Spring Break
How to get back into the swing of things when returning from abroad
Elizabeth Connelly
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Focus
Your weekends used to consist of traveling to Paris or Greece. Now you go to Celeron or Carriage. On a Thursday night, you could go to the local pub or a great dance club with no need for a fake ID. Now your only option is Nickel Night at Huskies, and as you stand in line you pray that your sister's friend's ID will work for you. To study for a test, you used to be able to go a museum or monument to see and experience what you were learning about. Now Homer Babbidge is your only destination when preparing for a test.
All of these changes happen when you return from a semester abroad. It's hard enough to leave Europe, and returning to a cold and windy Storrs makes the transition that much harder. While seeing all of your friends and family that you have missed for four months is long awaited and exciting, once that excitement wears off you are left with memories of an amazing four months and a long cold walk to Arjona.
On the other hand, the adjustment doesn't have to about missed memories and unfair comparisons. There are ways to make yourself feel right at home, just like you did before you left.
Academics
Getting back into the routine of going to various classes in different buildings and having a heavy course load can take a little time to get readjusted. A good thing to do to make sure you are still on the right track and to get caught up is to meet with your advisor.
"The first thing I did when I came back to UConn was to see my advisor and make sure that I was all set to graduate," said Emily Sulik, an 8th semester Philosophy major.
If you haven't done so already, make an appointment to discuss your plan of study and what you should do for the upcoming semesters. Having that guidance from your advisor will give you the reassurance you need while getting back into routine.
Social Life
Seeing all of the friends who have been partying without you for a semester is one of the best parts of the adjustment period. Being able to go out with them on weekends and see them every day is a nice welcome back. However, there are also memories and jokes that you have missed out on, as well as memories and jokes of your own that your friends have no idea about.
All of these changes happen when you return from a semester abroad. It's hard enough to leave Europe, and returning to a cold and windy Storrs makes the transition that much harder. While seeing all of your friends and family that you have missed for four months is long awaited and exciting, once that excitement wears off you are left with memories of an amazing four months and a long cold walk to Arjona.
On the other hand, the adjustment doesn't have to about missed memories and unfair comparisons. There are ways to make yourself feel right at home, just like you did before you left.
Academics
Getting back into the routine of going to various classes in different buildings and having a heavy course load can take a little time to get readjusted. A good thing to do to make sure you are still on the right track and to get caught up is to meet with your advisor.
"The first thing I did when I came back to UConn was to see my advisor and make sure that I was all set to graduate," said Emily Sulik, an 8th semester Philosophy major.
If you haven't done so already, make an appointment to discuss your plan of study and what you should do for the upcoming semesters. Having that guidance from your advisor will give you the reassurance you need while getting back into routine.
Social Life
Seeing all of the friends who have been partying without you for a semester is one of the best parts of the adjustment period. Being able to go out with them on weekends and see them every day is a nice welcome back. However, there are also memories and jokes that you have missed out on, as well as memories and jokes of your own that your friends have no idea about.
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