Optimus Template

You’ve spent considerable time away from your native land and now you’ve returned, You swear that once you stepped off the plane the air smelled weird, the daylight was stronger and the nights seemed much darker than where you used to live. Not only that, but the food, clothing, music and more are stranger than you remember. You are most likely suffering from culture shock. A sort of reverse kind since, after all, this is your native home. The human body and mind are so adaptable that influences placed upon you while living abroad for a considerable time become so much a part of you that when returning home, the you that left is not the returning you at all. You’ve not only picked up new interests, new habits, new routines from your life away from home, you’ve also picked up daily expectations that are never consciously recognized. You’ve developed comfort zones in your daily life abroad that disappear when you’ve returned home.   The “newness” of daily scenarios may have an unsettling effect on you physically and mentally although you are back in your native land. You might find frustration levels rise while attempting to accomplish simple tasks. Frustration may lead to physical symptoms like crying, headache and stomach aches and sometimes even shakes – more than just your head moving in that familiar way indicating experiencing a sense of disbelief and confusion. You may tend to want to withdraw, spend long stretches of time alone and could, actually, suffer real depression. Your family begins to worry about your problem trying to readjust. Although you feel like you’re somehow suspended between where you once lived and where you are now, feeling the results from reverse cultures shock are common situations experienced by many repatriates, particularly ones who have spent a great deal of time overseas. There are a great many services available to you but don’t overlook talking with a friend, relative or acquaintance who may have gone through these same experiences. A good piece of advice is to plan for this shock long before you return. If you anticipate experiencing the aspects involved with reverse culture shock, you can also plan an effective way to combat them. One way would be to “connect” with sort of a “coming home” buddy or family who has experienced the return to home. Communicate with this valuable resource long before you return and develop a support relationship where you can turn to for advice or just a shoulder to cry on when you face some “re-entry” issues that are too tough to singularly handle.

Please do not quote or cite without author's or publisher's permission.