Browsing by Author "Fridhandler, Shanika"

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    The experience of studying abroad and returning home to Canada
    (2006) Fridhandler, Shanika; Arthur, Nancy
    The overarching goal of this study was to illuminate the lived experience of studying abroad and returning to Canada. Also of interest was how this experience influenced students' personal identity, worldview, and plans for the future. Six participants shared their experience studying abroad in Mexico and discussed the meaning(s) that this experience held for them. A phenomenological research methodology was employed and five categories with twenty-two themes emerged. Data were considered from the perspective of various models of cross-cultural adaptation, cross-cultural learning, culture shock, and reverse culture shock. The findings suggested that participants experienced significant transformations in their personal identities, worldviews, and cross-cultural competence. Furthermore, the findings illustrated the challenges of returning home and underscored the importance of developing and implementing re-entry preparation and support programs to assist with this segment of the study abroad experience. This study supplements the existing literature with an intimate and vivid description of what it is actually like to study abroad and return to Canada.