THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 5/5/18 Abby Lewtas 5/5/18

What is Reverse Culture Shock?

What you can expect and the different phases when your transitioning through Reverse Culture Shock. What is Reverse Culture Shock? Is a upsetting and disturbing feelings and emotions experienced by some people upon returning home from spending a significant time overseas.

What you can expect and the different phases when your transitioning through Reverse Culture Shock.

What is Reverse Culture Shock?

Is a upsetting and disturbing feelings and emotions experienced by some people upon returning home from spending a significant time overseas.

Signs that you could be experiencing reverse culture shock.

You have changed and notice that you don’t relate as well to old friends and those around you.
You feel alone as if there is no one who understands
You feel bored
You're living in your past travels and experience far too often
You compare your current situation to your past experience overseas
You only think about the good things of your travels or time abroad

Different phases of this transition.

Realisation of the return home
Initial excitement for landing back in your motherland
Denial of your return home
Unhappiness, Misery, Gloom, Melancholy and sometimes depression
Frustraion about your position
Adjusting adapting and experimenting
Owning your decision to return home
Integration, finding purpose and meaning

Hannah Morris - Humble beginnings to intercultural learning.

Dr. Morris (Hannah) is an international educator and world traveler passionate about assisting others as they navigate their own intercultural transitions. Her current work is based on her professional experiences abroad along with her research in higher education and intercultural learning and it has enabled her to combine the academic and practical knowledge of cross-cultural transitions to help students, families, and schools around the globe.

Having visited over 50 countries Hannah met her partner whilst living in India and now helps others with student re-entry transitions.

About Hannah

Dr. Hannah Morris is an international educator and world traveller passionate about assisting others as they navigate their own intercultural transitions. Her current work is based on her professional experiences abroad along with her research in higher education and intercultural learning and it has enabled her to combine the academic and practical knowledge of cross-cultural transitions to help students, families, and schools around the globe.

Hannah was born with the travel bug. A daughter of an adult third culture kid and a self-described gypsy, she has visited over 50 countries and lived on four continents. She met her partner at a Halloween party in New Delhi, India while she was leading a group of students in Incredible India. A year later she moved to Delhi to live with him and a year and a half later they re-entered the US to spend a year in DC, a new city for Hannah.

“Surround yourself with a really supportive group of people who you know will cheer you on.”

— Dr. Hannah Morris

When coming home...

Emotions Hannah faced - Difficulties with political situations and reigniting friendship circles. She felt lost.
How Hannah supported herself - Completing re-entry transition before heading off again. Being a tourist in her own town. Find things to appreciate every day. Being open to meet new people.
How did her mindset change - Sharing her feelings with others, realising that its ok to be sad.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock.

Friendship groups dont magically happen when you return home, you have to work to create and foster them.
Work to your strengths, don't just make your ideas fit.
Enjoy the ride - make the best out of everything you can.