Comments on: Can You Survive Reverse Culture Shock?

By: samspade

samspade — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:12:55 +0000

I am a professional teacher/fine art photographer/author.
While I resided in Bangkok (from September 2008 until January 2010) I had time only for work and for sleep.
I was working many teaching jobs, six and seven days per week.
The overwork, the noise, the pollution, etc. really, really, really got me down…..
Now, I am back in Oregon….since January 25th, I’ve submitted 92 resumes and job applications……mostly, in pers0n….so far, I have landed work in a federal jobs program that pays minimally and I am happy to have THAT…..
I love the cleanness, freshness, and friendliness of Oregon but I do miss a few people in Bangkok very much.
I hope to return for visits in future years.
Living there full-time was really stressful for me.
Still, Oregon life can be boring compared to Bangkok and I am not entirely happy here.
However, I was even a bit less happy in Bangkok.
I would like to travel back and forth and not stay too long in either place.
Only better employment can guarantee me that sort of lifestyle and I will forever strive for it……

By: Reverse culture shock: Feeling like a fish out of water

Reverse culture shock: Feeling like a fish out of water — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:19:53 +0000

[...] just go with the flow when I go back to Singapore for visits. Today’s discussion is about the unrelenting weirdness that never shakes off when you go back to your home country for a visit. As much as experiencing the new is part of your [...]

By: Mona

Mona — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:49:20 +0000

[sigh]..I don’t know about the rest of you, but being back in my home country after 8 years has given me a serious case of anhedonia, extreme boredom, and I’m angry that I have to endure this pointless existence here ..heck ,I’m even getting nostalgic about sitting in the Milan police station,post-rape..if that isn’t desperation, I don’t know what is…:-(

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:24:28 +0000

Hi Mike,

I’m glad you know you don’t have a mental disorder. And I definitely know what you mean by it . I was at a different age (37 I think) when I came back for the first time, but it was also like starting all over. Nothing in my old life held any meaning. The whole world just looked like a hollow shell, and there was no place for me in it, and certainly no one who could begin to understand how I felt.
I can just say things do get easier, but they don’t go back to how they used to be before you left. You outgrew what was before. BUT: this is not a bad thing. It just sucks for a while! And I’d definitely repeat what others here have said before – meet some people from other places who know about this experience. I guaranttee you’ll find there’s nothing wrong with your mind and perception. And whatever you love or even like to do, DO IT as much as you can. It doesn’t even have to have meaning. If making mudpies makes you relaxed and happy, that’s all you need to know about it. Make it your habit for a while. It’s really, really important.
Eat, and even better, learn to cook what they ate where you just returned from. That experience belongs to you and the however many millions of people that live there, so you feel a little more connected.
And a really good one, plan your next escape. Even if you can’t do it now, in your mind you’ll know it will happen for you again, and you can get a little excited thinking about the details. LIttle mini trips help, too.
Really, give yourself time. This is definitely like a bad breakup. Over time you’ll feel less raw. It’s completely confusing and seems impossible to know where to begin to pick up the pieces, or how to make yourself feel better. It may be a day-by-day situation for a while, so allow yourself that.
Best of luck.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:32:12 +0000

Hey Mike:

Been 8+ months since i got back home, and it is STARTING to get a little bit easier for me, it’s very much like a relationship break-up, for me at least, and i worked it the same way: give it time, and do stuff you like to do !
Find new hobbies, meet new people and it’ll work out for you !
Me, and many/most of the other people here definately felt like “starting over” after coming back to our home countries, life isn’t always easy, but in the end YOU yourself set the bar for how much you enjoy your life.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:58:22 +0000

OK so its been a month. I have been home for a month. Things seem to be a little bit easier. For example simple things like cleaning, exercise, job searching.. etc. However I still feel very frightened and scared for what is to come in the future. This situation feels extremely difficult because im at another cross roads in my life and im not sure which way to go. At times i feel a loss of interest or true excitement for the things I enjoy the most. I still do them but its not the same. I think i miss my carefree attitude i had not too long ago. Being very young thinking i knew everything. But coming to find out i knew nothing. I still have so much to learn. Sometimes I feel like im bordering on some type of mental disorder because a lot of my peers dont seem to be in the same situation. I know the mental disorder is nonsense but im trying to rationalize my dissapointment and unhappiness with my current situation. The combination of growing into an adult and reverse culture shock has really been difficult. I am just wondering if anyone in here has every been in the same boat as me? What are some things that you recommend? How did you over come your struggles? Any advice or insight is highly appreciated. Im 24 and I feel like im starting my life all over again. Again any wisdom or insight would be great. thanks for listening.

By: A reverse culture shock: What&How to cope with it? « The PWJ – the peace world journal Organisation

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:34:34 +0000

[...] See more details for this article: http://www.vagabondish.com/how.....e-shock/ [...]

By: Aisha

Aisha — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:05:46 +0000

Hi, I thank you to write about reverse culture shock. I think Im stuck on this issue in my mind and I was nearly gonna cry when I see some ppl who spoken in english. I feel missing the abroad where I was there for more than 3 years. Thank you

By: Mikael

Mikael — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:56:23 +0000

Me too, as alot of the people commenting here, lived abroad for a longer time (2 years abouts) in Tokyo, i never had a culture shock when going there.. but i did when i got back to here, all the points apply on me and it feels good to know i’m not alone at least !

I just find myself thinking “this is wrong”, i shouldn’t be back here, i just feel myself getting more and more bitter as each day passes, and just hating more and more on people in my home country, who i feel are close-minded, cold and obnoxious…

I’m hoping to “flee” this country as i think often..

But sometimes it’s okay, when i’m with the few friends i still have here, or family of course.

Worse than any relationship breakup i’ve ever had for sure !

By: susan

susan — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:37:25 +0000

wow. i am so glad to have found this blog. it’s been six years since returning from my year trip living abroad and traveling around the world. to this day i still have post trip depression and feel as though no one wants to hear the story of my “experience of a lifetime”. glad to have found you. i no longer feel so alone…
thanks. susan