Repatriation: Reverse Culture Shock
When the excitement of your homecoming dies down, reverse culture shock hits you. The special feeling you had as an expat goes away and you transition back into the being a local. Here are a few important things to keep in mind:
+ Friends and family can only hear your traveler’s tales so many times. The pride you derived from managing across cultures may no longer be a skill used everyday and you may even have less responsibility at work than when you were abroad. Colleagues may undervalue your international assignment, too, especially if they haven’t been an expat.
+ Since few organizations provide the same settling-in assistance on return, you may find it hard to share your experiences with others. Relating to friends and family may also be harder than it was pre-departure, as your world view has most likely changed. Contact other repatriates because they will understand how your life has changed and will be good people to network with.
+ At home, make new routines that are different from the ones you had before you moved away. Be patient and remember that you’ve already experienced culture shock when you initially expatriated.
+ The accompanying partner of the expat may have a several year gap in their resume, making it difficult to find work. At this point, it may be appropriate for the partner to reevaluate his or her career plans, since they’ve likely changed after their time in another area of the world.
+ Children will be greatly affected by repatriation, as new schools and friends are hard to adapt to at certain ages. This can be easier if a connection to the home country is maintained during the assignment.
+ Maintain contact with friends and colleagues in your former host country. This is a benefit that sets your apart from people who’ve never had the opportunity to live abroad!
+ Survive reverse culture shock by reminding yourself of the valuable personal change you’ve gone through and the rich, life-enhancing advantages your experience now presents.
- adapted from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles
