You May Think Globally

But you Re-enter Locally!

SIETAR-USA ConferenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico

November 1-4, 2006

Session Presenter

Bruce La Brack, Ph.D.

School of International StudiesUniversity of the Pacific

Stockton, California

Session Focus

Why the Social Context

of Reentry Mattersand

How it is Changing Worldwide!

Session Overview

Themes Reentry Definitions Traditional Characteristics Reentry Historically & Pre-Modern Patterns 20th Century Patterns

Impact of Globalization Existing Models Emerging Behaviors & Models Diverse Impacts & Communities Contemporary Issues & Challenges New Directions and Complications

Reentry

“Upon reentering their native culture without adequate preparation, people are likely to discover, much to their surprise, that they cannot simply pick up where they left off… Friends remember them more or less as they were when they left. In all likelihood, they are expected to be very much the same.”

Source: Freedman, p. 22 in Clyde Austin, Cross-Cultural Reentry, 1986

“The illusion that it is easy to return home after an expanded overseas living and working experience is shared both by expatriate employees and their employers. This common misconception can lead to a variety of problems, from individual concerns such as disappointment, boredom, depression and anger to company issues…concerns such as low employee productivity, and effective use of skills and knowledge gained from the overseas experience, and a loss in revenue due to high turnover rates in returned expatriate employees.”

Source: J. Greenberg, 1997

“Home… …where they are no longer

foreigners…, where they don’t have to think before they speak or act, and where they needn’t ever worry again about having to adjust.

Home: where it’s easy.”Source: Storti, 1990, p. 99

Types of Returnees(in very rough order of the amount of literature available ontheir Reentry experiences, problems, issues, and outcomes)

1. US-American Study Abroad Students2. International Exchange/Foreign Students3. Missionaries (aka MK’s or Missionary Kids)4. International Business (including expat

families)5. Military (aka Military Brats)6. TCK/Global Nomad 7. International Development/Aid8. Diplomatic Corps9. Peace Corps

Types of Returnees, cont.10. Refugee/Political Exiles11. International Education (teaching &

administration)12. International Health Staff (doctors, nurses,

AIDS clinicians, disaster relief workers, NGO agency medical personnel, etc.)

13. Journalists/Media14. Hospitality Industry (e.g., Hotels, Resorts,

Cruise Ships, Country Clubs) 15. Professional Athletes (e.g., American baseball

players in Japan, American basketball players in Italy, Olympic athletes and coaches)

Developed by Bruce La Brack, School of International Studies, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

General Categories ofDefinitions of Reentry

Behavioral – ‘generic’ (i.e., the act of reentering

again)

• Aerospace — return from space• Cardiology — blood circulation• Real Estate — retaking possession of land• Card Game — Whist• Prison Release — parole• Adult Education — non-traditional student • Sojourner/Study Abroad — various• Petroleum Exploration — drilling

Reentry

reentry \re-'en-tre-\ n.

1. a retaking possession; esp. entry by a lessor on leased premises on the tenant's failure to perform the conditions of the lease

2. a second or new entry

3. a playing card that will enable a player to regain the lead

4. the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

Source: Webster’s Dictionary. Infopedia CD-Rom Version, 1996

Suggested Addition

Reentry…

the process or act of returning to one's native (passport) country after living or working internationally.

Why reentry “home” is potentially difficult

Unanticipated change – “home” is a givenUnadjusted expectations or false expectationsHeightened critical senseComparative framework (new perspectives)Unprocessed experienceLittle opportunity for application or sharing of non-technical knowledgeGetting socially up-to-speed may be frustratingReverse “home sickness”

Degrees of Cultural Reactions

Culture Surprise (Tourist)“Notice Things,” fantasy-like, exotic,

concentration on “difference,” quaint, “honeymoon” phase

Culture Stress (Traveler)Mild response to “stimulus overload,” tired,

withdrawn, annoyance builds, “daily reality” phase

Culture Fatigue (Work/Study)

Greater impact due to “need to operate” in difficult context, symptoms intensify, functionality declines

Cultural Reactions, cont.

Culture Shock Onset timing variable; results in serious reaction to

continuing tension; anxiety; disconfirmation of behavior; possible severe physical/mental manifestations (e.g., anger, displaced aggression, “freeze”)

Item Irritation Irritation Traceable to a single item/value; focus on an overt,

observable behavior that is common and recurrent and not likely to go away; a real “hot button”(e.g., public spitting, mistreatment of animals)

Cultural Reactions, cont.

Reentry Shock

Reactions that occur as a result of re-adaptation to our home culture; often called “reverse culture shock”; shares some aspects in common with culture shock, but timing of stages very different.

Added complication of surprise: returnees usually don’t expect home culture to be unreceptive to them or to be so difficult to come back to; the “familiar” may seem “foreign.”

Expectations of self and others can play major role in adjustment process, and be a source of ongoing stress.

Specific context of reentry always a crucial variable.

Influences on Adjustment Time Abroad Location (degree of difference) Prior Exposure Overseas Extent of Immersion Home Contact/Support

Networks Prior Reentry Experience(s) Degree of Home Culture

Contrast

"When I go back I know I shall be out of it; we fellows who've spent our lives outthere always are.”

Somerset Maugham

Source: from The Gentleman in the Parlour quoted in Craig Storti, The Art of Coming Home, Intercultural Press (1997), p. 1.

Reentry Predictor Variables

Control Factors Intrapersonal Factors

(personality/idiopathic issues) Somatic/Biological Factors Interpersonal (external support) Time/Space Geopolitical

Intensity Factors Adapted to Returnee Contexts 1. Cultural Differences 2. Ethnocentrism 3. Language 4. Cultural Immersion* 5. Cultural Isolation* 6. Prior Intercultural Experience 7. Expectations* 8. Visibility/Invisibility 9. Status10. Power and Control

*particularly salient in reentry contexts

Source: R. Michael Paige. “On the Nature of Intercultural Experiences and Intercultural Education,”

in R. Michael Paige, ed., Education for the Intercultural Experience, Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 1994.

Reentry Program Models By Goal of Society or

Organization

Reassimilation/Reacculturaltion/ Resocialization Reflective Assessment Growth and Integration Negotiated Reentry

Source: Bruce La Brack, School of International Studies,University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

Reassimilation/Reacculturation/Resocialization

Dominant historical patterns characterized by: Reinforcement of normative (traditional?) values is

paramount and applied society-wide Deviation almost always results in negative sanctions Social pressure to conform often intense Limited ability of returnee to use prior experience Cultural variations are mainly structural and depend

on type of society (e.g., tribal, peasant, industrial) and location (e.g., rural, urban, metropolitan)

Limited mobility and/or alternative options

Human Society Dominated by Small Scale Societies Until

1800 For 250,000 years human society could be characterized as:

Small scale Hunting/Gathering + Horticulture + Agriculture-based Exhibiting “mechanical solidarity” or Gemeinschaft society (Durkheim) Held together by “Moral Order” (Robert Redfield) Relatively isolated Highly collectivist

In the 1800’s, there were 150 million people who were politically autonomous. In 1900, the number was still around 50 million.

Fit in or Suffer the Consequences!

For 99% of human history, the role of the “returnee” was to fit back into prevailing cultural rules and roles of a specific society or kin group.

The penalties for not doing so have ranged from ostracism to extreme isolation, banishment, and even death!

Early Historical Samples Rituals Brahmannical Hindu purification rites from Rig Veda (circa 1700-1100 BCE) Literature “Prodigal son” from New Testament Bible Homer’s Odyssey Asian History Tokogawa Japan Chinese response to Europeans Journals Marco Polo Hsuan Tsang

Contemporary Samples from Smaller-Scale

Societies Western Apache of U.S. Southwest

Mende of Sierra Leone, West Africa

Yemeni of the Arabian Peninsula

Plato’s View of Strangers from The Laws

Utopian State needs to be insulated from the outside world as much as possible; therefore, in terms of foreign visitors, “good care” needs to be taken lest any “of this category of visitor introduces any novel custom.” Contact with strangers is to be kept “down to the unavoidable minimum.”

Plato’s View of Study Abroad

“No young person under forty is ever to be allowed to travel abroad under any circumstances; nor is anyone to be allowed to go for private reasons, but only on some public business, as a herald or ambassador or as an observer of one sort or another.”

Plato’s View of Returnees

Those who do go abroad for such purposes are obligated when they return to “tell the younger generation that the social and political customs of the rest of the world don’t measure up to their own.”

Source: The Global Philosophers: World Politics in Western Thought (Issues in World Politics Series), Mark V. Kauppi

Macro Transformations 1800-1950

Large scale nation-states emerge Colonialism dominates political organization Industrialization, agri-business and easier/cheaper sea and land transportation possible Societies move rapidly towards ‘Organic Solidarity’…aka a Gessellschaft society (Durkheim), held together by ‘Mechanical Order’ (Robert Redfield) Widespread, cross-border economic and social integration accelerates Power increasingly centralized and urbanized Many Western societies exhibit increasing individualist tendencies and values Internal cultural and social pluralism grows Global circulation of elites and administrators commonplace

Macro Transformations 1950-Present

End of colonialism Massive internal & external migrations continue “Plural” and “multi-cultural” societies become norm in

West and emerge elsewhere Jet travel becomes fast and less expensive Intensification of Global Mass Media/Pop Culture Computer revolution Internet evolution Asynchronous communication increases Non-traditional study abroad destinations increase Internships/service learning components grow Global management/manufacturing near universal trend Economic and social integration/interdependency

intensifies World shrinks while diversity multiplies nearly everywhere

Shift in Goals of Repatriation

Current philosophy of many study abroad and international exchange programs (at least in the West) revolves around a focus on Individual Growth:

Direct cross-cultural learning and exploration Personal and cultural diversity seen as normal, positive

and encouraged Integration of sojourn with home academic and social life

desired/expected to some extent

Result is a positive bias towards applying and integrating international experience into ongoing life and studies post-experience.

Expansion of Possibilities for Returnees

Reassimilation/Reacculturation/Resocialization models remain common world-wide, however…

Growth and Integration Reflective Assessment Negotiated Reentry

examples have emerged as alternative models that support readjustment strategies for both institutions and individuals, reflected in growing differentiation of “reentry styles.”

New Issues and Contexts in Reentry

Global Nomads as percentage of returnees“Heritage-seeking” students and attendant

identity issues“Revolvers” (where and when is “home”?)“Sequential Assignments” without meaningful time “at home” to readjustAttractive global alternatives (“just leave”) and local alternatives (“just stay”—but with limited networks and narrow comfort zones) Veterans (PTSD and reverse culture shock)

Local can be global Global can be local

Possibility of “cultural ghettoization” or social encapsulation—even in the most multi-cultural societies—with all associated negative results.

Possibility of finding or creating an “international and/or intercultural” experience increasingly likely—even in homogenous traditional settings, and without leaving home.

Pusch’s Reentry Styles

“Going Home: Styles of Reentry”by Margaret D. Pusch

In Donal Lynch, Adrian Pilbeam and Philip O'Connor, Heritage and Progress, from conference proceedings, SIETAR-Europa Conference, Bath, England, 1998.

Intended Style

=========Reactions to Home Culture

Free Spirit

=========Some estrangement and rejection(ranging from Discontent to Alienation)

Detached

===========Reluctance to go back to old patterns and home culture, but not alienated

Reassimilator

=============Reassimilation;delighted to be back, may even exaggerate cultural norms, often downplays foreign experience

Integrator

==========Positive Integration blending old and new pragmatically

Main Concern

Continue experience of being different

Survival, comfort Easy reentry, fitting into home culture and prior roles

Finding best fit with the home culture without losing past

Internal Commitment

Being "unique"

Creating comfortable environment for self (and perhaps family)

Home culture; life as it has always been, cheerfully readaptive

Continuing to change and develop

Role One Seems(or Attempts) to Play

Eccentric Detached but tolerant participant

Total participant Leader or Mediator, Contented Believer, Advocate,Expatriate

Pusch ‘Styles’ & J. Bennett Marginality Categories

Compared

‘Free Spirit’ can seen as equivalent of an

Encapsulated Marginal

‘Detached’ and ‘Integrator’ could both be seen as partial equivalents of a Constructive Marginal

…depending upon degree of engagement

In-Patriation:A New Reentry Research

Direction? Very recently, studies from areas as

disparate as Ireland and Hong Kong/China have suggested a potential new direction in returnee research. They deal with return of expatriates (many formerly considered “permanent”) to their passport country due to current economic boom conditions. Adjustment patterns differ significantly from earlier expatriate returnees and associated literature. India is likely to experience similar patterns in near future.

Sample In-Patriation Studies

The “Returning to Ireland” website questionnaire of Dr. Michael J. Curran, Trinity College, Dublin, through which he gathered data on his interest in “the acculturation and health of current Irish in-migrants” (www.r-I.com) in 2005-2006. Site no longer available on web.

“Blending Cultures: Hong Kong Chinese Return Home,” paper by Dr. Nan Sussman, City University New York-Staten Island, presented at the SIETAR-USA Conference, Jersey City, N.J., November 2005; discusses the emergence of unique “re-migration reactions and effects” among Chinese returnees (former expatriates).

In-Patriation Article on India

“There’s No Place Like Home...Again: Returning to India:

Personal and Professional Challenges”

by Cindy Reif, in Strategic Advisor, Newsletter of GMAC: Global Relocation Services: Volume 2: Number 13 (Sept. 2006)

Source: <www.gmacglobalrelocation.com>

Research Review Source

The Psychology of Culture Shock, 2nd ed., Philadelphia, PA: Routledge, 2001

Colleen Ward, Stephen Bochner, and Adrian Furnham provide a superb, relatively current, review of study abroad and international student adaptation research as part of comprehensive review of “culture shock.” Includes extensive bibliography on both “culture shock” and “reentry shock.” Excellent overviews of study abroad, immigrant, international student and other categories of sojourners.

Global Nomads

David C. Pollock & Ruth Van RekenThird Culture Kids: The Experience of

Growing Up Among Worlds, 2nd ed. Intercultural Press, 2001

Pico IyerThe Global Soul: Jet Lag. Shopping

Mallsand the Search for Home Knopf, 2000

Native American Veterans Rituals

Tom HolmStrong Hearts—Wounded Souls: Native American Veterans of the Vietnam War,University of Texas-Austin, 1996

(see especially Chapter 6, “Strong Hearts,” on contemporary ceremonies)

New Challenges in Reentry Training

Greater domestic and international variety in types of returnees than ever before

Their experiences, expectations, and reactions will exhibit greater complexity, range and, sometimes, intensity

Alternative adjustment possibilities are often extensive, but choosing among or recommending them can be difficultConsequences and outcomes of returnee adopting a specific strategy nearly always uncertain and often unpredictableLocal context always has an impact upon readjustment, but it can be multiplistic and positive or negative—and sometimes both simultaneously or sequentially! Depends upon an interplay among the attitudes of the returnees, the returnee’s goals and views of the local circumstances, and the prevailing perceptions of the returnees by the salient surrounding reference groups

Challenges in Reentry, cont.

Possible Ethical Dilemmas

What to do when client sets expectations for a reentry training that may be incompatible, even diametrically opposed, to those desired by returnee?

What to do when it is clear that corporate interests do not coincide with that of returnee and/or their family in terms of repatriation goals/future plans?

What to do when trainer acquires information in course of reentry session that may adversely impact the sponsoring company, but returnee expects trainer to maintain confidentiality and company expects candor?

Expat Allegiance PatternsExpatriates grouped into one of four allegiance

patterns:

Free Agent: Expats have low allegiance to both the parent firm and the local unit

Going Native: Expats have low allegiance to the parent firm and high allegiance to the local unit

Hearts-at-home pattern: Expats identify more strongly with the parent firm than with the local operation

Dual Citizen pattern: Expats are highly committed to both parent and local operation

Source: Black, J. Stewart, and Gregersen, Hal B. ” Serving Two Masters: Managing the Dual Allegiance of Expatriate Employees,” Sloan Management Review, Cambridge, Summer 1992

“In a sense, it is the coming back, the return, which gives meaning to the going forth. We really don’t know where we have been until we come back to where we were -- only where we were may not be as it was because of who we have become, which after all, is why we left.”

Source: Bernard, character from TV show “Northern Exposure”after returning to Alaska from Africa