Returning to New York After a Semester Away

Being in New York can feel overwhelming at the most normal of times.

As a result, coming back from another city with different social codes and expectations can heighten this anxiety. To help ease this transition, find ways to re-familiarize yourself with the city and NYU’s Washington Square Park campus. Grab coffee nearby, hang out with friends, or go for walks around campus in between classes. Even explore other boroughs on the weekends.

Following a simple but concrete routine will not only help you feel grounded in NYC.

Set up a solid daily routine for yourself to combat being overwhelmed with the fast-paced nature of NYC. Get up at a certain time everyday, set a specific time to do your homework, exercise, and practice self-care. Make time to prepare or go grab dinner from a dining hall, and go to bed at a reasonable time. Sticking to a regular routine will help you feel more organized at the beginning of the hectic semester when returning to New York after a semester away.

No matter whether you studied away domestically or internationally, there are always ways to keep those memories and experiences at the forefront of your mind when creating your new routine for yourself. 

A key aspect to studying away at one of NYU’s global sites is the cultural immersion you experience throughout the semester.

Rather than losing that experience, try to incorporate it into your new routine in NYC. Prepare foods you ate away for dinner a couple of times a week, put up photos from your semester away in your room, or listen to music associated with your study away site. No matter whether you studied away domestically or internationally, there are always ways to keep those memories and experiences at the forefront of your mind when creating your new routine for yourself.

One of the best aspects of studying away is connecting with the other students at that specific site.

However, it can feel as though you are balancing between two different friend groups once you arrive home. To avoid feeling like you have to choose between two circles of friends, try to integrate your friend groups to create a cohesive group of friends that can hang out together. 

How was your semester? Did you love it? Your Instagram looked amazing you must have had an AMAZING time!

Questions like these can make you feel as though you HAVE to have had a very specific experience while studying away especially when you are first returning to New York after a semester away. Remember that a semester away does not have to be the highlight of your time at NYU. Rather, you are using it to learn about another place, culture, language, etc. Learning how you interact with all of these different changes to your life. Your study away experience doesn’t have to change your life. But in the event that it does, know that wherever you are, whether New York or Paris or Abu Dhabi or Shanghai or Sydney, you bring something special to that place that only you can bring! Enjoy the time away and enjoy your return home. 

Photos taken/provided by Sinéad Anae