Reverse Culture Shock

Most people realize that when they leave their home country and explore distant new places, they will have some degree of culture shock because so many things will be different. On the other hand, few people talk about what I call “reverse culture shock” (some call it “re-entry culture shock”)—that is, the surprises and discomfort you may experience only upon returning home, especially after a longer stay abroad.

This happens for this reason, I believe: When you first arrived in a new foreign place, you expected many things to be different, and even over time came to accept them. But when you return home, you expect it will be the same as it always was—but it never is, because you have changed. Your reference point, your understanding, even your perception of what is “normal” have all changed, and you look upon your own culture with new eyes.

Certainly this is not a bad thing; it is just different, and quite unexpected. Even when you brace yourself and anticipate the shock, it can be unwelcome or unpleasant. You may find others’ behavior to be rude or uncomfortable; you may suddenly find people that you know and love to be inconsiderate or uncouth; you may begin to blame yourself for being odd or out of sorts. Soon enough, as you recover from the jet-lag as your soul catches up with your body (as some might say), you’ll re-assimilate these behaviors and start to feel “normal” again.

Nonetheless, I hope for your sake that you learn something from this experience. I am a firm believer that you cannot know yourself until you know others, and in the same way you cannot understand your own culture and history until you’ve seen others to compare and contrast with. So in my view, this reverse culture shock is very necessary and good. Socrates (“Look him up. Oh, it’s under So-crates.” –Ted Logan) wisely said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” For all the excellent adventures of your life, I hope you take the time to examine and think over your observations; I know that’s just what I’m doing right now.