political ideas, have difficulty communicating what you have learned, and experience identity issues as you try to fit back into life at home.

It is very important to remember that all of these feelings are very normal, and it will simply take time to readjust.

For more information on coping with Re-Entry, visit the Re-Entry Tips page.

Transcripts
You should have your transcripts sent to:
(your study abroad advisor)
Study Abroad Office
University Center for International Studies
University of Pittsburgh
802 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
USA

Until the Study Abroad Office receives your transcript from your program, your grades will appear as "Incomplete". Once we receive your transcript, we will make a copy of the transcript for your study abroad file in our office, then send the original to the appropriate Dean's Office. The Dean's Office will change your grades in the Pitt system.


Housing Issues:
The Study Abroad Office cannot help locate on-campus or off-campus housing for you. If you are living on campus, you should speak directly to Panther Central for issues regarding housing and your reinstatement into the dorms and campus apartment.