Job Discussion Forums

[khmerhit]

Me, i mostly take the drinking cure. However, I understand that Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) assists its returnees in adapting to their homeland. Having been out of country for about 15 years, I sure could have done with something like that when I beached up. Bartenders dont really have all the counselling skills, and people you meet in watering holes are often unsure what to make of a Returnee. It's not 1945, after all.

Having said that, last nite I met a travelling salesman who works for a Hollywood studio. Oddly enough, we had a lot in common, mostly an interest in women, salsa, and foreign travel. Although he earns more in a single year than I have ever earned in a lifetime, he professed to take an interest in ESL, since his girlfriend lives in Spain and his friend teaches in Poland and blah de blah de blah.

What's my point? Right---, well, it is this: if you find yourself in the Unit and suffering from Acute Reverse Culture Shock, as i did for a long time, then you should get professional help such as VSO makes available to its folks.
The drinking cure is not a very useful alternative, but it sometimes has its advantages, because you can meet fellow internationalists.

Comments on a postcard to:
ARCS Unit, c/o Khmerhit,
Dave's ESL Cafe,
Cyberspace

[dmb]

Sorry to disagre khmerhit but I find the drinking cure a very useful alternative, especially at the weekend.

[gerard]

I agree with dmb. Drinking sounds like the better of the 2 options. After all how did you meet the loaded guy??

Jesus do they have professional help for everything these days..There is no such thing as culture shock--only long plane rides..We live in the global village..

My advice? Go back to Cambodia and do the hippy shake. I wont even charge you for that.

[Roger]

...and why do you guys need to see "reverse culture shock" as a syndrome to be cured away?

It is a happy and healthy thing that I for one would cherish if I had a chance of "suffering" from it...

[struelle]

[quote]and why do you guys need to see "reverse culture shock" as a syndrome to be cured away?

It probably ties into your argument about civilization fatigue. If I understand it right, for those extended TEFLers who are 'tired' of their own culture, it's more difficult to re-enter it than it is to adjust to a new culture.

It was tough-slugging for me in Canada between teaching gigs around Sept 11. That event certainly compounded the re-entry shock.

Right now life is going well in China, but I'm at a bit of a crossroads now. The longer one stays, the more difficult it is to return. Then again, staying put in China is an option as others have done it. What I'd really like, though, is to move on and see different Asian cultures. At some point, re-entry will happen. But I think it's easier to re-enter Canada with a more global exposure, as Canada prides itself on being a mosaic of different cultures.

Comments from others?