Pre-departure and re-entry

Be prepared to travel and adjust to returning home

Pre-departure orientation

All students who study or do fieldwork abroad are required to attend a pre-departure orientation (PDO). PDO is held towards the end of every fall and spring semester, and students attend one before departing on their program.

Your advisor will contact you about dates and times of regional Pre-departure sessions. 

Reminders before you study abroad:

  • Cancel your NAU housing through NAU Residence Life for spring semester if you signed a year contract with NAU in the fall. You can check with your Residence Hall Director for details on how to cancel your contract to study abroad.
  • Cancel your NAU dining plan for spring if you signed up for an academic year meal plan.

Re-entry programming

Your study or fieldwork abroad experience doesn’t end when you return home. Just as you encountered the stages of culture shock, you may also experience reverse culture shock when you return home.

Returning home after your study abroad can be exciting but also stressful or sad. Re-entry is the emotional process of readjustment and may feel similar to the culture shock experienced during study abroad. Some common re-entry challenges include boredom, difficulty explaining what you experienced, a lack of interest from others in hearing about your experience, changed relationships, and/or missing your life and relationships from abroad. If you are feeling overwhelmed by readjustment after return home, reach out to NAU Counseling Services.  Your Education Abroad Advisor is also here to support you.

The Education Abroad office hosts re-entry events and provides resources to help in your adjustment, including the Global Gathering (an event of storytelling and connecting with other study abroad alumni and international students), a re-entry guide, professional development events, and several clubs to help keep your international experience alive (NAU Global Ambassador alumni program, International Friends program (iFriends). View all of the upcoming events with Education Abroad and get involved!