During orientation, we were told about what we might experience not just while abroad, but also when we get back. They talked about reverse culture shock, and how the initial excitement of returning home can sometimes be followed by sadness. Though I’m sure it can be different for everyone, this has been pretty true for me. I’ve been back a few weeks now, and though I am readjusted to American life again, I do still find myself making comparisons to life in Japan, missing things like the super walkable cities and dining culture (especially tipping not being a thing). I especially miss the friendships I made, both with other students studying abroad and with local students.
I was hit with some reverse culture shock the day I arrived back; my family took me out to eat and the restaurant felt massive compared to Japan’s, and the waiters and waitresses very friendly and talkative. My favorite drink, sweet tea, suddenly tasted way too sweet after getting used to green tea in Japan. You might realize that the experience has changed you, even if just in small ways, which was definitely a weird feeling for me at first.
It took some time, but after reconnecting with friends and family and starting to get back a a familiar routine, I started feeling readjusted again. Getting thrown back into the thick of college work has actually helped with that as well, though having less than two weeks to make a huge readjustment before classes started worried me. One thing I recommend doing is trying to still incorporate some things you did abroad into your daily life back in America. For me, that’s been trying to cook some basic Japanese meals, and also still continuing to study Japanese. I find myself checking the international isle in grocery stores now, hoping to find some Pocky or Oi Ocha green tea. Readjustment can be difficult, but with time and bringing some of the habits you’ve taken up abroad back, it becomes a lot easier to look ahead rather than back at the time abroad, maybe even to when next you can go again.
