Workshop IV - Professional Reintegration

Just as space vehicles may crash upon reentry unless they are properly equipped and insulated, sojourners experience traumatic reentry unless adequately prepared. The implicit assumption by some sojourners is that returning to their home country will not be difficult; however, reverse culture shock is worse than culture shock. Why? Being forewarned is being forearmed. That is, if sojourners anticipate specific difficulties which could occur during a potentially stressful event, they adjust more effectively.

Just before and during reentry, sojourners begin to have emotions mixed between expectations and apprehension. They become preoccupied with the problems of readjustment and reflect on how they have changed and how any changes will affect their lives upon returning home. Expectations about returning home is more optimistic in remembrance than in actuality. Individuals must realize that having been exposed to a foreign culture, new behaviors, new attitudes, and new values have been acquired; therefore, this is a time of reconstructing personal values.

Dimensions of four coping modes will be analyzed in comparison to the home and host cultures in helping the sojourner to become comfortable as a multicultural person.