Coming Home:Coming Home:The Rebound The Rebound

ExperienceExperienceDennis WhiteDennis White

dkwhite@itol.comwww.yeoresources.org

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Youth Exchange:Youth Exchange:• A three year programA three year program• A three year obligationA three year obligation• Sometimes, the greatest Sometimes, the greatest

challenges and the greatest challenges and the greatest gains happen in the third gains happen in the third yearyear

• When we do not attend to When we do not attend to the Rebounds, we lose them the Rebounds, we lose them as ambassadors and we lose as ambassadors and we lose them from Rotary them from Rotary

What is culture?What is culture?

CultureCultureAn integrated system of An integrated system of

learned behavior learned behavior patterns that are patterns that are

characteristic of any characteristic of any given society. It refers given society. It refers to the total way of life, to the total way of life, including how people including how people

think, feel and behave.think, feel and behave.

Communication, particularly Communication, particularly language, is the foundation oflanguage, is the foundation of culture. Language labels, creates,culture. Language labels, creates, maintains, and transforms culture. maintains, and transforms culture.

Language is not only the way culture is Language is not only the way culture is transmitted – it is one of the lenses transmitted – it is one of the lenses through which culture is createdthrough which culture is created

What do they mean?What do they mean?• You are invited to take You are invited to take advantage of advantage of

the chambermaid.the chambermaid. Japanese Japanese hotelhotel

• I slaughter myself twice daily.I slaughter myself twice daily.

Israeli Israeli butcher butcher • Ladies, leave your clothes here andLadies, leave your clothes here and

have a wonderful time.have a wonderful time. French laundryFrench laundry

What is culture?What is culture?

CultureCultureAn integrated system of An integrated system of

learned behavior patterns learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of that are characteristic of

any given society or group. any given society or group. It refers to the total way It refers to the total way

of life, including how of life, including how people think, feel and people think, feel and

behave.behave.

Think of color-blindness as Think of color-blindness as culture-blindnessculture-blindness

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:

The universal The universal tendency for any tendency for any culture to see its culture to see its own values and own values and

practices as natural practices as natural and correct.and correct.

Ethnorelativism:Ethnorelativism:

The acquired ability The acquired ability to see many values, to see many values, beliefs and behaviors beliefs and behaviors

as as culturalcultural rather rather than than universaluniversal..

Developing Intercultural SensitivityDeveloping Intercultural Sensitivity

The Experience of DifferenceThe Experience of Difference

Denial Defense MinimizationDenial Defense Minimization

Ethnocentric StagesEthnocentric Stages Ethnorelative StagesEthnorelative Stages

Acceptance AdaptationAcceptance Adaptation IntegrationIntegration

dev interc sensit non Rotary.ppt  

One World or Many.doc  

Our own culture, or sub-culture, comes to Our own culture, or sub-culture, comes to us as us as naturally and unconsciously as our naturally and unconsciously as our handedness.handedness.

We generally don’t think about what hand We generally don’t think about what hand we we will use to write our names. will use to write our names.

Changing our cultural point of view is Changing our cultural point of view is about asabout as hard as changing our handedness. Both hard as changing our handedness. Both areare possible, but neither is easy. possible, but neither is easy.

..

CultureCulture ShockShock The profound sense of The profound sense of

disorientation and discomfort disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel that comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture or living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s markedly different from one’s own.own.

Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock Presentation.ppt

Culture Shock.doc   

Stages of Culture ShockStages of Culture Shock

1.1. Initial excitementInitial excitement

2.2. Irritability and negativenessIrritability and negativeness

3.3. Gradual adaptationGradual adaptation

4.4. BiculturalismBiculturalism

Culture Shock.doc Culture Shock.doc

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Rotary Youth ExchangeRotary Youth Exchange

Adapted from a model by Robert KohlsAdapted from a model by Robert Kohls

Normal Distribution of Any Normal Distribution of Any Cultural TraitCultural Trait

FrequencyFrequency

Amount of TraitAmount of Trait

Example: Individualism vs. Group OrientationExample: Individualism vs. Group Orientation

A typical studentA typical student

Comparing Two Cultures Comparing Two Cultures ((on any given trait)on any given trait)

In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are mostly differentmostly different

Comparing Two CulturesComparing Two Cultures

Pre-ExchangePre-Exchange

After AdaptationAfter Adaptation

After AdaptationAfter Adaptation

Culture ShockCulture Shock

Returning To Home CultureReturning To Home Culture

Returning To Home CultureReturning To Home Culture

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock

Returning To Home CultureReturning To Home Culture

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock(Re-entry Shock)(Re-entry Shock)

The often unexpected and difficult The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and period of disorientation and readjustment experienced after readjustment experienced after returning to one’s own culture returning to one’s own culture after an extended period of living after an extended period of living abroad. abroad.

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock

1.1. Initial Euphoria (may be very brief Initial Euphoria (may be very brief or not happen at all)or not happen at all)

2.2. Irritability and Negativism ( may be Irritability and Negativism ( may be very lengthy)very lengthy)

3.3. Gradual AdaptationGradual Adaptation4.4. True Bi-CulturalismTrue Bi-Culturalism Going Home.doc Going Home.doc So You Think You're Home Now.doc So You Think You're Home Now.doc

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock

Since it is seldom expected, it is Since it is seldom expected, it is more likely to be a surprisemore likely to be a surprise

Since we are not “here” Since we are not “here”

voluntarily, we are less likely to voluntarily, we are less likely to work at it.work at it.

As a result, it can be a long, slow, As a result, it can be a long, slow,

difficult process.difficult process.

Most people anticipate Most people anticipate some degree of culture some degree of culture shock. Very few people shock. Very few people believe they will believe they will experience reverse experience reverse culture shock.culture shock.

Culture Shock and Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock are Reverse Culture Shock are not just unpleasant side not just unpleasant side effects of international effects of international living.living.

They are the necessary They are the necessary ingredients that bring ingredients that bring about quality exchanges. about quality exchanges.

We can prepare for re-entry We can prepare for re-entry by: by:

► Appointing a District Rebound Coordinator.Appointing a District Rebound Coordinator.► Giving the “Rebound Year” as much Giving the “Rebound Year” as much

attention as the two previous years.attention as the two previous years.► Understanding and Anticipating CS and Understanding and Anticipating CS and

RCS.RCS.► ““Normalizing” these phenomena.Normalizing” these phenomena.► Remembering that “compost happens”.Remembering that “compost happens”.► Discouraging the phrase “The best year of Discouraging the phrase “The best year of

my life”, and instead considering the my life”, and instead considering the possibility that: possibility that:

For many exchange students For many exchange students the year abroad is:the year abroad is:

► The most exciting year of their lives.The most exciting year of their lives.► The most challenging year of their lives.The most challenging year of their lives.► The most growth-producing year of their The most growth-producing year of their

lives.lives.► The most broadening year of their lives.The most broadening year of their lives.► The most memorable year of their lives.The most memorable year of their lives.

Rebound ResourcesRebound Resources

Rebound Training.doc  Rebound Training.doc 

So You Think You're Home Now.docSo You Think You're Home Now.doc

So You Think They're Home.doc So You Think They're Home.doc 

Rebound Programming.doc Rebound Programming.doc 

How I Have Changed?How I Have Changed?How Have I Changed.doc  How Have I Changed.doc 

An exercise using 44 An exercise using 44 statements that have statements that have

often been identified by often been identified by exchange students as exchange students as

significant changes from significant changes from the experience.the experience.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed

One student’s responseOne student’s response My youth exchange year was one of My youth exchange year was one of

incredible change and growth for me. incredible change and growth for me. In addition to seeing so much of the In addition to seeing so much of the rest of the world, and making such rest of the world, and making such wonderful friends, I changed in ways I wonderful friends, I changed in ways I never knew were possible. never knew were possible.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed

One student’s responseOne student’s response

I am more confident and positive I am more confident and positive when meeting new people. I have a when meeting new people. I have a greater ability to empathize with greater ability to empathize with others and to put myself in their others and to put myself in their place when making judgments. I have place when making judgments. I have greater willingness to take on new greater willingness to take on new roles and tasks. roles and tasks.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed One student’s responseOne student’s response I have more ability to see myself I have more ability to see myself

objectively, in a more realistic objectively, in a more realistic context. I understand more fully my context. I understand more fully my own strengths and weaknesses. I am own strengths and weaknesses. I am more tolerant of ambiguous more tolerant of ambiguous situations and more open to differing situations and more open to differing interpretations of them. I feel greater interpretations of them. I feel greater respect and appreciation for my respect and appreciation for my family. family.

How I Have ChangedHow I Have Changed One student’s response One student’s response

And most of all, I feel more surely And most of all, I feel more surely that common bonds unite all human that common bonds unite all human beings. Thank you, Rotary for the beings. Thank you, Rotary for the best year of my life.best year of my life.

Coming Home:Coming Home:The Rebound The Rebound

ExperienceExperienceDennis WhiteDennis White

dkwhite@itol.comdkwhite@itol.comwww.yeoresources.orgwww.yeoresources.org

Dennis White, Ph.D.Dennis White, Ph.D.

207 S. 4th Avenue207 S. 4th Avenue

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 54235 Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 54235 USAUSA

Telephone: 920-746-1346Telephone: 920-746-1346

Fax: 920-746-1347Fax: 920-746-1347

Email: dkwhite@itol.comEmail: dkwhite@itol.com

www.yeoresources.orgwww.yeoresources.org