Reverse culture shock is the challenging period of readjustment that individuals face upon returning to their home country after spending time living in another culture. According to one definition, reverse culture shock is the emotional and psychological distress suffered by some people when they return home after a number of years overseas. It's essentially the disorientation experienced when your home environment no longer feels entirely familiar or comfortable after you've adapted to a different way of life abroad.
Understanding Reverse Culture Shock
Unlike the initial culture shock felt when moving to a new country, reverse culture shock occurs when returning from one. While often unexpected, it's a normal part of the repatriation process for many travelers, expatriates, students, and volunteers who have spent significant time abroad, especially for a number of years overseas.
It arises because while you were away, both you and your home environment continued to change. You adapted to new customs, perspectives, and routines in your host country, which reshaped your identity and views. Meanwhile, your home culture, friends, and family also evolved. The disconnect between your changed self and the perceived unchanged home can lead to feelings of alienation and distress.
Why Does Reverse Culture Shock Happen?
Several factors contribute to reverse culture shock:
- Changes at Home: Friends might have moved, gotten married, had children, or changed careers. Popular culture, technology, or social norms may have shifted in subtle ways you didn't experience.
- Changes in You: You developed new habits, skills, perspectives, and a broader worldview while abroad. These changes might not align with your former lifestyle or the expectations of others back home.
- Idealization of Home: While away, you might have romanticized home, forgetting its drawbacks or the aspects you initially wanted to leave behind.
- Lack of Understanding: It can be frustrating when friends and family don't fully grasp your experiences abroad, making you feel isolated.
- Loss of Independence/Status: You might miss the independence or potentially higher social status or novelty you experienced as a foreigner abroad.
Common Symptoms
The symptoms of reverse culture shock can vary widely among individuals but often include:
- Feeling like a stranger in your own country
- Boredom or feeling unchallenged by your former life
- Frustration with perceived inefficiencies or differences
- Idealizing your host country and constantly comparing it unfavorably to home
- Feeling misunderstood or isolated
- Restlessness or a desire to return abroad
- Difficulty reintegrating into social circles
- Sadness, anxiety, or irritability
It's important to recognize these feelings as a normal part of the adjustment process, rather than a sign that something is fundamentally wrong.
Coping Strategies and Solutions
Navigating reverse culture shock requires patience and self-awareness. Here are some practical tips:
- Acknowledge and Validate Your Feelings: Understand that what you're experiencing is a real and common phenomenon.
- Stay Connected: Seek out other returnees or international communities who can relate to your experiences.
- Talk About It: Share your stories and challenges with understanding friends, family, or a therapist.
- Be Patient: Readjustment takes time. Don't expect to feel completely "at home" immediately.
- Re-Explore Your Home: Try being a tourist in your own area to see it with fresh eyes.
- Find Ways to Utilize Your Experience: Look for opportunities to use the skills, language abilities, or cultural insights you gained abroad in your home life or career.
- Maintain Some Connection to Your Host Culture: This could involve cooking food from your host country, listening to their music, or staying in touch with friends made abroad.
- Anticipate the Challenges: Being aware that reverse culture shock is possible can help you prepare mentally.
Returning home after an extended period abroad is a significant transition. By understanding what reverse culture shock is and how to manage its effects, individuals can navigate the challenges and successfully reintegrate while valuing the transformative experiences gained overseas.
