Adjusting to Life Abroad and the Eventual Return

Preparing for their return home, study abroad students reflect upon their semester abroad in Florence. Photo by Hannah Epstein '26

With the semester coming to a close, many students studying abroad are preparing to leave their temporary host countries and return home, but not without experiences that will stay with them long after the semester ends.

Studying abroad allows students to immerse themselves in a culture different from their own and encounter new languages, foods and habits. In addition to these exciting new experiences, new challenges come as well.

Allison O’Grady ‘24 studied abroad in Florence, Italy in the spring of 2022 and returned this fall for her final semester.

“It was a challenge in the beginning because just being in a new environment makes you go inward, and it brings out struggles that you're dealing with…and then by the end, I did not want to leave,” she said. 

The phenomenon known as “culture shock” refers to the period of adjustment that one may feel when they are suddenly in a cultural environment different from the one they are used to. The three phases of this adjustment are described as a “u-curve” pattern, with the highest points of one's mental state at the beginning and end, and the middle phase being a low point of disorientation and frustration.

First is the honeymoon phase, when a person is excited to embark on their journey and explore their new surroundings. This is then followed by the rejection phase, categorized by feelings of homesickness, uncertainty, confusion, anxiety and feeling lost. Minor health problems such as disruptions in sleeping and eating patterns may also occur due to mental stress. Finally, there is the recovery phase. This is a much more gradual period, as one accepts the new and different environment. During this time, a person also regains their emotional and psychological stability.

Emma McCormack ‘26 spent this semester abroad in Florence, joining nearly 400 other students in Marist College’s largest abroad program.

“It took me a lot of time to orient myself with the city and learn where certain places were. For about the first month, I used maps almost every day to make sure that I was headed toward the right place for class,” she said.

Adjusting to a new cultural environment does not have to be done alone. For Marist students studying abroad, there are multiple programs that provide different opportunities to help with the adjustment, including an orientation week.

Sophia Bianchi ‘25 studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in the fall of 2023 with only five other Marist students. During her orientation week, the group acclimated to their new environment by touring the city and learning about Madrid’s history and culture.

“It also helped that I lived with a host family who taught me about the Spanish culture and way of life,” Bianchi said.
Concurrent with Bianchi’s statement, psychologists suggest that increased contact with the host culture can help with the adjustment process. For students studying in Italy, one of the requirements is to take an Italian language class, with the aim of teaching students ways to communicate and connect with those who live in the city.

“I had a lot of anxiety about not being able to communicate, and it stressed me out a lot, but being required to take an Italian class by Marist/LdM helped,” McCormack said.

Now, almost four months have gone by, and students must prepare for their return home. Many have mixed feelings about their return.

“A lot has happened while I have been abroad — family, friends and school-wise. I know that I will not be able to simply pick up where I left off, and I think that it will be a bit strange to have to fit myself back into my 'normal' schedule… but I know that the memories I gained from being abroad aren't something that I would ever trade,” said McCormack.

Learning to adjust occurs not only when one arrives in a new country but also upon returning home. Not only has home changed, but we as people have changed as well. As we immerse ourselves in a new culture, we become familiar with new practices. Eventually, we become accustomed to our new way of life, not realizing that these little changes or customs define what we now find familiar. New routines become our norm.

This lesser-known “reverse culture shock” is very common for students returning home from being abroad and especially for those away for longer durations of time. Bianchi experienced this phenomenon when she returned to the U.S.

“I found it funny that there were so many ‘normal’ things that I now noticed as ‘American’ that were so subtle before,” she said.

Bianchi’s first experience with this phenomenon was immediately upon her return to her home country, in an interaction with the JFK airport customs officers. “They were serious and moved the line quickly and strictly, versus in Spain, where I basically walked right through customs without a glance in my direction… I missed the easygoing Spanish lifestyle of weeknight tapas and exploring a walkable city.”

The psychological stresses manifest themselves in ways similar to that of the initial culture shock. Returnees may be overly critical of themselves for not being able to simply flip a switch and have their behavior return to the way it was before they went abroad. Additionally, they may feel depressed leaving the places and the people they have grown to love.

For some like O’Grady, a new definition of home was made.

“Honestly, I kind of felt the opposite [of others]. I felt like I had to readjust more going back home and then coming back [to Italy] I was just like, ‘I’m back home,’” she said.

Even though returning home may engender mixed emotions, the opportunity to study abroad provides a unique experience for Marist students, who will bring new perspectives back to Poughkeepsie with them.