I just spent a semester in Florence, Italy, and I am now back at my college in New York state. All over, I notice students who just got back are experiencing something I like to call "abroad withdrawal."
It's similar to other forms of withdrawal, including a difference in appetite, talking funny (in the language you spent four months learning), fatigue, and not being used to the temperature. Here are the 11 most common symptoms of Abroad Withdrawal I have experience or noticed:
1. It's beginning to sink in that you will never be back in your home European city, in your cute apartment/dorm, exploring with your friends.
Please bring me back.2. Nostalgia, relief, and happiness whenever you see the friends you haven't seen in months.
3. You often find yourself doing the conversion from Euros to Dollars in your head...despite everything being in dollars.
It took me a while to get the hang of Euros--probably will take me a while to get used to not using Euros as well.
3. You're driving your friends nuts with "well, in Europe..." stories.
Listen, Prague is a really cool place, OK?
4. Realizing there are only so many restaurants on campus and that none of them offer authentic Italian (or another country's) cuisine
That cat is how I feel about some of the local places...
5. When people say to you, "Good to have you back!" you know you should say, "Good to be back," but you would be lying.
Just tell them, "Thanks! Good to see you, too!"
6. Having to readapt to the weather.
Florence was much warmer than Poughkeepsie...
7. Driving again after four months of using mostly walking and metro rides as a means of transportations is a pain.
8. Remembering people around you are fluent in English.
And making sure you censor yourself when speaking.
9. Forgetting that everyone is in the same time zone as you and being surprised when they text you back at a reasonable hour.
10. Feeling the urge to greet people in a different language.
I have almost said "Buongiorno" to multiple employees at the grocery store.
11. Missing abroad, but at the same time, knowing it's nice to be home.
Enjoy your semester, whether it's jet-setting around Europe or getting back into the norm at college!