RE-ENTRY AND REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK

"But I'm only going home. What's all the fuss about?"

These are the terms used to describe the difficulties encountered after returning home from　an extended soujourn abroad. Re-adjustment to the environment of your home country carries with it different problems to those you faced in adjusting when you came to Japan. If you are unprepared, re-entry may be even more of a shock to your system than the initial culture shock you experienced upon arrival here. As a traveller, you need to frame "coming home" as part of a complete cycle that includes leaving in the first place, settling overseas, and finally returning.

You may think there is little to prepare for your move back home other than the logistics of packing, buying your ticket and getting on the right plane. You know the language, how to get things done, you're going back to your family, friends and familiar surroundings - what could be easier? But don't forget that after living abroad for an extended period (especially in Japan) you will return a changed person, as ominous as it sounds. In your absence, your home and the people in it will have been gradually changing as well. You'd think it would be easy to pick up where you left off, but you'd be suprised.

Think back to your initial arrival in Japan and the roller-coaster ride of emotions that culture shock took you on - from initial euphoria (Tokyo baby, yeah!) to irritability and hostility (Eeeuh. Raw fish. Gross!) to gradual adjustment (I suppose Japanese food is quite healthy), and finally to adaptation (or even assimilation) - "I'm preparing a sushi dinner for 25 of my closest friends, wanna come?"

You may be suprised to find yourself experiencing these same kind of feelings when you go home. While Taco Bell or baked beans may infact be delicious for breakfast, lunch and dinner, after a few weeks you 'll have beens coming out of your, err.. ears.

Initially your friends will find it interesting to listen to your stories of an exotic life in Yamaguchi, but soon their faces will take on that all-too-familiar glazed look and betray their lack of interest. They simply cannot relate. You will be asked the same repetoire of standard questions (a bit like being an ALT) - What was it like there? What's Japan like then? Did you eat sushi? The constant burden of having to think-up crowd pleasing sound-bites will grow heavy. You will begin to slip back and forth from being dazzled by all the exciting gaijin to wondering just what the hell you are doing amongst them, and then feeling terribly out of place. (Sound familiar?)

While many people are able to quickly move on to the adjustment phase, others continue to feel alienated long after they get back. If you notice that you are feeling the symptoms of culture shock, loneliness, disorientation, depression - be aware that you are in fact suffering from reverse culture shock. More often that not being able to recognize a problem makes it easier to deal with. Take time to readjust your expectations and give yourself time to learn about the culture you have come back into. With patience and effort, you will be able to find ways to make use of the skills and experience you have acquired in Japan. Life in your home country may not provide you with the challenges that you were used to facing on a daily basis. Realize that your home country has become foreign to you, and approach it as a new challenge. You will also developed new attitudes, values and perceptions while living abroad that are out of sync with what you find when you return. You will be seeing a new world, through a new set of lenses.

How should you counteract culture shock? Some people don't do anything at all, they may even enjoy the experience. Others successfully employ the tactics that they used to adjust to life in Japan to help them prepare for their new lives back home.

Above all, have some kind of a plan. There is still plenty of time. A plan that fails is better than not having had a plan in the first place. Apply for jobs, plan trips, go back to school, become a volunteer, just decide on something before you leave Japan. Former JETs have told of the agony of moping round the house for weeks on end with nothing to do.

COPING STRATEGIES

Before you leave Japan:

• Know what to expect! It helps to worry ahead of time.
• Be prepared for a rise in stress levels amongst all JETs.
• Take time to reflect on your life in Japan. Preparing for you successor will help you with this.
• Explore your feelings about leaving Japan. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about going home? Are you excited? Do you feel that although your experience in Japan has been satisfying, you are ready to move on? Do you dread going home, being dragged kicking-and-screaming onto the plane?
• Anticipate things having changed, and things that may still be the same.
• Take time to find out how your home, your city, your country and even your world has changed in your absence. Those of us who left before the horrors of September 11th, 2001 will notice a lot of things have changed, for better and for worse.
• Research popular music, television, movies, whatever is current in your country. You'll be suprised at how much conversation revolves around these topics (or maybe you won't!).
• Try to make long-term goals to help motivate you in your work, and enhance your relationships with others.
• Realise that getting set up at home will take time, and be patient.

En Route:

• Consider finding a stop-over destination on your way home, to spend some time and relax. But be careful what you say to your supervisor, as it may affect your airfare home. Maybe an East-meets-West place like Hong Kong or Singapore could act as a buffer zone before re-entry.

When you get home:

• Get lots of rest. Pamper yourself physically. Let your mother cook your favourite food everyday.
• Pamper your sense of humour.
• Expect difficulties, and that everyone else around you will not expect you to have them.
• Seek out a sympathetic listener with whom you can vent frustrations. You may experience boredom, apathy, loneliness, alienation, anxiety and/or depression.
• Realise that others may not want to hear about your adventures in Japan. They may ask about them, only to interrupt with their own.
• Maintain ties with Japan with Japanese friends both in Japan and in your home country.
• Recognize that you have changed. You have become a more 'multi-cultural' person. Do not try to go back to the "old you", and give people time to get used to the "new you".
• Relationships may be more demanding than before. Your friends may seem a bit narrow minded or boring.
• Realize that you are no longer a celebrity, for better of for worse. You will no longer get the special treatment/attention that you loathed but secretly loved while you were in Japan. Why aren't you looking at me fellow passengers?

You may be amused to find that many of the customs that you once thought were perfectly normal now seem strange. Re-entry is a time for you to go through a great deal of adjustment and to try to integrate your experience in Japan into the larger scope of your life. It may take you months of even years to process the ways in which living in Japan has affected you. Don't panic, relax, remember if you can survive here you can survive anywhere! You'll begin to feel at home soon enough.

SAYING GOODBYE

4 or 5 months before leaving start planning your goodbyes. Make a list of the people who mean the most you to you here, and reflect on what kind of ongoing relationship you realistically plan/want to have which each. Make sure you are able to say goodbye in a way that does your relationship justice. (Some people avoid this difficult goodbye scenario completely- either by forming unrealistically close bonds, or by alienating themsevles. Don't make the same mistake!) The actual act of saying goodbye needn't be along, drawn out affair. A simple Japanese phrase expressed from the heart will go a long way. If you plan to have a farewell dinner/party, then this might be the opportunity to make a slightly longer speech.

Remember, your students may want some kind of closure too. Preparing a farewell speech for them is a great chance to leave them with a positive, motivational message. Encourage them to continue studying English, to chase their dreams and look forward to welcoming the next ALT.

Goodbye Etiquette: While you may have built up a close enough relationship with some of your colleagues and friends to give them them a bear-hug goodbye, think twice before passionately embracing your boss/ kocho-sensei. Public hugging/kissing is still deemed impolite amongst Japanese who are not accustomed to the ways of foreigners (or simply old-fashioned). In these situations, a warm handshake is the safest option.

THE JET ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (JETAA)

The JET Alumni Association is, er, just that. An association (organised into regional chapters) which creates opportunities for past JETs to meet, contact each other, hold reunions, etc. Click on the link below and find a chapter near you:

http://www.jet.org

Also, see the General Handbook, page 322 for further information.

POST-JET CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

If you aren't lucky enough to be buying a round the world ticket or if you aren't going home to hit the books, the chances are you'll be finding yourself on a job search. Here are some links, organised by country, to get you rolling:

COUNTRY	DESCRIPTION	GO!
	JETAA Job E-mail list. Regular openings within Japan and home countries, e-mailed to you directly. http://www.cheno.com/job	GO!
	E-mail information about job vacancies requiring Japanese language skills, according to your profile. http://www.bilingual-jobs.com	GO!
	http://www.japanesejobs.com will e-mail you with US or Japan based information. http://www.japanesejobs.com	GO!
	Aeonet for TEFL positions throughout the world. http://www.aeonet.com	GO!
	tokyoclassified.com offers help with housing, jobs, etc in the Tokyo and Kanto areas. http://www.tokyoclassified.com	GO!
	ELT News is a site for teachers in Japan, updated daily with a list of EFL jobs. http://www.eltnews.com	GO!
	ohayosensei.com lists teaching jobs in Japan. http://www.ohayosensei.com	GO!
	gaijinpot.com offers daily job listings, interesting articles and tips on living in Japan. http://www.gaijinpot.com	GO!
	workopolis.com lists jobs available througout Canada. THe site also includes career advice, career profiles and links to MBA courses. http://www.workopolis.com	GO!
	jobsineducation.com lists advertisments related to education jobs across Canada. http://www.jobsineducation.com	GO!
	educationcanada.com lists teaching opportunities throughout Canada with links to provincial sites. http://www.educationcanada.com	GO!
	tesl.ca lists job posting for English as a Second Language positions. http://www.tesl.ca	GO!
	jobs.gc.ca advertises current jobs and programme opportunites with the Canadian Federal Government. http://www.jobs.gc.ca	GO!
	Canadajobs.com has links to databases, job banks, employment agencies and newsgroups. http://www.canadajobs.com	GO!
	jobhuntersbible.com is a search site maintained by Richard Bolles of "What Color is Your Parachute?" fame. Includes career profiles, personality tests and great links. http://www.jobhuntersbible.com	GO!
	Carney, Sandoe and Associates, Mass. posts positons for independent and private school in the US and internationally. http://www.csa-teach.com	GO!
	Academic Employment Network, Maine, posts job opporutunities for teachers in the US and internationally. http://www.academploy.com	GO!
	Council of Great City Schools, Washinton D.C, offers connections to schools in major cities across the US. http://www.cgcs.org	GO!
	The Education Placement Service claims to be the largest teacher placement service in the US. http://www.teacherjobs.com	GO!
	The American Schools Directory provides links to k-12 schools in the United States. http://www.asd.com	GO!
	careercity.com lists jobs, employers, Resume writing advice and other information. http://www.careercity.com	GO!
	careers.wsj.com offers some good links, and lists America Online vacancies. http://www.careers.wsj.com	GO!
	newsclassifieds.com.au lets you search opportunites by keyword across Australia. http://www.newsclassifieds.com.au	GO!
	careersonline.com.au offers careers advice and has job listings in Australia. http://www.careersonline.com.au	GO!
	Also, try: http://www.careerone.com.au	GO!
	jobsearch.co.uk lists jobs of all kinds througout the UK http://www.jobsearch.co.uk	GO!
	The British Council offers TEFL postings across the world. You'll need a diploma for most positions. http://www.britcoun.org	GO!
	Leading newspaper The Guardian lists quality public sector, overseas development and media jobs on its website. http://www.guardian.co.uk/jobs	GO!
	The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers a fast track scheme for those wishing to join the Diplomatic Service. http://www.fco.gov.uk	GO!
	Irish Jobs Page is Ireland's leading recruitment site: http://www.exp.ie	GO!
	Or try: http://www.jobfinder.ie	GO!
	The New Zealand Ministry of Education recruits teachers (from all over the world) at: http://www.teachnz.govt.nz	GO!
	The Council on International and Educational Exchange lists a variety of work, intern, volunteer and study abroad opportunities. http://www.ciee.org	GO!
	The Riley Guide at: http://www.rileyguide.com	GO!
	http://www.overseasjobs.com	GO!
	The Network of International Christian Schools lists opportunites for Christian teachers overseas: http://www.nics.org	GO!
	Time Plan Education Group (UK) places teachers in UK schools, often for supply teaching: http://www.timeplan.com	GO!
	International School Services at: http://www.iss.edu	GO!
	http://www.tesol.edu	GO!
	For international jobs, recruitment fairs and other services, try: http://www.edulink.com	GO!
	The European Council of International Students at: http://www.ecis.org	GO!
	For qualified teachers: http://www.iteachnet.com	GO!
	linguistic-funland.com has links to English as a Second Language teaching jobs. http://www.tesol.net/jobs	GO!
	International Study and Travel Centre http://www.istc.umn.edu	GO!
	monster.com - an international recruitment site, divided by region. http://www.monster.com	GO!
	Teaching jobs all over the globe at: http://www.worldteach.com	GO!
	World Teach is a non-profit programme of Harvard University which places volunteers teaching English in developing countries where assistance is requested. http://www.worldteach.org	GO!
	Service Civil International Workcamps offers 2-4 week terms in Europe, Africa and Asia. Volunteers pay their own expenses. http://www.scs-ivs.org	GO!
	Global Citizens Network offers short-term trips to work on small development projects. Group leaders often needed. 1931 Inglehart Ave,. St Paul, MN 55104 (US). Telephone: 1-612-644-0960
	Global Routes needs year-round group leaders for high school and college work camps in South and Central America, Africa and Asia. http://www.globalroutes.org	GO!
	Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) (UK) places 2,000 volunteers in 59 countries across the globe. Volunteers are paid a stipend, receive airfare, accomodation and a stipend paid upon completion of a 2-year contract. Volunteers must be Canadian or UK residents (not necessarily British or Canadian). http://www.vso.org.uk	GO!