Re-Entry Tips

Each student will be invited to attend a Re-Entry Meeting with Brittan Duffing and the Program Advisor.  This is a great opportunity for students to share stories – and to let us know how things went, concerns you may have, and tips for future students.  Additionally, this unique program allows students to get reconnected to the Smith Center and our future programming/volunteer opportunities (like the upcoming Orientation for students studying abroad/away!).

Meet with the Smith Center staff, your academic advisors, or other faculty, staff, and students about your experience.  Share your experiences – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  This will help you process your experience, share your excitement, and process any concerns.  Your support people want to hear about your time abroad/away!

If you are experiencing a lot of stress, anxiety and/or concerns as you re-enter the United States/St. Olaf, we highly recommend that you talk with someone.  There are a lot of individuals on campus – including Smith Center Staff, Counseling Center Staff, Title IX Staff, College Ministry, and the Dean’s Office – and abroad/away – including primary medical providers, family, and friends – who can assist you in transitioning back home and/or to campus.

All students are welcome to attend the language conversation tables. Engaging in these programs will continue to enhance your language skills, allow you to use your language skills on campus, and can help you connect to new people once you have returned to campus!  Conversations range from culture, to politics, to the very food that rests in front of you.

• Watch a Netflix movie from or related to the host country as a group
• Go on a virtual tour in the host country together
• Learn a mindfulness exercise or yoga together via Zoom
• Take a free class together that relates to your host country
• Meet in Zoom for weekly breakfast or other special occasion
• Create a playlist that reminds you of your host country (or group)
• Create a playlist that is calming or empowering
• Share/cook host country recipes
• Read a book from the host country and discuss it on Zoom
• Celebrate a host country holiday together
• Stay at home scavenger hunt (twitter thread – make this host country related!)

By thoughtfully choosing classes that enhance ideas, topics, cultures, and issues you encountered while abroad/away, you can continue the cross-cultural learning you started while abroad/away in your host community/at your host university.  Additionally, share the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge you gained abroad/away in your on-campus courses!  This is a great way to share learning and gained perspectives with students who studied on other programs or students who have not been able to study abroad/away.

The Piper Center and other organizations hold forums and service/career fairs that can assist returned students in connecting their abroad/away experience with their vocation or calling.  The Nobel Peace Prize Forum (held locally each year) is a great example of such a forum. These are excellent opportunities to learn more about the complex issues of peace and justice and globalization, and to explore service-related career options, both U.S. and international.  Additional tips on Marketing Study Abroad can be found here!

The Piper Center has great resources to guide students considering a career abroad after graduation.  This Piper Center web page includes information about preparing for a career abroad, international career search engines, and general international jobs and internship links!  This is a great place to start for anyone considering a career abroad after graduation!

During your time abroad, you no doubt encountered cultures new to you. Why not continue?  Involvement with multicultural students, international students, and scholars is a great way to return the hospitality you experienced while you were abroad. You can also get involved with International Night (a one-night cross-cultural entertainment event) or become an international student roommate. Continue sharing.

One important dimension of study abroad/away is getting to try foods. Now that you are back on campus, there are still many ways to participate in trying new foods or learning about various cultures.  The Best of the Twin Cities website can be a helpful website in finding new places to explore locally and within the Twin Cities area!

There are MANY resources online and in the Smith Center that can assist in your re-entry process.  A Google search or email smith.center@stolaf.edu may help as you process your experience and transition back to the Hill!

What’s Up With Culture is also be a great resource for students returning from a study abroad program.  It was “developed to support and enhance a student’s ability to make successful cultural adjustments both before going overseas and upon returning home from studying abroad”.  What’s Up With Culture will give you an opportunity to explore, consider, and reflect on your experience abroad.

Participate in the opportunities and programs offered by the Smith Center Office.  Get involved with our events and programming!  Interested students can contact the Smith Center (TOH 380) at (507) 786-3069.

Continue your learning, share your stories, and engage with local communities through volunteer work or service.  The St. Olaf Volunteer Network is a great way to introduce you to local organizations.  Volunteering or working with service organizations is a great way to continue your global engagement and get connected to your local community!