Airplane landing in airport ()
When you land in your new host country, the feeling of euphoria and excitement eventually wears off, and a sense of dread and overwhelming anxiety can creep in. Culture shock happens as you immerse yourself in unfamiliar surroundings and culture. As you begin to acclimate, the tension starts to dissipate. However, when it’s time to return stateside, experiencing reverse culture shock to some degree is almost unavoidable. Here are some tips to help alleviate the feeling of being out of your element when returning to your home country.
Change is inevitable. Throughout the past few years, you’ve changed. Living abroad provides unique experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise had. It impacts who you are, and, like it or not, you aren’t the same person you were when you left the States. The same is true for your friends and family who stayed behind. You may envision them as the same people they were when you left; however, life keeps moving. They didn’t freeze with time. The first few encounters upon your return may feel socially awkward. It takes time to get to know each other as you are now and move past who you once were. As a result, some relationships may fray while others flourish.
Creatures of habit. Moving overseas, you develop new habits either due to regulations or simply adjusting to a new way of life. When you return to the States, you’ll find your new habits are hard to shake. From recycling pretty much everything to something as simple as not shopping on a Sunday because you’re used to stores being closed, give yourself time to readjust your habits as necessary. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself fumbling for your ID when you walk into Target.
Homesickness for your other home. Missing family and the comforts of home often hit during your assignment. The sights, smells and longing for familiarity is part of the deal. When you finally get the chance to go home, the homesickness subsides, right? Not exactly. Even if you had a tough time in your host nation and are ecstatic to be going back stateside, you’ll find yourself missing pieces of your time abroad. To help ease the pangs of homesickness, learn how to make your favorite local dish or find a small token or souvenir to place on your shelf to evoke happy memories.
Feeling overwhelmed. Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S. feels enormous. Huge parking spaces, wide roads, warehouse stores and spacious abodes are part of the norm. In Europe, you learn how to navigate perilously narrow streets, squeeze into tiny spaces and shop almost daily because your refrigerator can only handle two days-worth of groceries at a time. Coming back to the big box feel can overwhelm even the strongest shopping warrior. Venture into the largesse a little at a time. If you find yourself overwhelmed, step outside and take some deep breaths or come back another time when it’s less busy.
Missing the adventure. Living overseas is nothing short of an adventure. For some, amazing travel opportunities to new places and enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences become part of the norm. But, let’s face it, returning to the States afterward can be a bit of a letdown for adventurers. Although you won’t find inexpensive Ryanair flights to exotic locales, there are plenty of fantastic spots to discover in the U.S. Take your expert travel research and booking skills and apply them to where you are. You’ll find you can still have your adventures— you may just have to travel further to get there.
If you find yourself experiencing reverse culture shock, know you’re not alone. It’s completely normal and even to be expected. So have patience, take your time and don’t rush through the process.
