It was a whole day of doing nothing but soaking in what life at Point Loma is like. The sun was shining and it felt like a perfect summer’s day. It feels so great to be back and reunited with a place I love. But of course the reality of re-entry shock is still there.
Number 5 on ISA’s list of Reverse Culture Shock Obstacles is relationships have changed. Returning to school I’ve noticed that some good friends are gone, some friends are distant, but there are many more friends to meet. The advice given states that the best preparation is flexibility, openness, minimal preconceptions, and tempered optimism. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that I’ve held onto the ideas of what school used to be when I left, but I think it’s important for me to realize that things have changed. I’ll admit that it’s tough not having the same group of friends that I used to have dinner with or the same hall with all the people I actually knew the names of, but I’m going to give it time. Pretty soon this new group of friends will be my usual group of friends, and eventually, I’ll learn everyone’s name. But until that time, it’s bye bye from me!