When you study abroad, everyone warns you about culture shock. How it will be so difficult to adjust to a new country, new people, new languages, and new foods. They don't say as much about the shock you will go through upon returning to the U.S. Since my semester abroad is half way over, I've started thinking a lot about what it will be like to go home, and as much as I love America, I'm afraid its going to be a rough transition.
1. Travel
One of the best parts of studying abroad is the travel. Obviously you travel to a different country, but in addition many students choose to take weekend or day trips to the surrounding regions and countries. I have seen significantly more of the world in the three months I have been abroad than I have seen in the previous twenty years of my life. And I love it. What did I do back in America every weekend? The idea of staying in the same city for weeks on end—no matter how much I might like that city—makes me antsy.
2. Drinking
America is so weird about drinking. Studying abroad acclimates you to different cultures pertaining to alcohol. For example, in Europe the legal drinking age is eighteen, and it is common to have a glass of wine or a beer (depending on where you are) with lunch, and practically always with dinner. For some reason I don’t think things would go in my favor if I were to just bust out a bottle of Chianti in the middle of Central Dining Hall.
3. Public Transportation
While people love to complain about public transportation, it is actually pretty great in Europe. Subways, buses, and trams are reliable, and if all else fails you can hail a taxi or walk to your destination. In America in general, everyone has their own car, which is both convenient and inconvenient. You have to pay for the car, pay for insurance, gas, repairs, car washes, new tires every couple of years, the list goes on and on. The sad thing is that most Americans don’t have much of an option in terms of transportation since buses are often unreliable; subways only exist in big cities, and cities are so spread out that walking everywhere is impractical and often dangerous.
In other words: I am not emotionally prepared to ride the Appalcart and/or deal with crazy Boone traffic.
4. Food
Sure, I miss American food, particularly Boone food. Black Cat, Our Daily Bread, and Boone Bagelry have been calling my name from across the world. But they aren’t calling loudly enough to prepare me for the greasy, preservative-packed, deep-fried, diabetes-inducing crap that dominates American supermarkets and restaurants. I’m not saying that eating gelato and croissants everyday is the picture of health, but from my experience other countries tend to use fresher, more natural ingredients. Since coming abroad I have noticed that I have more energy, I haven’t been sick as frequently, and I have felt healthier in general. So yes, I’ll be happy to get back to my beloved Cookout and Waffle House, but I will definitely be more conscientious of where my food comes from.
5. Trump
Being in a different country Spring semester 2016, I have tried to stay informed about America's political situation. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I sometimes miss bits of news. This has allowed me to escape the full impact of Donald Trump and his cronies. I'm already bracing myself for the truly horrifying and ridiculous things I will undoubtedly hear and witness when I return to the U.S.
6. Saying goodbye
If you thought saying goodbye to your friends from home would be the hardest part of studying abroad, you’ve got another thing coming. Imagine: new friends from all over the world; you live, laugh, and travel together for a solid four months, then next thing you know you are hundreds of miles away from each other with no definite reunion date.
What people often don't tell you--and maybe don't even realize--is that studying abroad is easy, going home is hard.
