Reverse Culture Shock Can Be Shocking

When I moved back from spending 2 and a half years living in China, my mom took me to the grocery store to grab some things I had been craving.  I wandered to the yogurt section, and stood there in awe of the vast number of choices facing me, and I promptly burst into tears.  Out of all of those choices, they didn’t have the kind of yogurt I wanted – the kind that I had in China.

This may seem trivial (and, yes, it is a bit funny), but that was a small manifestation of the overwhelming feelings I was experiencing being back in the US.  A lot of people talk about the stages of culture shock and acculturation when going/living abroad, but the return can be full of just as many ups and downs.

Here are some of my personal tips for dealing with reverse culture shock upon re-entry to your home culture:

• Recognize that there will be an adjustment period – you are not simply injecting yourself back into your “old” life.  While you were away, life kept going, and some things may have changed.

• Be selective when telling stories about your experience abroad.  People will be interested and ask you about it, so find ways to tell brief stories here and there, without dominating every conversation with “When I was in…”

• Catch up with those around you.  Take interest in their lives and what’s been happening since you’ve been gone.  It may seem like you’ve grown apart from some of your friends, but that’s mostly due to lack of shared experiences.  Mutual conversation and active interest go a long way in helping you reconnect.

• Journal – just as journaling can be a powerful tool while you are abroad, it can also be an effective tool to deal with re-entry adjustments.  Along with writing in a journal, simply re-reading entries from your experiences can help keep you connected to the culture you have recently left.

• If possible, find a way to volunteer or get involved with community members from wherever you spent time. 

• Put together a slide show or video about your time away that you can share on social media or even at a welcome home party.  If you select highlights carefully and narrate it succinctly, this can be a great way to help your friends and family have a frame of reference for what you saw and felt.  Go one step further and cook foods from the places you were and invite people for food and stories.

• Find others who have lived abroad or traveled extensively.  People with common experiences can be a great network!  Besides, anyone who travels loves to tell their own stories, and you will find that fellow travelers understand the need to share.

• Finally, be kind to yourself and remember that it will take time.  You very likely did change while you were away, but that only enhances the person you were before you left.