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Re-entry Culture Shock
Staying Involved
Additional International Opportunities

Welcome Back Reception

Just returned from a study abroad program? Join the Study Abroad Office for one of our annual Welcome Back Receptions.  Featuring guest speakers, information on getting involved overseas, and time for you to share your experiences abroad, the event is a perfect time for you to meet other study abroad alumni like yourself.  A Welcome Back Reception is held at the start of each semester -- see current dates on our calendar.  Hope to see you there!

Volunteer for the Study Abroad Fair!

Recently returned from abroad? Volunteer for the Study Abroad Fair to share your experiences!

Staying Involved

Stand Up! Speak Up!

YOU are the best advocates for study abroad -- share the good news! 

  • Do you belong to a student organization?  Fraternity or sorority?  Honor society?  Religious group?  Offer to talk to fellow members about your study abroad experiences. 
  • Have a particularly accommodating and flexible professor?  Ask him/her to let you speak briefly at the start of class about study abroad and the benefits of your program. 
  • Use Facebook?  Send updates and links to photos from your time abroad to all your friends.   
  • Wear your study abroad t-shirt!
  • Come to our office, grab some brochures, and distribute them in your residence hall or in a lounge in one of the classroom buildings you frequent. 
  • Apply to work in our office as a Peer Mentor.  Get paid to talk about study abroad! 

Study Abroad Listserv

Stay up-to-date on Study Abroad news including information on campus events, new programs and interesting international resources by

For students to sign up for the listserv, students need to send an e-mail to 'listserv@listserv.umd.edu' and it should contain only (in the message part):

add studyabroad-news

Volunteer at the Study Abroad Fair!

Our annual fall and spring fairs are huge events that depend on the hard work of student volunteers in order to be a success.  We need alumni of Maryland programs to volunteer to staff information tables and share their enthusiasm for their programs with other students.  We also need students to welcome visitors, help with registration, assist with set-up and clean-up, and more! To lend a hand, email us! 


Help at Pre-Departure Orientation

Remember yours?  The most helpful part was probably the student alum who came and shared their wisdom, do's and don'ts, and tips about your study abroad destination.  You can BE that person!  Volunteer to help with our pre-departure orientations.  Check our calendar for dates and email us if you can help.  

Traveling Terps

Although you've returned home to College Park, you can still expand on your study abroad experience by becoming part of the diverse and dynamic group, Traveling Terps!

Traveling Terps is a student organization with the goal of uniting people with interests in traveling and international affairs. In the past, Traveling Terps have talked to students considering studying abroad at the Study Abroad Fair, visited UNIV100 classes to speak about studying abroad, participated in Maryland Day and the First Look Fair, and hosted photography contests! Another focus of this group is to help alumni apply their study abroad experience to post graduate opportunities. Join Now!

Participation in this group will allow you to:

  • Interact with a new group of students
  • Help other UM students become informed of the importance of study abroad
  • Give advice to students thinking about studying abroad
  • Help out at Study Abroad Office- sponsored events
  • Learn about other international opportunities
  • Prepare yourself to talk about your study abroad experience in an interview
  • Act as an Abroad Ambassador to help promote the benefits of international experience and gain practical public speaking skills
  • Help inbound international exchange students adjust to life in College Park by being part of the International Buddy System

Stay Informed

Keep yourself up-to-date on Traveling Terps meetings, events and news by signing up for the Traveling Terps listerv by sending an e-mail to listserv@listserv.umd.edu. Leave the subject line blank and the message is "subscribe travelingterps "Your Name Here" (eg. "subscribe travelingterps Joe Smith").

For more information and if you have questions, feel free to email the group at travelingterps@gmail.com.

International Coffee Hour

Meet and visit with UM students from all over the world and share your international experience! International Coffee Hours are a unique opportunity to gather with a new and diverse group of students, faculty and staff. This event is held every Wednesday during the regular semester from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the basement lounge of Dorchester Hall. Free beverages and snacks are provided. For more information, please contact David Cole.

ESOL Conversation and MEI Speaking Partner Programs

Use the skills you learned abroad to help visiting students, faculty and staff by volunteering for the ESOL Conversation or the MEI Speaking Partner Program. As a past study abroad participant, you have keen knowledge on what it is like to be part of a new culture and speaking a new language.

For the ESOL Conversation program, please call Kay Moon at 301-314-5919 or e-mail to kmoon@.umd.edu for information regarding the program.

For the MEI (Maryland English Institute) Speaking Partner Program, contact Kimberly Sorenson at ksorense@umd.edu or 301-405-5183.