Re-entry:Re-entry: The Rebound Experience The Rebound Experience

Program presented by Dr. Dennis WhiteProgram presented by Dr. Dennis White

dkwhite@itol.comdkwhite@itol.com

When viewed on line, the underlined hyperlinks When viewed on line, the underlined hyperlinks will open documents on will open documents on www.yeoresources.orgwww.yeoresources.org

How Exchange How Exchange Students ChangeStudents Change

In the early 1980s, The AFS Exchange Program attempted to In the early 1980s, The AFS Exchange Program attempted to analyze exactly what changes, if any, students experienced as analyze exactly what changes, if any, students experienced as a result of a year-long exchange. The results were published a result of a year-long exchange. The results were published in an article entitled, in an article entitled, International Exchange Programs - Are International Exchange Programs - Are the Educational Benefits Realthe Educational Benefits Real?, by Bettina Hansel and Neal ?, by Bettina Hansel and Neal Grove. Some of the results are summarized here.Grove. Some of the results are summarized here.

The original article is posted at The original article is posted at www.yeoresources.org

click on click on International Student Exchange Programs.doc 

An American Field Service An American Field Service StudyStudy

► All students applying to AFS exchanges All students applying to AFS exchanges were given a self-rating survey. (Pre-test)were given a self-rating survey. (Pre-test)

► Those who did not go abroad (for a variety Those who did not go abroad (for a variety of reasons) became the control group.of reasons) became the control group.

► Those who went on one year exchanges Those who went on one year exchanges were the experimental group.were the experimental group.

► Both groups were re-measured on the Both groups were re-measured on the same traits four months after the year-same traits four months after the year-long exchange.long exchange.

CultureCultureAn integrated system of An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of any given are characteristic of any given society. It refers to the total society. It refers to the total way of life, including how way of life, including how people think, feel and behave.people think, feel and behave.

CultureCulture ShockShock The profound sense of The profound sense of disorientation and disorientation and discomfort that comes with discomfort that comes with extended travel or living in extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.different from one’s own.

And you thought they wouldn’t like Americans. Why their faces just lit up when I told them we were Virginians!

Can you pick out the American Can you pick out the American Exchange Student?Exchange Student?

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:

The universal The universal tendency for any tendency for any culture to see its culture to see its own values and own values and

practices as natural practices as natural and correct. and correct.

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:

All cultures are All cultures are ethnocentric - and ethnocentric - and must be to impart must be to impart

their values to their their values to their members. members.

Ethnorelativism:Ethnorelativism:

The acquired ability to The acquired ability to see many values and see many values and behaviors as cultural behaviors as cultural rather than universal.rather than universal.

Ethnorelativism:Ethnorelativism:

This approach This approach attempts to attempts to understand values understand values and behaviors from and behaviors from the point of view of the point of view of that culture, rather that culture, rather than as right or than as right or wrong.wrong.

Stages of Culture Stages of Culture Shock:Shock:

► Initial enthusiasm and euphoriaInitial enthusiasm and euphoria► Irritability and negativismIrritability and negativism►Gradual adjustment and Gradual adjustment and

adaptationadaptation► Integration and bi-culturalism Integration and bi-culturalism

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Rotary Youth Exchange

Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

Developing Intercultural SensitivityDeveloping Intercultural Sensitivity

The Experience of DifferenceThe Experience of Difference

Denial Defense MinimizationDenial Defense Minimization

Ethnocentric StagesEthnocentric Stages Ethnorelative StagesEthnorelative Stages

Acceptance AdaptationAcceptance Adaptation IntegrationIntegration

Therefore, culture shock is Therefore, culture shock is not a one-time phenomenon. not a one-time phenomenon.

Rather, it is a repetitive Rather, it is a repetitive process of increasingly subtle process of increasingly subtle

immersion into a culture.immersion into a culture.

It often involves taking two It often involves taking two steps forward and one step steps forward and one step

back.back.

Developing Intercultural SensitivityDeveloping Intercultural Sensitivity

Denial Defense MinimizationDenial Defense Minimization

Ethnocentric StagesEthnocentric Stages Ethnorelative StagesEthnorelative Stages

Acceptance AdaptationAcceptance Adaptation IntegrationIntegration

The Experience of DifferenceThe Experience of Difference

Developing Intercultural SensitivityDeveloping Intercultural Sensitivity

Denial Defense MinimizationDenial Defense Minimization

Ethnocentric StagesEthnocentric Stages Ethnorelative StagesEthnorelative Stages

Acceptance AdaptationAcceptance Adaptation IntegrationIntegration

Successive cycles of Successive cycles of awarenessawareness

The Experience of DifferenceThe Experience of Difference

Being an exchange Being an exchange student is hard. If it was student is hard. If it was easy, everybody would be easy, everybody would be

doing it.doing it.

1. Unconscious 1. Unconscious Incompetence.Incompetence.

2.2. Conscious Conscious Incompetence.Incompetence.

3.3. Conscious Competence.Conscious Competence.

4.4. Unconscious Unconscious Competence.Competence.

Normal Distribution of Any Normal Distribution of Any Cultural TraitCultural Trait

FrequencyFrequency

Amount of TraitAmount of Trait

Example: Individualism vs. Group OrientationExample: Individualism vs. Group Orientation

A typical studentA typical student

Comparing Two Cultures Comparing Two Cultures ((on any given trait)on any given trait)

In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are mostly differentmostly different

Comparing Two Cultures

Pre-ExchangePre-Exchange

After AdaptationAfter Adaptation

After AdaptationAfter Adaptation

Culture ShockCulture Shock

Returning To Home CultureReturning To Home Culture

Returning To Home CultureReturning To Home Culture

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock(Re-entry Shock)(Re-entry Shock)

The often unexpected and difficult The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and period of disorientation and readjustment experienced after readjustment experienced after returning to one’s own culture returning to one’s own culture after an extended period of living after an extended period of living abroad. abroad.

Most people anticipate some Most people anticipate some degree of culture shock. Very degree of culture shock. Very few people believe they will few people believe they will experience reverse culture experience reverse culture shock.shock.

The Stages of Reverse The Stages of Reverse Culture Shock are almost Culture Shock are almost the same as those of the same as those of Culture ShockCulture Shock► Initial Euphoria (may be very brief Initial Euphoria (may be very brief

or not happen at all)or not happen at all)► Irritability and Negativism ( may be Irritability and Negativism ( may be

very lengthy)very lengthy)►Gradual AdaptationGradual Adaptation►True Bi-CulturalismTrue Bi-Culturalism

Culture Shock and Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock are Reverse Culture Shock are not just unpleasant side not just unpleasant side effects of international effects of international living.living.

They are the necessary They are the necessary ingredients that bring ingredients that bring about quality exchanges. about quality exchanges.

We can prepare for re-entry We can prepare for re-entry by: by:

►Anticipating CS and RCS.Anticipating CS and RCS.►““Normalizing” these phenomena.Normalizing” these phenomena.►Remembering that “compost Remembering that “compost

happens”.happens”.►Discouraging the phrase “The best Discouraging the phrase “The best

year of my life”. And instead year of my life”. And instead considering that: considering that:

For many exchange students For many exchange students the year abroad is:the year abroad is:

►The most exciting year of their lives.The most exciting year of their lives.►The most challenging year of their lives.The most challenging year of their lives.►The most growth-producing year of their The most growth-producing year of their

lives.lives.►The most broadening year of their lives.The most broadening year of their lives.►The most memorable year of their lives.The most memorable year of their lives.

How I Have Changed?How I Have Changed?(may be found at (may be found at

ww.yeoresources.org)ww.yeoresources.org)

An exercise using 44 An exercise using 44 statements that have statements that have often been identified by often been identified by exchange students as exchange students as significant changes from significant changes from the experience.the experience.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed

One student’s responseOne student’s response My youth exchange year was one of My youth exchange year was one of

incredible change and growth for me. incredible change and growth for me. In addition to see so much of the rest In addition to see so much of the rest of the world, and making such of the world, and making such wonderful friends, I changed in ways I wonderful friends, I changed in ways I never knew were possible. never knew were possible.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed

One student’s responseOne student’s response

I am more confident and positive I am more confident and positive when meeting new people. I have a when meeting new people. I have a greater ability to empathize with greater ability to empathize with others and to put myself in their others and to put myself in their place when making judgments. I have place when making judgments. I have greater willingness to take on new greater willingness to take on new roles and tasks. roles and tasks.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed One student’s responseOne student’s response I have more ability to see myself I have more ability to see myself

objectively, in a more realistic objectively, in a more realistic context. I understand more fully my context. I understand more fully my own strengths and weaknesses. I am own strengths and weaknesses. I am more tolerant of ambiguous more tolerant of ambiguous situations and more open to differing situations and more open to differing interpretations of them. I feel greater interpretations of them. I feel greater respect and appreciation for my respect and appreciation for my family. family.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed One student’s responseOne student’s response

And most of all, I feel more surely And most of all, I feel more surely that common bonds unite all human that common bonds unite all human beings. Thank you, Rotary for the beings. Thank you, Rotary for the best year of my life.best year of my life.

Related Articles on Related Articles on yeoresources.org:yeoresources.org:

►Rebound Rebound Training.docTraining.doc    ►Rebound Debriefings.docRebound Debriefings.doc    ►How Have I Changed.docHow Have I Changed.doc ►So You Think You're Home Now.docSo You Think You're Home Now.doc ►So You Think They're Home.docSo You Think They're Home.doc   

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