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Though it seems that going home would not require an adjustment, you
will be surprised to find that it does. Life has gone on without you at
home, and you have changed tremendously while you have been away. You will
discover that you are not returning to the “familiar” culture you expect,
because not only have there been many small changes, but you will be viewing
home with different eyes. Successful, and a less stressful, re-entry is possible, if
you understand the concept of Reverse Culture Shock.
Reverse Culture Shock can be defined as “temporal
psychological difficulties that a returnee experiences in
the initial stage of the adjustment process at home after
having lived abroad for some time.” It takes place over
time and is completely normal. It is important to remember
that the feelings you will experience are shared by many
others in similar situations.
Phases
Reverse Culture Shock begins before you even leave your
host country. In the first phase you will feel anticipation
and excitement about going home, as well as sadness about
leaving your host country. Once you return home, you will
be treated like a celebrity by family and friends, and will
do all the things you missed doing while you were away. In
this second phase, you will not notice all that has
changed. Soon, however, things will settle down and the
novelty of being home will wear off. In the third phase
you will begin to notice all of the changes and may begin
to feel lonely, left out, or marginalized. Personal
changes and growth that have occurred may make you feel as
though you do not have as much in common with your peers.
Eventually, in the fourth phase, these feelings subside and
you will get back into a routine and rekindle your
friendships. You will feel comfortable again and have
readjusted to life in the United States.
Factors Affecting Reverse Culture Shock...
- length of stay
- opportunity to visit home
- frequency of keeping in touch with family and friends
- quality of experience
- emotional change (i.e. maturity)
- how received at home upon return
Signs of Reverse Culture Shock...
- feeling isolated
- feeling marginalized
- loneliness
- frustration at lack of interest in your experience from family and friends
- frustration at not being able to continue speaking a foreign language
- depression
Helpful Tips...
- stay in close contact with your friends from your exchange - plan a reunion
- take a group picture of all your friends on your exchange
- keep writing in your journal
- re-read your journal..
- share your experiences abroad as well as your re-entry experiences with other study abroad participants
- volunteer your time in the study abroad office - help with recruiting and orientation
- get involved in local, international, and cultural activities
- stay flexible
- contact the Rutgers Study Abroad Office for support if you need it
Developmental Changes
See how many of the following changes apply to you. These
will all affect how you experience Reverse Culture Shock.
- improved ability in a foreign language
- more knowledgeable about another culture and lifestyle
- greater ability to empathize with others, to put yourself in another person’s place when making judgments
- more easily accept failures and shortcomings in yourself
- more fully understand your strengths and weaknesses
- increased self confidence
- increased assertiveness
- greater capacity to accept differences in others
- increased curiosity in other cultures
- increased awareness in other cultures
- increased flexibility
- more tolerant of ambiguous situations
- more likely to take risks
- new attitude on life
- increased patience
- changed values and beliefs
- increased open-mindedness
- increased maturity
- more adaptable
- new interests
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