Once You've Said Goodbye....

 Returning Home

• Be prepared for culture shock.  Some people feel more culture shock when returning home than they did when arriving to a new country. People returning to the United States often feel that the pace is much faster and less community-oriented; whereas people returning to countries outside the United States may feel a loss for technology, accessibility, independence and the protective laws that they experienced in the United States.
• Expect to feel a new sense of independence, self-esteem, and confidence.
• Share your experiences with others once you return (write articles, speak at conferences, present slideshows for your funders, serve as a peer and role model for others).
• Maintain contact with the people you met abroad.
• Based on your experience, consider advocating for human/disability rights locally and internationally.
• Consider the international facet of your career intentions now that you have acquired international living and/or language skills.
• Promote your skills and knowledge in job hunting.
• Start planning your next overseas experience.