REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK
Why Coming Home Can Be So Difficult . . .
Reverse culture shock is a large part of what can make the return home so challenging for international students. Reverse culture shock can be especially frustrating as its potentially prolonged effects are often unexpected by the student as well as their friends and family at home.
Reverse culture shock follows the "U" or "W" curve much like the initial culture shock encountered upon arriving overseas. It begins with the "honeymoon" phase characterized by relief or contentment to be home, which is often followed by a sense of reverse homesickness, grief or alienation and then eventual reintegration. While the phases of reverse culture shock may be similar to culture shock from living in a new culture, the duration of these phases is often not the same. The "honeymoon" phase, for instance, might last weeks or even months after arriving overseas, however, the elation of returning home often dissipates much faster. "Returnees can find themselves slipping into deepening hostility or withdrawal in very short time" (UNCG, 2012, p. 2).
Since the effects of reverse culture shock may not be familiar to people at home, they might not understand or recognize the difficulty a returnee experiences with readjustment. This is also very different from a student's experience of culture shock while studying abroad as there are often other students or support services to help with the transition process into a new culture. Whereas upon returning home these support services may not be available or family and friends might unintentionally pressure a student to "get over it" faster.
Thus entering into reverse culture shock can occur more quickly than normal culture shock and unfortunately those negative effects might last longer. "Some students report that it took them up to a year or more to gain the necessary perspective on their experience to allow them to feel completely at home and fully functioning" (UNCG, 2012, p.2).
The graph below illustrates the spectrum of initial culture shock into reverse culture shock, however, the final side of the last "U" curve representing the readjustment/reintegration period of re-entry is not included.
Reverse culture shock is a large part of what can make the return home so challenging for international students. Reverse culture shock can be especially frustrating as its potentially prolonged effects are often unexpected by the student as well as their friends and family at home.
Reverse culture shock follows the "U" or "W" curve much like the initial culture shock encountered upon arriving overseas. It begins with the "honeymoon" phase characterized by relief or contentment to be home, which is often followed by a sense of reverse homesickness, grief or alienation and then eventual reintegration. While the phases of reverse culture shock may be similar to culture shock from living in a new culture, the duration of these phases is often not the same. The "honeymoon" phase, for instance, might last weeks or even months after arriving overseas, however, the elation of returning home often dissipates much faster. "Returnees can find themselves slipping into deepening hostility or withdrawal in very short time" (UNCG, 2012, p. 2).
Since the effects of reverse culture shock may not be familiar to people at home, they might not understand or recognize the difficulty a returnee experiences with readjustment. This is also very different from a student's experience of culture shock while studying abroad as there are often other students or support services to help with the transition process into a new culture. Whereas upon returning home these support services may not be available or family and friends might unintentionally pressure a student to "get over it" faster.
Thus entering into reverse culture shock can occur more quickly than normal culture shock and unfortunately those negative effects might last longer. "Some students report that it took them up to a year or more to gain the necessary perspective on their experience to allow them to feel completely at home and fully functioning" (UNCG, 2012, p.2).
The graph below illustrates the spectrum of initial culture shock into reverse culture shock, however, the final side of the last "U" curve representing the readjustment/reintegration period of re-entry is not included.
The Culture Shock Curve/Roller Coaster from University of Arkansas' Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange Culture Shock & Coping at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/students/while-abroad/culture-shock-and-coping.php
Here is a list of a few other major factors that can make the re-entry transition and adjustment back home more difficult:
1. It Is Largely Unexpected
Most students don't think about what it will be like to return after spending time overseas. This can make the re-entry experience as frustrating as it is surprising when they discover it's not easy to return to the same routines/habits or relationships back home.
2. The Reality of Home Differs from Reality
While abroad it's easy to idealize or romanticize memories of home and forget what might have been stressful about everyday life at home. Re-encountering those sources of stress or realizing the images of home don't match the idealized memories can be disconcerting.
3. Change Has Occurred to Everyone
You will find that not only your perspective has changed, but your friends and family, popular culture (social, political, etc.) and perhaps even your community (new buildings, parks, organizations, etc) has also experienced change, whether big or small. These changes can be particularly unsettling if they aren't immediately recognizable or predictable.
4. People May React to Returnees in Ways They Consider Inappropriate
Some people may not consider the fact that you will have grown and changed since you left home. They might expect you to behave and think the same way as before and perhaps may even be intolerant of any change they perceive to be odd or uncharacteristic.
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- Adapted from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), Why Coming Home Can Be So Difficult from "Effective Pre-departure/Arrival Programs for International Students” at 64th Annual NAFSA Conference, May 29, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.uncg.edu/ipg/studyabroad/nafsaorientationworkshop/orientationprograms.htm
- Image from http://sabinasagi.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/culture-shock-when-reality-hits/
1. It Is Largely Unexpected
Most students don't think about what it will be like to return after spending time overseas. This can make the re-entry experience as frustrating as it is surprising when they discover it's not easy to return to the same routines/habits or relationships back home.
2. The Reality of Home Differs from Reality
While abroad it's easy to idealize or romanticize memories of home and forget what might have been stressful about everyday life at home. Re-encountering those sources of stress or realizing the images of home don't match the idealized memories can be disconcerting.
3. Change Has Occurred to Everyone
You will find that not only your perspective has changed, but your friends and family, popular culture (social, political, etc.) and perhaps even your community (new buildings, parks, organizations, etc) has also experienced change, whether big or small. These changes can be particularly unsettling if they aren't immediately recognizable or predictable.
4. People May React to Returnees in Ways They Consider Inappropriate
Some people may not consider the fact that you will have grown and changed since you left home. They might expect you to behave and think the same way as before and perhaps may even be intolerant of any change they perceive to be odd or uncharacteristic.
---------
- Adapted from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), Why Coming Home Can Be So Difficult from "Effective Pre-departure/Arrival Programs for International Students” at 64th Annual NAFSA Conference, May 29, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.uncg.edu/ipg/studyabroad/nafsaorientationworkshop/orientationprograms.htm
- Image from http://sabinasagi.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/culture-shock-when-reality-hits/
Related Link:
How To Survive Reverse Culture Shock Board - This is a Pintrest Board with inspirational quotes and pictures as well as links to related articles and videos on how to deal with the challenges and issues associated with reverse culture shock.
