Center for Global Education | Help for Students - Colleges and Universities Respond

Introduction

You have had many changes over the past few months, regardless of how far away from home you may have settled. Undergoing such dramatic change due to Katrina is bound to have resulted in some personal changes as well. Think about how you have changed before going back home, and how those changes may influence how you experience home. Please take a moment to reflect on the following questions and write your thoughts in your journal or some other place that you can refer to later.

(The following questions are adapted from Rediscovering the United States: A Sojourner’s Reentry. Module II, University of San Francisco International Student Services by Christina E. Sanchez, Ph.D.)

How have you changed?

Physical appearance

Gained or lost weight?
Has your choice of clothes changed?

Social

Are you more or less outgoing or shy?
Do you now prefer being or living by yourself, or with others?

Emotional

Do you feel more or less free to express your feelings to others?
Are you handling your emotions (happiness, anger, disappointment) differently than you did at home?

Academic

If you were in school this semester, how did you do academically?
Have your study habits changed? What about your course of study?

Financial

How have your finances been affected by hurricane Katrina?
In what ways have you changed your opinion and/or handling of money and material wealth? Have your buying habits changed?
Are you more or less generous with your money or possessions?

Purpose and Ambition

How have your purpose and goals for life changed?
Would you consider your experience life-changing? Why?

It is important to remember that you are not the only one who has changed while you were away-home has changed in many ways as well. Please continue to the next exercise to evaluate your ties to home and the ways in which home has changed. This will help you to prepare yourself accordingly.