Students' gateway to Campus

Readjusting to life back home

Things you can do to help you settle back in

  • Prior to your return home, speak to your friends and family to find out what to expect. Ask them about things back home that may have changed or are currently taking place while you have been studying here. Tell them about how you have changed, what your hopes and plans for the future are.
  • Consider if there is any unfinished business (e.g. friendships, relationships, places to visit, things to do) that you would like to accomplish/resolve before you leave.
  • Once you are back home, be patient. It may take several weeks or even months to readjust to life there and to feel settled in.
  • Be aware that it may feel 'strange' being back home at first. You may even feel 'lost' in your 'new' surroundings, so be curious about the changes that have taken place.
  • Don't feel pressured to do too much too soon. Start by being comfortable around a few people before meeting other people.
  • Keep up to date with local current events by reading the local newspapers and magazines to find out about the changes that have taken place while you were away.
  • Share your experience with other returning home students.
  • View any changes both in yourself and at home as growth and development - not as threats.
  • Take interest in what others have been doing while you were away, before sharing your experiences when they appear ready to listen.
  • Be yourself, and be aware that it may take some time for people to adapt to changes that have taken place in you (physical, relational, psychological).
  • Reserve your judgements of people whom you meet. Remember: you will have had a lot of different experiences that others may not understand.

Returning home exercise

It is advisable that you spend some time reflecting on your experience here in Australia as well as the feelings you have on retuning home. Complete the following statements (on your own or with your friends) to help you think about these issues.

  • When I think about leaving Australia, I feel...
  • My experience here has been...
  • The things that I will miss here are...
  • The things that I will be happy to leave behind are...
  • Before I leave, I would really like to...
  • When I think about returning to my home country, I feel...
  • Things that will remain unchanged and things that will be different when I return home are...
  • I think my family expect me to...
  • For my career, I hope to...
    • And if this does not work I will...
  • I expect that my friends at home will...
  • I think the hardest part of going back will be...
  • I am looking forward to...
  • Things about me that have changed are...
  • I think that the biggest changes for my family will be...

Further information

Source: Prepared by Jenny English, Counselling and Personal Development Services, Division of Student Life.
(Adapted and modified from: Peace Corps Close of Service Workshop, materials developed by Bo Razak, 1981)

Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

20th March 2010