If we over-generalize, we need to be cautious about stereotyping– which is to develop a fixed, unvarying idea, usually an oversimplified opinion, belief about a person or a group (for example, All US Americans are always direct). So looking back did your PC experience reinforce your stereotypes or not? Do you tend to make generalizations about the culture you lived in?

• boundless curiosity
• the ability to be flexible and adaptable
• being sure of who you are, and of your own cultural roots
• excellent communication skills
• fluency in a number of languages
• a high tolerance of ambiguity
• a belief in difference as a resource, not a barrier
• the ability to read between the lines
• a high degree of ‘emotional intelligence’
• a developed and broad sense of humor

Another way is to measure a person’s natural cultural style, behavior and values, and see where they fit in globally. One researcher in the intercultural field has 3 categories: linear, multi-active and reactive. Whatever culture you are from, for example, if your personal qualities are mainly linear, you are likely to find things easier with Americans, Germans, and Nordics. If you are largely multi-active, you will probably feel more at home with Latin cultures. And if you are reactive, then you may tend to prefer working with Far Eastern cultures.

Someone with a balance of the three qualities will tend to have empathy at some level with most cultures they come into contact with. It is interesting that Indians very often fall into that middle area of the cultural triangle – and Indians have been remarkably successful at operating out of their home environment.

Clearly, there are also cases where people who are dominant in one category manage excellently with their opposites, but they rely on a good dose of the qualities listed at the beginning! What do you think makes someone good at dealing with other cultures?

So, what characterizes reverse culture shock: an idealized view of home and the expectation of a total familiarity (that nothing at home has changed while you have been away). Reverse culture shock is difficult because it is unexpected! You expected things to be different upon your arrival to Peace Corps, but you wonder why they should be different as you go home.

Did these stages happen to you?

1. Disengagement
   You begin thinking about re-entry and making your preparations for your return home. You also begin to realize that it’s time to say goodbye to your Peace Corps friends and local friends/family to the place you’ve come to call home. The hustle and bustle of good-bye parties, and packing can intensify your feelings of sadness and you might be reluctant to leave. Or, you may make your last few days fly by so fast that you don’t have time to reflect on your emotions and experiences.
2. Initial Euphoria
   This usually begins shortly before departure, and it is characterized by feelings of excitement and anticipation - even euphoria - about returning home. This is very similar to the initial feelings of fascination and excitement you may have when you first entered your host country. You may be very happy to see your family and friends again, and they are also happy to see you but don’t have time to listen to your stories.
3. Irritability and hostility
   You may experience feelings of frustration, anger, alienation, loneliness, disorientation, and helplessness and not understand exactly why. You might quickly become irritated or critical of others and of your home culture. Depression, feeling like a stranger at home, and the longing to go back abroad, are also not uncommon reactions.
4. Readjustment and adaptation
   Readjustment and adaptation is a gradual readjustment to life at home. Things will start to seem a little more normal again, and you will probably fall back into some old routines, but things won’t be exactly the same as how you left them. You have most likely developed new attitudes, beliefs, habits, as well as personal and professional goals, and you will see things differently now. The important thing is to try to incorporate the positive aspects of your Peace Corps experience while with your life at “home” now.

For a moment, think about all that you have learned, such as adapting to a new culture, working in the new location, making new friends, getting to know new places and new foods, and learning a new language. You have personally experienced and accomplished a lot during your time. Pull out that old journal you kept. Does it make you laugh? Or cry? Can you still relate to how you felt? How did you get involved in the community? How did you establish credibility? What coping skills did you use? What can you take from that experience that would be useful today?

Answer the question: what did you learn through your Peace Corps experience that will help you today? Give some examples.

Now, how are all those experiences going to change you? You have to realize that you are not the same person. It doesn’t matter if those cross culture experience were positive or negative — it has impacted the way you view the world and the way you view yourself in the world. How has it changed the way you are as a person, and how you perform professionally?

Now what are you going to do about it?

This blog is about helping you make the best of your new self. We are all going to learn together. I’m going to need you to tell me your stories, the funny, sad, and insightful stories that demonstrate how being overseas made you a better person.

Tell us your stories. I want to hear from you. Remember, everyone has a tale to tell.

Here are 5 ways to begin to understand the new “you.”

Look back
What have you learned? Pull out that old journal and re-read what you wrote. Make a list of the friends you made, the things you did for the first time. What do you take from that experience that is useful today?

Handling this thing called Reverse Culture Shock
They say coming home is harder to do than going overseas. True enough. For most of us it is intense, and if you had already been overseas, then you are well aware of the challenges of reverse culture shock. However, if this was your first adventure, then it is important to be aware of the often-unexpected reverse culture shock that many experience upon returning to their home country. Reverse culture shock results from being re-exposed to a familiar environment after being away from it for a period of time. For some, the experience is more intense than initial culture shock. Frequently, many experience feelings of frustration at re-adapting to the home environment.

1. Practice your reply to “How was it?”
   Keep in mind that most people do not mean to be disinterested in your experience — in fact, many people are interested. However, they may not display the level of interest to satisfy your need to recount your experience to them. Many returned Peace Corps Volunteers refer to this as the “five-minute limit.” In other words, when someone asks “How was it?” share with them what you can in five minutes and then stop. If they want to know more, they will certainly ask. Being realistic about what to expect from other’s reactions to your experience will help you in managing expectations about others.
2. Re-establish a social support network
   It is important for you to re-establish a social support network back at home. You may have maintained a network of friends while away, but you may also have noticed that some of your interests have changed and not all of those in your former social network can meet all of your current social interests. Consider, also, with whom you will be able to talk about your experience in depth. Who will listen and be supportive of your need to chat about what you learned, what you did, and what you miss? One of the best things you can do to help yourself with your repatriation is to seek out others who have gone through similar experiences. They may not be able to relate to your specific country experience, but they can relate to the nuances of re-adaptation to a home culture.
3. Move on
   Your Peace Corps experience has more than likely added wonderful new dimensions to your personality and character. It will always be a part of who you are. It is now your turn to think about how it has impacted your life and what you want to do with the experience, personally. And remember, there is a great big world out there that you have yet to explore. If this experience made a difference, imagine what can happen during the next.

What was your experience?

— Laurette Bennhold-Samaan