Re-Entry Shock
So-called "Re-entry Shock" affects many interns. As hard as the transition was going from school to work and from home to another country, many find the reverse transition even more difficult. The following are common problems and possible solutions for dealing with re-entry shock (adapted from the AFS International handbook). These are also in your IE3 Global Internships Handbook.
You may feel confused because the values, attitudes and lifestyles you learned in your host family conflict with predominant patterns at home.
Possible Solution: Deep differences in cultural patterns require time to explore and understand. Take time to evaluate both cultural perpectives before deciding on your preference and integrating it into your lifestyle.
Sometimes friends and family at home do not seem interested in hearing about aspects of your experience that you find meaningful and important.
Possible Solution: Realize that they may be adjusting to changes that have taken place in you. They may never have had an experience comparable with yours and so may have difficulty sharing your enthusiasm. Be patient and seek other returnees who can help put your experiences into perspective. IE3 campus coordinators and regional directors are always willing listeners! You can also connect with other returnees through the alumni section of the IE3 website.
Friends and family may treat you as the same person you were before you left without recognizing the changes you have been through. You might feel a need for new or modified personal relationships that acknowledge the changed or expanded dimensions of your personality.
Possible Solution: Your friends and family may be feeling uncertain about how you have changed or grown. Discuss your feelings about yourself and others with them, trying to encourage positive changes in old relationships. Also seek out new friendships with people who are compatible with the "changing you."
You may feel uncomfortable talking about your feelings of affection for your host family because your own family feels left out or possibly jealous. Friends might also seem to be envious or jealous of the experience you have had.
Possible Solution: Be sensitive to the feelings of others who have not had the opportunity you have. If necessary, try to tone down your discussions; perhaps you are encouraging these feelings in others by dwelling too much on your own experiences. Try to listen to what has happened to them while you were gone, too.
You might be confused about future educational and career plans in light of new or uncertain goals and priorities.
Possible Solution: An internship can confirm your career path, but it can also confirm that the path you were oin is not where you want to stay. Whichever experience you have had, take time to reevaluate your goals. Don't make snap decisions after your return as they may be influenced by transition shock. Seek out the advice of advisors and mentors as you incorporate your experience into your career plans.
If you find that your attitudes and opinions have changed considerably during your stay abroad and are not widely shared in your home community, you may feel isolated or rejected. You may feel highly critical of your home country because you have new perspectives on it; you may be criticized by others for your "negative attitude."
Possible Solution: Try to keep perspective on your feelings; remember that your opinions and ideas may initially be greatly influenced by the perpectives of your host culture and may not represent your final, balanced viewpoint. Share your feelings with others, but be cautious in choosing situations in which to bring up controversial issues.
You may become frustrated because people at home are uninformed about, or uninterested in, other peoples and cultures, including those of your host community. Faced with this lack of concern, you might feel that there is no way for you to take an active role in helping solve the problems of others in the world community.
Possible Solution: Attempt to generate local interest in other peoples and their concerns. Use your special status as an intercultural traveler to educate others through private conversations or by public speeches and presentations. Your office of international programs may have suggestions for how to get involved in the local or campus community.
The Stay Connected section of the IE3 website has suggestions for ways to carry on the experiences of your internship and integrate them into your daily life.