<p>LilSal, Reading your post reminded me of an article I read once about expatriates adjusting to their host country. I know its a different situation, but the stages and symptoms struck me as being similar.
<a href="http://www.worldwide.edu/travel_planner/culture_shock.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.worldwide.edu/travel_planner/culture_shock.html</a></p>
<p>According to this culture shock theory, new arrivals go through a honeymoon stage where everything is new and wonderful, but as the novelty wears off and every day challenges loom they then fall into the second stage, which is characterized by a hostile and aggressive attitude toward everything foreign. </p>
<p>From the article: you talk as if the difficulties you experience are more or less created by the people of the host country for your special discomfort. You take refuge in the company of your countrymen and this cocktail circuit becomes the fountainhead of emotionally charged labels known as stereotypes. This is a peculiar kind of shorthand which caricatures the host country and its people in a negative manner Eventually (and hopefully) a balance is achieved and real life and adjustment begins.</p>
<p>You dont say how close you are geographically to your son. Perhaps you would be able to get a better feeling of just how serious this situation is if you were to sit down face to face with him and talk about his options. </p>
<p>The first, and the easiest and therefore the best, would be to stay at his current school. Unless this is real crisis and you havent indicated that it is your son is committed to finishing up the term. The second option is to face that a mistake has been made, that this college is not a good fit and that its time to move on. Im not an expert on transfers, but it would seem to me that you could operate on two levels here hope that things work out at his current school, prepare for a move if they dont.</p>
<p>The third option is to take a leave of absence and travel or work for a year. I live in one of those weird and wonderful countries (which is why I was reading that culture shock article in the first place) and totally agree with Mini that intensive exposure to how the rest of the world lives is an invaluable experience for a young person. Joining an organized, established group is sometimes the only practical way to gain access to difficult countries. </p>
<p>Which of the above is right for your son, I couldnt begin to say. Small, isolated LACs are definitely not for everyone. My son goes to one and he thinks he has died and gone to heaven. Friends of his in similar situations have bailed out fast.</p>
<p>Most transfer applications are due in the Spring (I think) so you do have time to work through the options. Im sure your son could use a non-emotional, non-judgmental discussion and a few hugs to help him figure out whether this is just restlessness or normal post-honeymoon nitpicking, or if hes really in the wrong place. You sound like you know him very well and have a good sense of how to approach him. Good luck and let us know what happens.</p>