Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of WERC.
Even though there’s no place like home, returning home after a period abroad can be challenging. The return of someone to their home country after a period of living abroad after relocation is called repatriation; it can also be called reverse migration. Nonetheless, it is a significant life event where both the joy of returning to a familiar environment with familiar people and immigration grief, which is the emotional distress of leaving a life that was built in another country, merge together.
This article explores the intricacies of repatriation and its emotional landscape, recommending practical tips for readjustment to the home country.
Navigating Repatriation
Repatriation fosters a mixture of emotions. The individual repatriating can experience initial excitement of returning home that is quickly shadowed by a feeling of loss and disorientation. This feeling is called “reverse culture shock,” where the repatriate feels like a stranger and out of place in the home country. They can feel angry, frustrated, confused, and alienated. Understanding these natural responses is part of the process of successful readjustment.
Reverse Culture Shock: An Unseen Challenge
The biggest challenge when repatriating is reverse culture shock, which happens when it dawns on the returning expatriate that not only have they changed during their time abroad but their home country has also changed. The cognitive dissonance this causes can lead to mixed feelings of confusion, discomfort, and unfamiliarity. Reverse culture shock can be more baffling than the initial culture shock when first moving abroad because it is unexpected. Elements contributing to reverse culture shock can include:
- Changes in the home country. It might be that the home country has shifted politically, socially, or economically, which can lead to a sense of unfamiliarity. This might lead to feeling like a foreigner at home.
- Changes in personal identity. Living abroad can expand an individual’s understanding of the world, which can result in personal growth and changes in identity. When an expatriate returns home, this can create a conflict between the new self and old ways of living.
- Altered Relationships. Family and friends might not understand the internal changes the repatriate has gone through or the new experiences they have endured. This can cause a shift in the relationships and feelings of isolation and frustration in the repatriate.
Understanding Immigration Grief
Immigration grief can be defined as a natural response to the losses that can come with immigration, such as loss of familiarity, loss of support networks, lack of belonging, sense of displacement, and identity loss. In the scope of repatriation, immigration grief is a normal reaction to leaving a life abroad. It comprehends the sadness that comes with the loss of the expatriate experience, which may include friends, way of living, and the country itself.
It is crucial to understand and address this grief for emotional well-being and recognize that while it can be a profound mourning sentiment, there are ways to cope with it.
Stages of Immigration Grief
- Denial: At first, the repatriate might refuse to acknowledge that they have left behind the expatriate life. They might have a “need” to stay connected with their former country and can experience a pushback to settle back into their home country.
- Anger: The repatriate might feel angry or frustrated they have left the former country and that they are back in their home country.
- Bargaining: The repatriate might consider returning abroad or might try to replicate their life abroad back home.
- Depression: The repatriate might experience a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which can interfere with their daily life.
- Acceptance: With time, the repatriate will accept the transition and find a way to balance the past expatriate experience with their current life in their home country.
Strategies for Readjustment and for Coping With Immigration Grief
- Consider Therapy – It is important to seek support from a therapist or counselor who is familiar with repatriation, as they will provide unmatched support and guidance to be able to navigate the complex emotions that come up during repatriation. Therapy can be a safe space to be able to process feelings and to get to know coping strategies to be able to integrate in the readjustment back home.
- Establish a Daily Routine – This is one of the most important tips for readjustment. Establishing a daily routine not only gives you something to do, but it also keeps your mind busy. It can also provide a sense of stability and normalcy. A mix of work, hobbies, and regular social activities during the day can help cope with the mixed feelings that come with repatriation.
- Be Patient With Yourself – Be patient with your readjustment and accept the fact that it will take some time to feel entirely at home again in your home country. Remember that repatriation is a process, and it’s normal to experience mixed emotions.
- Keep in Touch With Your Friends from Abroad – Keeping in touch with friends from abroad can help ease into your new life more easily. These friendships can offer an emotional lifeline during the repatriation process because they provide a sense of understanding of the challenges faced, and they also serve as a reminder of the adventures experienced abroad. Friends who have shared similar experiences can empathize with the emotional adjustments and make it easier to process the feelings caused by reverse culture shock and immigration grief. Also, friends from abroad understand the complexities of living in another country, and this can help validate the repatriate’s experiences and changes, bridging the gap between past and present identities. By keeping the expatriate’s global perspective alive, these connections prevent feelings of isolation and offer emotional stability, making the transition home smoother and more resilient.
- Reconnect Gradually – Give yourself time to breathe and to gradually reintegrate into old social circles. This will help to not get overwhelmed when reconnecting with family and friends. It’s better to take it slow to help manage stress and have a smoother transition back home.
- Try New Activities – Once back in your home country, you will want to experience new things, like new hobbies or activities. Let yourself explore and experiment with all these new experiences, which will lead to rediscovering your home country, making new friends, and bridging the gap between your old and your new self.
- Connect with Fellow Repatriates – Sharing the repatriation process with fellow repatriates can provide a sense of understanding and empathy. Sharing experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms can help readjust faster and smoother, all while gaining a support network.
- Focus on the Positive – Bring yourself to focus on the positive aspects of being home, such as being closer to family, enjoying the company of friends, the local cuisine, and re-engaging in local activities.
Repatriation Is a Journey
Just as expatriation, repatriation is a challenging journey that transforms an individual. Repatriation requires patience, time, and understanding of the emotional journey the repatriate will go through. It is a journey that, if managed correctly, can give room for growth and resilience. It is important for repatriates to engage in strategies for readjustment and coping with immigration grief to be able to have a smoother transition into their home country.
By understanding what repatriation entails, repatriates can find ways to integrate the experiences and lessons learned abroad into their current lives, which can help create a sense of continuity and purpose. By absorbing their past, they can create a better present in preparation for a meaningful future.
Advice for Talent Mobility Professionals
Talent mobility professionals play a crucial role in supporting repatriates through this complicated transition. They are the ones who can guide the repatriate correctly and help provide the necessary tools to have a smoother return home.
Here is some helpful advice for mobility professionals:
- Provide comprehensive pre-return counseling to help manage emotional aspects.
- Help repatriates prepare for reverse culture shock.
- Facilitate connections with repatriation support groups and networks.
- Provide cultural reorientation programs that can help repatriates readjust to their home country’s social norms, values, and practices.
- Provide career transition assistance.
Mobility professionals can significantly ease the repatriation process and help repatriates navigate this challenging journey with greater confidence and resilience.