ABSTRACT

Coming Home Your Way offers college and university students returning from an education-abroad experience a wealth of pertinent information, opportunities for meaningful reflection, and practical guidance on making the most of their time abroad. Grounded in research and addressing an array of aspects of education abroad – including intercultural communication, changing relationships, and career impact – Coming Home Your Way will be an invaluable tool for any student planning, experiencing, or returning from a stay abroad.

Drawing from theory and research from multiple disciplines, and real-world experiences of students who have studied abroad, the volume addresses key themes critical to understanding reentry, including individual differences in taking in experience, communication patterns and approaches, the reentry transition, the nature of relationships in reentry, bridging reentry and career, and more. Within each chapter are opportunities for self-reflection that allow readers to integrate the ideas presented into their own experience. Compelling short fictional accounts add flavor and detail that bring theory to life.

Coming Home Your Way provides a window into the complex experience of intercultural reentry. Reentry from an education-abroad experience can be a period of intense growth, and can feel disruptive and confusing while it’s happening. The authors explain and explore these complexities in a conversational style that will engage students, and with the rigor expected by their instructors. Like no other book currently on the market, Coming Home Your Way will give college and university students insight into the challenges and intercultural opportunities that reentry offers.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|11 pages

Lost at home

chapter 2|11 pages

Personalizing your experience

chapter 3|10 pages

Taking in experience

chapter 4|8 pages

Types of returnees

chapter 5|11 pages

Transitions

chapter 6|12 pages

Communicating in reentry

chapter 7|15 pages

Redefining relationships

chapter 8|13 pages

What’s new with you?

chapter 9|11 pages

A new view of home

chapter 10|9 pages

An emerging global perspective

chapter 11|12 pages

What’s next?

chapter |2 pages

Conclusion

chapter |5 pages

Resources