Coming home is hard. After spending four amazing months abroad, returning to reality hits like a ton of bricks. Although I get to return to Rome for another semester, the reverse culture shock for the short two weeks that I was home wasn’t easy.

After the initial excitement of being in my own bed wore off, the reality of it all hit me. The semester was over, my friends wouldn’t be returning for another, and I had to start all over again. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I figured being home would alleviate that sadness.

Coming home, everything was exactly the same. For some reason, this did not comfort me. I felt very out of place, feeling changed from my semester of learning and living amazing experiences. Suddenly, I felt myself slip into my old routines and act the exact same way that I used to act. I didn’t like it one bit.

When you come home, regardless the amount of time, you need to prepare yourself. I ignored the reverse culture shock meeting and figured I would be totally fine upon arrival back in the States. Preparation is key to combat the initial shock.

Reverse culture shock is defined in many different ways because it can be unique to each person. For myself, the shock of everything being exactly the way I left it gave me anxiety and made me realize how much didn’t change while I was gone. Even though I have changed, it was all too easy to fall back into old patterns.

I will keep all of these things in mind when I prepare for my final return home in May. However, I will be adamant about keeping what I have learned abroad and who I have become with me at all times.