Returning back to the states

Hi Guepard1,

Well first of all, depending on how long you've been living abroad you should be prepared to experience Reverse Culture Shock. It will be more pronounced the longer the period you've been away from the States.

Just remember that everything changes, it will not be the same country, state and city that it was when you left. Your friends will have changed too, so while it's really important to touch base with them as soon as possible after your arrival don't expect that you can simply pick up where you left off with all of them. Some you may well be able to do that, others you won't - better to not even try.

You will find out quickly that it seems that nobody cares about your travels and your experiences, that's because they don't. People these days are too into 'themselves' for that. So don't make all your conversations about your stay in Algeria; you'll bore the pants off everybody and they won't want to be around you. Don't shut off the conversation about your trip, just keep it very minimal or tell things to only a select few of your very closest friends and family.

Depending on your adaptation to life and the culture in Algeria you may actually find that you have come to dislike some of the aspects of the culture back home. Don't think of yourself as a traitor because of this because you're not. There are many aspects of our own culture that we just naturally accept because we've had no experience with other cultures. That can mean that sometimes once your eyes have been opened to other lifestyles there may be parts of your old culture and lifestyle that just don't sit well with you anymore. That's life.

Be prepared for sensory overload. Maybe you have been living in a place that has intense movement 24 hours a day and is extremely noisy and you are going back to a slow paced and quiet place... the silence will seem intolerable. Maybe it will be the opposite and you won't be able to handle the noise. Lots of sights and sounds, tv commercials, music everywhere... that will take some getting used to again.

Lastly, be prepared to feel 'homesick' for Algeria from time-to-time, don't forget you've been living there for a while and it is now part of WHO you are.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog