Hello, international teachers! Have you finished for summer? Are you off traveling the globe? Are you preparing for your next teaching adventure? Have you fallen in love with your school and city, and sticking around for the umpteenth year? Or have you decided to pack up and head back to your friends, family and those home comforts? If you are coming home, then welcome! You are not alone. This week we have a guest writer, Dimitris, who offers some tips on making your trip home hassle free…
They call it reverse culture shock – that odd feeling people get when they return home after they had spent a relatively long time abroad.
I was never even aware of the possibility of such a feeling, until it actually happened to me. Recently, I came back home after a year spent teaching English in Thailand. I remember my head being full of questions before I embarked on my Thai adventure. Who will I meet there? Will I enjoy the food? Is it really so beautiful? Then, after a while, I settled into my new life and started enjoying it to the full. When the time came to return, I begrudgingly stepped onto a plane home and arrived into a new kind of shock.
I was, of course, very excited to see my family and friends again, but, after a while, I began feeling confused, bored and misunderstood. That, is when I realised; it takes some preparation before returning from your adventure too. But my struggles back then, are your gain. Now I have some tips for a smoother transition back to life at home.
1) Save money
I know it’s very tempting to explore as much as you can while you’re in an exotic place, but you should do so within your means. You’ll have significant expenses when you return – you’ll have to find a home, maybe buy a car, some furniture…
Also, it’s not as easy to save money while working in most English speaking countries, so use the opportunity to do so while teaching abroad. Give some private lessons if possible and put that money aside. You will transition back to your old life more easily if you feel financially stable.
2) Make a career plan while still overseas
Start planning the future while you’re still abroad. The internet can help you a lot with this. While teaching anywhere in the world, you can study for your Master’s Degree or get in touch with potential employers. LinkedIn is a great tool for this, for example.
If you come home with a vague plan, your savings may evaporate quickly while you find your footing.
3) Look for a place to live before you return
Look at options, contact landlords and set up viewings before you return home. This is the biggest expense for most returning teachers and taking care of this step beforehand can prevent a rushed and impractical decision.
Again, the internet can help you a lot with this, and you can also ask family or friends back home for some assistance.
4) Pay your taxes and keep your licenses current
While having a great time enjoying the beaches of Thailand or admiring the architecture of Barcelona, you can easily overlook the less exciting obligations at home, like filing tax returns.
Keeping your documents current may seem less important while living abroad, but once you return home, you’ll have a ton of work to do. The more things you do while still overseas, the easier your transition will be.
5) Understand that you’re a different person now
The first step of truly readjusting back home is accepting the fact that you’ve changed. It was inevitable. And it’s a great thing. However, your friends and family may not realise how much your worldview has altered.
It can be hard to explain what you’re going through to people who have never had the experience. Consider keeping a journal in which you’ll note down your feelings, memories or doubts. Your writing doesn’t have to lengthy or award-winning. It simply serves as a good outlet to process your readjustment.
6) Keep your memories alive through your work
It’s true – when you come back, most people will listen to your exciting stories for about ten minutes and then just switch off. You’ll have a million stories to tell, but they simply won’t care as much as you’ll want them to. Frankly, you’ll start getting on everyone’s nerves.
Here are some things that can help you express yourself fully:
- Start your own site or blog
- Write for other sites
- Make videos and share them online
You’ll find the right audience by doing this and things will get a lot easier for you.
7) Connect with like-minded people online or face-to-face
Nowadays, with just a few simple clicks, you can connect with anyone. Use social media to your advantage. Search Twitter for #reversecultureshock or #reentry hash tags. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone.
There are also several great sites to check out, like Small Planet Studio for example. Get inspired by reading about how other people adapted to life back home.
However, communicating with people online only goes so far. Perhaps you’ll also need to meet people face-to-face and talk about your experiences. A good place for that is Meetup. If you don’t see a group that suits you, make one yourself!
8) Explore your own country
Just because you are back home it doesn’t mean you have to stop with adventures. Find places to see and things to do in your own country that remind you of the fun you had abroad.
If you miss the food from your host country, find a place that serves it. Better yet, learn how to make it and invite your friends for dinner!
Remember that it takes some patience and time to readjust to your life back home. Hopefully, some of these tips will help you keep going. If home isn’t for you, and you’d like to see where else you could teach, contact our dedicated team of advisers to discuss your options.
