According to these ILP volunteers, sometimes what you come home with is a little unexpected.
Tasting the local food and puzzling out the exchange rate are only a few things that are difficult about your first week abroad, no matter where you go. But what about the things that are hard when you get home?
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Quite a few volunteers get more culture shock when they get back home than they did when they started living in a foreign country … a bit unexpected right?
We’ve talked to a handful of volunteers who just got home from a few of the ILP humanitarian programs to see exactly what coming home was like after giving an English education to children who would never be able to afford it, or giving lots of love to those Romanian kids while volunteering in an orphanage:
On your semester, did you notice your perspective changing?
“One of the first things I noticed about being in Romania was that I felt so much happier! Past problems and current problems seemed easier to bear, and I wasn't as worried about the little things. I think a big part of being happier and being more grateful is that I wasn't focused on myself, and I really learned how to serve others.”
— Katherine G., ILP Romania
“My entire perspective on life changed ... Working with the kids in Romania got me thinking about things that I’m grateful for. They may seem very insignificant to me, but to those kids, I’m sure it would mean the world to them to be able to do or have some of these things ... I’m grateful for my ability to walk, to be able to eat on my own, to be able to have physical touch with those around me.”
— Rachel W., ILP Romania
What is it like being home, after living abroad? What do you think about yourself has changed the most after your ILP semester?
“At first it was so much fun to be home and see all my friends and family, but now that I've been home a couple of weeks, I just want to go back and see my little Romanian kiddos. I feel like I can love more. These kids were so easy to love, and that is all they wanted and needed! I felt like every day my capacity to show love and patience was being tested, but that I never reached the end of my rope, even on the hardest days. That is definitely something that I want to remember and carry over with me.”
— Katherine G., ILP Romania
“I had way more culture shock being back in America than I ever did in the DR. As soon as I got home, I got in the shower and I had a meltdown, I seriously cried my eyes out. As I looked around at my bathroom that was bigger than a lot of people’s homes, it made me realize how blessed I am. My semester abroad made me a lot more positive, thankful, and happy. I now realize it’s not about what kind of house you have, how many numbers you have in your bank account, or what size dress you wear. It’s all about the people you surround yourself with. I would never trade my experience for the world. “
— Lauren S., ILP Dominican Republic
Ready to make a difference somewhere in the world?
We think you’re set — come see what ILP country you’d like to experience and come fill out an application to get started: 
