Letters to yourself: Writing Activity 2
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Reflecting Upon the Experience

This activity was adapted from "A Guide to preparing SIT Study Abroad Students to Re-adjust to the United States after Study Abroad" by Stacey K. Woody, 1995 and from the website "What's Up With Culture" (http://www.pacific.edu/sis/culture/).

(At the end of your study abroad program/ during evaluation)

Complete this worksheet reflecting upon your experience abroad and on your fears and expectations for returning home. If you prefer, you may choose to write a letter to yourself on a separate sheet of paper addressing some of these issues. Hold on to this letter until the last day of the program evaluation.

Now read the worksheet or letter you wrote to yourself during orientation and compare it with what you just wrote. Any surprises? What can you learn from these reflections?
When you are finished, put this worksheet or letter in a sealed envelope with your name on it. Save it in a safe place or give it to your AD to send to you several weeks or months after the end of the program.

I definitely do not want to forget:
 
1. What made me laugh out loud:

2. What brought tears to my eyes:

3. My greatest personal insight:

4. My biggest cultural gaffe:

5. My biggest cultural success:

About Going Home

1. The five things that I worry about most when thinking about going home are:

2. The five things that I missed the most about the home since I have been abroad are:

3. Once I return home from overseas the five things (people, places, circumstances, etc.) I believe I will miss the least about living abroad are:

4. The five things (people, places, activities, etc.) I believe I will miss most from abroad once I have returned home are: 

Return to Personal/Emotional Aspects of Re-entry Page.