Elon study abroad students experience ‘re-entry
shock’
Leanne Jernigan / Reporter
Elon has always encouraged students to reach out of their
“bubble” and explore new things. One way students
achieve this is by studying abroad.
Students return after a semester in a different country with
a much different outlook on life at Elon, as well as life in
the United States. Those who were abroad fall semester have
recently returned to the “Elon Bubble” for Winter
Term and spring semester. Upon their arrival they experienced
a sort of re-entry shock.
Some found it strange re-adjusting to life back at an
American college. Little things such as makeup and cars
seemed out of place, while attending class every day seemed
foreign after being accustomed to taking classes at their own
pace.
Some universities around the country offer programs that
help students who are returning to the states with
“reverse culture shock.” Elon does not offer
students the chance to receive help or advice on adjusting
back to regular life. But is a program in which students have
to learn how to re-adjust to a normal life really necessary
after studying abroad?
Junior Valentine Woods was part of the Denmark International
Study Program where she studied medical practice and policy
programs in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“There is definitely a culture shock when you come
home, but I’m not sure that it’s anything a class
could help with,” she said.
Junior Laura Bartholomay spent fall semester in Orebro,
Sweden. The only advice she received about re-adjusting to
life was a packet that explained the “emotional
rollercoaster” when preparing to leave. The packet
contained information on the highs and lows when abroad while
touching a little on re-entry shock.
“The hardest part is feeling out of the loop with
things like current songs and movies. Also, I have to keep
reminding myself that life went on here without me,”
she said.
Students who studied abroad and returned for Winter Term say
they still do not feel as if they have returned to a real
college atmosphere. With Winter Term having a more laid-back
environment than a regular semester, returning students did
not feel in the normal grind of Elon life.
When she returned for Winter Term, Bartholomay said she felt
as if she had to wait a while for the “real Elon”
to actually start.
Since Winter Term consists of only one class, returning
students are just now feeling the pressure of 16-to-18-hour
class weeks. While in Sweden, Bartholomay took self-study
courses where she was in class for a brief time each week.
Besides the adjustment to schoolwork, Woods touched on other
cultural differences she noticed.
“What has always been normal suddenly seems
strange,” she said.
She had to become readjusted to using a car for
transportation as opposed to taking a train like she did in
Denmark. Also, she was surprised when she noticed how many
Elon girls wear full makeup everywhere around campus, whereas
Denmark’s women believe in natural beauty. Feeling like
an observer in a world that she used to feel a part of, Woods
started noticing the little things.
One of the purposes of studying abroad is to allow students
to view the world through a different perspective. That is
the exciting part – experiencing new things and
returning with a new sense of everything. Though students who
have spent time abroad find it hard to reacclimate themselves
to life in the United States, they doubted a program designed
to help with re-entry would be effective.
“I personally don’t think it would do any good.
It’s more like you’re personally changed and I
don’t think there’s anything they could have done
or said to help. It’s more processing everything on
your own.” Bartholomay said.
Woods proposed a different sort of program.
“I think it might be nice if there was a time for all
the students who were gone to just get together and talk
about their experiences both abroad and returning. Sometimes
just knowing someone else understands what you're going
through is all the help you need,” Woods said.
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