Returning Home from Abroad

Your son or daughter may experience some problems when re-adjusting to home. After a semester or year of independence and new experiences, coming home may seem less exciting. They may find that their friends and family cannot easily share in the enthusiasm for their host country because they have not had such an experience.

We encourage you to show interest in your "new" son or daughter and listen to what they have to say. It will mean a great deal to them and you may learn something new yourself. Encourage them to seek out avenues for continuing their experience or practicing their newly acquired language skills at home. But above all, be a good listener and show interest in their experiences abroad.

Reentry Guide for Parents

• WorldLearning™ Reentry Guide (PDF)
  - see chapter 8 for Parents

The Academic Director at the School for International Training (SIT), Leonore Cavallero, who is also a parent of a former study abroad student, has developed an excellent guide for parents to address some of these issues.