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Apr. 30th, 2002 02:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
favorovOTHER PREPARATIONS
Reverse culture shock
Just when you thought you'd got over your culture shock in the UK, you arrive home and find yourself going through it all over again! In fact, moving back to your home environment after being away can be more of a culture shock than the UK was. You expect your home to be thoroughly familiar to you, but instead you find you experience it differently. You'll re-evaluate your own culture in terms of what you've experienced elsewhere. Many students are surprised that it can take some time to readjust to living in their home country again.
Some potential areas of difficulty are:
Family relationships and friends: You may have changed considerably while you have been away from home, but your family may expect you to be just as you were when you left, and can find it hard to accommodate your changes;
Work: Colleagues who have not studied overseas may regard you with envy or hostility, or they may have unrealistic expectations of what you can achieve. You may feel frustrated by different working practices or procedures and a lack of funding may mean you lack opportunities to develop the skills you worked so hard to develop in the UK.
Economic and political conditions: You may feel out of touch with political events. Your country may have suffered recession, or dramatic economic growth since you left, both of which will mean you have to adapt to different circumstances on your return.
Customs and ideas: When you came to the UK, you probably had to adapt to a number of cultural differences, which in time you came to take for granted. On returning home, you may find that it takes time before once familiar customs and ideas seem normal again. Areas that could present challenges include preparing and serving food; style of dress; timekeeping; gender roles and behaviour; bureaucratic procedures.
Preparing for reverse culture shock
Take the contact details of friends you have made in the UK, so you can stay in touch after you have returned home;
Read newspapers and magazines from home so you are up to date with news and developments there;
Remember the skills you developed when you first arrived in the UK and had to adapt to a new culture, and use them;
Talk with students who live near you and have also studied abroad about their experiences.
When you get home, give yourself time to readjust to life there and give your friends and family time to readjust to the new you.
Although it can take time and there may be ups and downs, the majority of students successfully readjust to their home culture and renew old ties and relationships. It is best to be aware that problems could arise, but these should not outweigh the thrilling experience of going home.
Reverse culture shock
Just when you thought you'd got over your culture shock in the UK, you arrive home and find yourself going through it all over again! In fact, moving back to your home environment after being away can be more of a culture shock than the UK was. You expect your home to be thoroughly familiar to you, but instead you find you experience it differently. You'll re-evaluate your own culture in terms of what you've experienced elsewhere. Many students are surprised that it can take some time to readjust to living in their home country again.
Some potential areas of difficulty are:
Family relationships and friends: You may have changed considerably while you have been away from home, but your family may expect you to be just as you were when you left, and can find it hard to accommodate your changes;
Work: Colleagues who have not studied overseas may regard you with envy or hostility, or they may have unrealistic expectations of what you can achieve. You may feel frustrated by different working practices or procedures and a lack of funding may mean you lack opportunities to develop the skills you worked so hard to develop in the UK.
Economic and political conditions: You may feel out of touch with political events. Your country may have suffered recession, or dramatic economic growth since you left, both of which will mean you have to adapt to different circumstances on your return.
Customs and ideas: When you came to the UK, you probably had to adapt to a number of cultural differences, which in time you came to take for granted. On returning home, you may find that it takes time before once familiar customs and ideas seem normal again. Areas that could present challenges include preparing and serving food; style of dress; timekeeping; gender roles and behaviour; bureaucratic procedures.
Preparing for reverse culture shock
Take the contact details of friends you have made in the UK, so you can stay in touch after you have returned home;
Read newspapers and magazines from home so you are up to date with news and developments there;
Remember the skills you developed when you first arrived in the UK and had to adapt to a new culture, and use them;
Talk with students who live near you and have also studied abroad about their experiences.
When you get home, give yourself time to readjust to life there and give your friends and family time to readjust to the new you.
Although it can take time and there may be ups and downs, the majority of students successfully readjust to their home culture and renew old ties and relationships. It is best to be aware that problems could arise, but these should not outweigh the thrilling experience of going home.
