In what can best be described as a naturally occurring field experiment, it was noticed that soldiers who flew home directly from the 1982 Falklands war adapted less well than those who returned a week later by sea. Unfortunately, this is an anecdote. No actual measures of reverse-culture shock were taken. I'm wondering if the speed with which repatriates return affects their readjustment. Anyone know of any studies in which a period of decompression helps a major life-space transition of some type? Thanks in advance.
Dear Uco,
after working as a surgeon in Tanzania for 2 years (accompanied by my wife and 3 children of 2,6 and ten years) we have all experienced a reverse-culture skock returning home to affluent Switzerland. For everyone in our family the problems were different: the youngest one missing his nanny and his first language Swahili, the older children missing their playmates and the freedom in nature. My wife had to adapt again to the circumstances of everything being available, of having no more support in childcare, kitchen and garden. For me as a surgeon the situation was more complicated: I was envied for my experience (2000 operations in 2 years), but at the same time suspicious ("you are no longer in bush!"). I am convinced we all would have profited from a decompressing period. Precondition would be to stay in a less affluent region (preferably with the same language as the definite destination). The question of financing this stay has to be solved, as no one earns enough money in a benevolent job. Maybe it should become part of the contract with the sending organisation.
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