Keep a journal while you're abroad. Though it was hard to verbalize to others what she experienced, her journal provided a concrete way to record her observations and, as a result, to contemplate her growth. HOME Find an audience that will listen to you. Any good study-abroad program will have ways for you to connect with other returnees or with outbound students. Study-abroad advisers want to glean information from their returning students.
Some institutions have clubs and organizations just for study abroaders.
For example, the Global Nomads is an organization at Pacific University that helps returnees connect with each other. Use your experience to help others by tutoring and mentoring. After she returned from Europe, LaMonte utilized her newfound fluency in German to help a beginning German language class. Seek out international students whom you can welcome to the States because you understand what they're experiencing. Make yourself available to departing study-abroad students.