Learn the art of coming home from study abroad. ☆ Something wicked lurks in the shadows of every study abroad student’s mind. We can almost hear it now: “Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts and ensure that your tray tables are in the upright position. Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin for take off.” Yep, that’s right, your dreaded departure day is quickly approaching. No one likes going home after studying abroad, but there comes a time where we all have to bounce back to reality.
Get your last hoorahs in before going home after studying abroad
Thankfully though, your time isn’t up just yet! There’s a lot of planning and adventuring to do before you bid your host country adieu. From taking one last trip with you friends to updating your resume, we’ll tell you everything you should do to make the most of your last month in your host country and end your study abroad experience on the right foot. With any luck, these last few weeks will be the best yet!
10 ways to have an amazing end to your study abroad experience
It’s time to get moving! Even though this is an important time to stop and reflect, don’t let the end of your study abroad experience slip away. You’ll be boarding your flight home before you know it, so try to fit as much as you can into the time you have left. Go skydiving over Stockholm, hike to Machu Picchu, groove out to a K-Pop concert in Seoul, perfect your final essay for your South African History class, or just spend some quality time with your friends. The choice is yours!
There’s a lot you can do with your remaining time, but here are a few of our suggestions:
1. Take a look at your bucket list
Did you go everywhere you wanted to go? Do everything you wanted to do? One of the reasons why study abroad is beneficial is that you have lots of time in your host country. In the beginning, that time may seem infinite, but your departure date will sneak up on you faster than you think. Although you’ll likely return to your host country someday, make sure you don’t leave with any regrets. No one wants to feel like they had a bad study abroad experience.
Planning out big trips early on is a great way to make sure you don’t miss anything, but if there’s one or two things left on your bucket list when your last month is looming, just go for it! If you’re studying abroad in London and haven’t popped over for a quick trip to Dublin or you’re studying abroad in Australia and haven’t gone snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, make sure you do it before you head home. Don’t leave any stone unturned!
Holla at your study abroad bucket list and check those last items off!
2. Plan your last big adventure
Even if you’ve crossed everything off your bucket list, there’s no reason you shouldn’t go out with a bang to end your study abroad experience on the right foot. Grab some of your new friends (are they even new at this point?) and hop online to find some cheap flights and Airbnb’s in your dream destination. Or maybe rent a car and go on a cross-country road trip—Whatever floats your boat!
This is the perfect time to do something fun and exciting for YOU. There aren’t many times in life where you’re allowed to be carefree and without major responsibility, so use your last few weeks overseas as a way to #treatyoself. Go on a yoga retreat in Bali, sip wine in Venice, visit Park Güell in Barcelona (ya know, the one from Cheetah Girls 2), or whatever else will put the cherry on top of your awesome experience! Do something incredible that you won’t forget before returning to your normal life after studying abroad.
3. Finish up your last assignments
Wait, you actually have to study when you study abroad? Yep! It’s all fun and games until you forget to hand in your last history paper and your grade goes from a pass to a fail. Although going abroad is about growing as an individual and developing your global perspective, there are so many academic benefits of studying abroad, so your assignments shouldn’t be overlooked.
This is especially tricky at the end of the semester, when all you want to do is go out and soak up as much of your host city as possible before you leave. Unfortunately, the end of the semester can also bring around some of the most important papers and exams in your classes. So, you have to balance your time wisely. Try to get your assignments done as early as you can. That way, you can still enjoy yourself without getting too stressed out.
Make time to watch the sunset on your last day abroad <3
4. Update your resume
Now that you’ve aced your classes, it’s time to put all of your new skills on your resume. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve probably developed plenty of marketable skills while studying abroad. Navigating a foreign country shows flexibility, maturity, and initiative that you can’t get from staying at home. Even getting on the plane in the first place shows confidence and organization, so how could you not include it on your resume?
Employers love seeing applicants with international experience because it sets them apart from the crowd. So one of the *major* perks of coming home from study abroad is a bright, sparkling new resume. There’s a lot you can include to make your resume shine, but deciding how to do it can be tricky. Check out the samples on our study abroad resume guide for suggestions and pop this new section in before heading home!
5. Exchange contact details with your fave professors
The academic benefits of studying abroad don’t have to stop after you hand in your last exam. Staying in contact with your professors keeps you connected to your host country and allows you to continue learning. Have them write to you in their native language to keep your skills sharp, or ask them to send you interesting articles about their field so you stay up to date. Building professional relationships with professors is smart no matter where you are.
Of course, spending your life after studying abroad chatting with former professors may seem strange, but wanna know what’s not strange? International references for your resume, especially if they’re in your field of study. Trust us, those are practically gold in this dog-eat-dog job market.
Adventure is sweet. Soak up every second.
6. Decide how you’ll stay in touch with your new friends
Going home after studying abroad is really hard when you can’t bring all of your friends with you. It’s tempting to try to squeeze everyone into your suitcase, but there are lots of other ways to keep them in your life without alarming the TSA. Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger are all great ways to stay in touch with everyone you met abroad, regardless of the city or country they call home. Before you all part ways, make sure you know how you’ll contact each other!
Making connections is one of the best parts about studying abroad, because the memories you share will stick with you for the rest of your life. But, that can make it so much harder to say goodbye. Luckily, these tools make the transition so much easier. You can reminisce, give advice and support, or, best of all, plan out your next big adventure to visit each other. It’s a win win!
7. Buy any last souvenirs
Physical objects don’t last forever, but it’s nice to have something to remind you of your study abroad experience. From that intricate tapestry you got in Mumbai, to the gorgeous silver jewelry you found in Bali, you’re probably covered. If not, it’s time to go shopping. Even if you had a bad study abroad experience, a cute souvenir is a cute souvenir!
It’s also important that you don’t forget about everyone else. Like your mom, or your best friend, or your best friend’s cousin’s boyfriend... Ok, you don’t have to extend that far, but make a mental list of all of the people who helped you go abroad. If your brother edited your scholarship essays or your academic advisor wrote you a stellar recommendation, it’s not a bad idea to bring them a souvenir from your travels. It doesn’t have to be anything big (We feel you, broke travelers!), just something to say “thank you!”
8. Donate any items that you can’t bring home with you
Souvenirs are one thing, but don’t expect the storage bins and throw pillows you bought to spruce up your room to fit nicely into your carry-on. Forced minimalism is one of the many reasons why study abroad is beneficial. Because you have to pack everything up in one or two suitcases, you have to think about the items that really matter to you.
Going home after studying abroad is a great excuse to cut down on things you don’t need. If you brought some clothes that you never got around to wearing, or you have three unopened bottles of hairspray sitting on your dresser, donate them! Give them to your local friends or bring them to a donation center—there’s sure to be plenty scattered around your host city. Donating unwanted (or unpackable) items is a great way to get that fuzzy feeling inside and end your study abroad experience on the right foot.
Snap some extra photos with your study abroad crew
9. Make sure everyone is ready for you to come home
One aspect of coming home from study abroad that often gets overlooked is preparing everyone else for your return home. Regardless of whether you’ve had a good or bad study abroad experience, traveling overseas can change you in powerful ways. Make sure your friends and family know this! You may want to talk their ears off about every last detail, from your bungee jumping adventure to your favorite breakfast spot, or you may need time to yourself to reflect. Think about what you need from your people and tell them.
You should also double check and make sure you’re all set to head back to your home university next semester. See if you’re registered for the classes you need, your housing is reserved, and your internship or on-campus job is secured. Things could get messy on move in day if you don’t!
10. Seek advice on adjusting to life post-study abroad
You’ve gone on your last road trip, finished your assignments, and packed your bags. Now we’ve only got one more thing to talk about. Going home after studying abroad can be tough, so program provider should give you some tips to adjust. Things like getting back into a routine, reconnecting with friends, and meeting other study abroad returners to talk to can all help you feel more grounded. Everyone reacts differently to the change, but being prepared can help.
Some people have a really difficult time getting back into their “normal” life after studying abroad. If you start to feel depressed or anxious, read some of our tips and seek support from peers or professionals. Depending on where you studied, you may also experience reverse culture shock. If that’s the case, check out our article about how to handle it. With all of these tools at your disposal, you should be able to adjust to your life after studying abroad without a hitch.
[Leave a Program Review and Help Out Future Globetrotters]
It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later
Cheers to an amazing time abroad *clink*
When you first arrived in your host country, you probably didn’t know how to navigate public transport, let alone how to find all of your classes. But, by now you’re basically a pro at all things international travel. Coming home from study abroad is a great time to reflect on how much you’ve learned and grown during your (way too short) time overseas. Studying abroad is a big deal and you should celebrate the fact that you’ve made it to this point.
Unfortunately, heading home is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be forever. There will be more chances for you to return in the future, either for a vacation or permanently. We don’t judge! So, hopefully this won’t be the last time you can sip sangria in Barcelona or stroll along the Great Wall of China. If you end your study abroad experience on the right foot, you’ll have all the more reason to return time and time again.
Inspire Others to Travel by Completing an Alumni Interview
Look for the Perfect Study Abroad Program Now
Start Your Search