TEA Cultural Re-Adjustment

Cultural Readjustment : Cultural Readjustment TEA Alumni Webinar – January 19, 2010 OBJECTIVES By the end of this session, participants will be able to… describe common issues and challenges related to cultural readjustment identify some personal changes (privately) explore coping strategies to help with cultural readjustment appreciate and build on their intercultural skills Webinar content contributed by: Deborah Hefferon, International Education and Cross-cultural Communication Consultant

20 Questions : 20 Questions What was your most memorable experience while you were in the US? What was the funniest thing that happened to you? What was the strangest food you ate? What was your most embarrassing cross-cultural communication moment? What do you miss most about the US? With whom did you spend most of your free time in the US? What was your favorite place in the US? What was your favorite place in your host city? Where did you want to go but didn’t get the chance to? What is the best present you brought back for a friend/family member? What was your favorite thing to do on the weekend in your host city? When did you start to feel more “at home” in the US? Who did you wish would visit you in the US so that you could have shared the experience with them? What was your first impression of your professors? What was the best photograph you took during your stay? Why did you choose to participate in the TEA program in the first place? Do these reasons still make sense to you? What was the biggest change in your daily routine in the US (compared to your life at home)? What was the place you missed most at home while you were in the US? What was the thing (food, clothing, activity, etc.) you missed most while you were in the US? What is the most special item you will bring/brought back from the US? Why is it such a treasure?

Pattern of Cultural Adjustment : Pattern of Cultural Adjustment

“Reverse Culture Shock” : “Reverse Culture Shock” Metaphor = space shuttle reentering earth’s atmosphere Unanticipated More severe than Culture Shock and lasts longer Research shows that those who adjust best overseas have the greatest difficulty coming home It is not “going back to normal.”

What was your adjustment process in the U.S. ? : What was your adjustment process in the U.S. ? What did you go through during your time in the U.S. ? Try to remember one moment when you experienced “culture shock” in the U.S. – what strategies did you use to overcome it? What is your current readjustment stage?

How Have You Changed? : How Have You Changed? …as a person? …as a teacher?

possible areas of personal change: : possible areas of personal change: Independence Expectations Communication styles World view Family roles Privacy Time management Teaching philosophy

Factors Influencing Cultural Readjustment : Factors Influencing Cultural Readjustment Previous reentry / readjustment experience Length of stay overseas Degree of interaction with overseas culture Degree of difference between the cultures Changes in home environment Home culture’s ability to accept your U.S. experience

Coping Strategies : Coping Strategies Communication is the key Share information about cultural re-entry Keep in touch with friends/colleagues in the US Be patient (with yourself and others) Keep your stories brief and general Share with others who have lived abroad or are planning to go abroad Search for ways to extend your US experience Anticipate changes Keep a journal or blog, or write articles Be active

Build on What You Have Learned : Build on What You Have Learned INTERCULTURAL SKILLS Which intercultural skills did you develop while you were in the U.S. ? How are these skills impacting your life since you returned home? Do you think there will be future benefits?

Intercultural Skills are Highly Desirable : Intercultural Skills are Highly Desirable Perseverance Independence Language ability Problem-solving Tolerance for stress Negotiation skills Motivation Sensitivity to cultural context Responsibility Respect for difference and diversity Sense of curiosity Flexibility Ability to work in multicultural, multilingual group Adaptability Self-reliance Enhanced listening skills Able to establish rapport quickly Able to cope with difficulty Understanding of culture’s complexity Ability to “fit in” to new groups

Thank You! : Thank You! Questions?