Re-Adapting and Re-Integrating: Life After Study Abroad

Reverse Culture Shock Through Everyday Details

Food, Taste, and Sensory Memory

A Christmas Eve meal revealed how much Florence had reshaped her preferences. Familiar American versions of prosciutto, mozzarella, and wine felt disappointing compared to the fresh, high-quality Italian foods she had grown accustomed to. Rather than becoming discouraged, she used her study-abroad confidence to seek local substitutes—finding Italian wines, better cheeses, and similar cured meats. This process showed her she could recreate a sense of belonging anywhere.

Redefining “Home”

Her concept of home evolved from a single location into a blend of cultures and experiences. Home became any place where she feels comfortable, loved, and safe—whether in Florence, her hometown, or on campus. She imagines this new “hybrid home” as a space where Italian food, American media, friendships, and familiar routines coexist.

The Challenge of Returning to Rutgers

Readjusting to Rutgers University proved unexpectedly difficult. Florence’s walkability contrasted sharply with a large, car-dependent campus and cold weather. Socially and physically, the environment had changed: she lived in a new area, worked with new people, and no longer saw her Florence friends daily. Both she and the university had changed—but in different ways. After about a month, she finally began to feel settled again, mirroring the time it took to adapt to Florence.

Growth Through Repeated Transitions

Staton recognizes that within a year she changed countries twice and experienced multiple forms of culture shock. These transitions taught her that change is inherently difficult but also transformative. Study abroad did more than expose her to a new culture—it trained her to adapt, integrate, and thrive in unfamiliar environments, finding her best self in each one.

Integration as a Lifelong Skill

Returning to American life is as demanding as adapting to Italy, which demonstrates how fully she had immersed herself abroad. Her experience proved that with patience, effort, and time, she can rebuild a sense of belonging anywhere. Ultimately, study abroad gave her a lasting ability to adjust to new languages, customs, communities, and identities—an outcome she believes no other experience could have provided.