When I left to go on exchange, UBC gave me an Exchange Handbook in which one of the chapters talked about the possibility of experiencing cultural shock and/or anxieties upon encountering new cultures and surroundings (duh.) What really surprised me was when the chapter also mentioned the chance of having another set of culture shock and anxieties upon returning home.
I think I have that right now. Anxiety at least. A part of me really wants to go home because I love Vancouver and I miss all my friends and my bed and my shower and the things that I do in my Vancouver-life (things like singing, gourmet, Joshua, etc.) But at the same time, I am worried about the various changes (big and small) that have taken place while I was away for the past 6 months (i.e. big change: Dude leaving us; small change: mom shifted all the furniture in our house) and other possible (maybe even bigger) changes that I am currently not aware of (i.e. the changes in people).
The handbook also mentioned the fact that "going-home anxiety" might also be a result from the changes that occurred in me as a person, as a result of my experiences during exchange; many people coming home from a foreign country might come back seeing things differently and having experienced things that many people at home have not experienced, or will not understand. I don't see it quite as dramatic as I was only in China (and most of my friends are Asian anyways) but I suppose it would be possible if I went to Uganda instead of the past 6 months.
No matter how anxious I am right now though, I have this sneaky feeling that this will all go away when I head back to Vancouver in exactly 1 week and life will go back to the normal of 6 months prior.
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