Coming Home
Welcome Back Panthers!
Below is some information on next steps and optional activities you can do upon return to campus, but first, you must understand what re-entry is and how to cope with it.
Understanding Re-entry
Coming home can be a challenging experience for study abroad participants; feelings of anxiety begin well before the day you return to the USA. It is another adjustment to make which involves many conflicting feelings and which will require time and understanding by you, your friends, and your family. This last adjustment process, known as "reverse culture shock," is sometimes worse than the original culture shock you experienced when first entering your host culture. Upon return home, you won't be experiencing that wealth of newness and feeling of adventure like you did when you first arrived overseas.
While preparing to return home, you may be very excited to see your family and friends. At the same time, you will probably be upset to leave your new found home and friends. You will probably only then realize how close you've grown to your friends and/or host family. You will realize that life has gone on without you back home, but that it was not nearly as exciting or adventuresome as your time was overseas.
Your return home may also be as uncomfortable for your friends and family as it is for you. Give them time to re-learn you and take the time to re-learn them. After all, you've all changed! You may use words that are unfamiliar, feel insecure away from your surrogate family and friends, feel superior for what you have accomplished and learned, experience a shift in political ideas, have difficulty communicating what you have learned, and experience identity issues as you try to fit back into life at home.
Learn more about how to adjust when coming back home.
Transcripts: Do this BEFORE you return to the U.S.!
You should have your transcripts sent to:
Eastern Illinois University
William V. Weber Program in Study Abroad
1158 Blair Hall
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
USA
PLEASE NOTE: Until we receive a transcript from your study abroad program, you will not receive credit. Please allow at least eight weeks after your program has ended before you call our office to ask if your transcript has been received.
Please be advised that foreign countries may have different education systems, including grades and course credit.
Example: In Ecuador, when registering you will see that each course is worth 4 credits. Please take note that the 4 credit system is only for internal purposes (Ecuadorian students only) to comply with a new disposition of the National University Council; therefore, you will still have 3 hours per week of class and will receive a transcript with 3 credit courses, except for sports and lab classes that are worth “0” credits.
STA4000G: Study Abroad Capstone
This is a great way to get integrated back into the EIU community and speak with your peers about your study abroad experience .. for credit!
- Students can take this 1 credit hour course to fulfill their senior-seminar requirement, after completing a successful study abroad experience and 75 semester hours. Students should be mindful of the number of credits they need to fulfill graduation requirements.
- In STA4000G, students will exercise their abilities to think critically about their global education experiences. They will develop, summarize, and synthesize their individualized experience through readings, assignments, a reflective piece that may be submitted to the Electronic Writing Portfolio, an individualized project and a presentation.
- STA4000G meets for 15 weeks, 1 day a week, for 50 minutes.
Work for OSA: Graduate Assistants
We have Graduate Assistants. A strong preference is given to students who have studied abroad previously. Graduate Assistantships are managed by the Graduate School. For more information Click Here!
Study Abroad Club
Study Abroad Club is an official RSO on campus for students who have studied abroad as well as for students who are thinking about studying abroad. Study Abroad Club meets monthly and has a variety of events like Game Nights and events that highlight certain aspects of study abroad. For more information on this, feel free to email us at goabroad@eiu.edu.
Volunteering
Depending on your interest and schedule, there are many ways to get involved:
- Attending events for returning students like the Welcome Back party
- Study Abroad Fair (mid-September, annually)
- Participating on panels and in-classroom presentations
- Make a video, flyer or poster about your experience
- Got another idea? Let us know!
Overview: This is a program opportunity for students who have studied abroad through one of Eastern Illinois University’s study abroad programs. The prerequisite to participate in this program is that a student must have studied abroad through one of EIU’s study abroad programs of any duration. Upon completion of the program requirements, student participants will receive the designation of being a “Study Abroad Ambassador”. This program requires participants to be involved with the William V. Weber Program in Study Abroad by promoting study abroad-related events. Participants who complete all requirements will receive a distinction that will come with a certificate and designation of being an EIU Study Abroad Ambassador.
Criteria:
Must do 10 hours of service within the WWSA Office. Options are below.
- Social Media Promotion Part One – 1 hour (Send our office 5 photos of your time abroad and a paragraph summarizing your time abroad and what advice you would give to students thinking about studying abroad. It will be posted to our social media pages) (Limit: Twice)
- Social Media Promotion Part Two – 1 hour (create a TikTok/Instagram Reel/Facebook video about your time abroad or tips you recommend to students when they go abroad, and tag eiustudyabroad in your video.) (Limit: Twice)
- Class Presentations – 1 presentation equals 1 hour (Join the WWSA on a classroom visit to present to first year students and other students about study abroad.)
- Study Abroad Fair – You may help at the fair for up to 4 hours. At the Study Abroad Fair, you can share with interested students about your time abroad and how they can study abroad through EIU.
- Study Abroad Fair Preparations – Chalking the campus sidewalks the day before the Study Abroad Fair equals 1 hour.
- Other Study Abroad Events – Each study abroad event that you help with will equal 1 hour. This service could be assistance with Chocolate Tastings, Virtual Presentations, International Education Week, etc.
- If you have other ideas, we welcome them. Please email us at hncrank@eiu.edu.
Being a member of Study Abroad Club is encouraged, but not mandatory.
If you have any questions about the Study Abroad Ambassador Program, contact Heather Crank at hncrank@eiu.edu or at 217-581-3390.