Culture shock: How to cope with returning home after a period abroad

People expect to undergo a period of re-adjustment when moving to a foreign country. However, often the return home, particularly after a number of years, is just as traumatic - sometimes even more so, because few people expect it. Here are some tips to ensure that this new change in lifestyle goes as smoothly as possible.

Visit home regularly

Once you know you will be returning home, try to visit as often as possible. This will help to target your mind, so that you have a stronger idea of what to expect when you return for good. It is easy to presume that you will be able to slip back into your old routine; but people and places will have changed while you have been away, and you may need to work hard to slot yourself back in.

Ensure contact with family and old friends is regular

In this day and age, with all the technology at our fingertips, it should be easy to keep in regular touch with old friends. However, after a period abroad, people often lose touch, feeling that their lives are moving in different directions. If you have friends with whom you genuinely want to maintain good relations, ensure that you make an effort to express interest in their lives; you may think that nothing has changed for them, but keeping in regular touch will mean a lot to them, making it easier for you to fit back into their lives on your return.

Tie up loose ends before you leave your host country

Leaving any location knowing that you still have interests in it is difficult; even more so when you are moving countries. If you have been in a relationship with someone who will not be moving with you, make sure that the state of the relationship is clear before you leave. There is nothing worse than trying to settle into a new routine when someone or something is constantly on your mind.

Maintain contact with friends from the host country

You will have made new friends during your time abroad. Make an effort on your return to maintain contact with them. It may be that you can visit each other on a regular basis, or it may even be that they are also moving back home. Contact with them will remind you of the good times you had overseas, and this positive feeling should make it easier to settle into a new routine.

Prepare for changes in your financial situation and lifestyle

Your financial situation may well change on return to your home country; if you're from the West, the chances are it will change for the worse as the standard of living increases. Factor this in before you leave for home. You may want to put some money aside to help you through the initial stages - suddenly having to worry about bills and whether or not you can afford to go out can be a big shock.

Have plans for the future

You may be returning to a job with the same company that posted you abroad. If not, put some thought into what you want to do next. Returning home without any plans can seem very free and easy to begin with; but you could end up getting depressed if nothing seems to be coming over the horizon. Perhaps you could consider going back to school, or having a change in career, or using your new language skills - just make sure that you put some thought into it.

Returning home can be much more of a culture shock than you expect, but some forward planning should make it easier to cope with.