By Erin Fitzgerald, Living Abroad, LLC Most globally mobile families know that research and preparation are key to personal and professional success on assignment. However, repatriation at an assignment’s end can be just as challenging.
Research suggests that the phases people go through during repatriation are similar to those they experienced during their relocation. The first phase is good-byes and closures, this time in the adopted country. Then, there is the initial excitement of being home – often referred to as the honeymoon period. This phase is followed by re-entry shock, and then readjustment to the new life back home. Yet, it is not unusual for those involved with an international assignment to assume repatriation will be achieved quickly, and with little support.
How can those on assignment best prepare for repatriation?
In many ways, repatriation can and should be viewed as a new assignment. Small and large changes have likely taken place in the home country during an assignment abroad. It is important for you to review perceptions to see if they are still accurate, and to invest time in rebuilding both professional and personal relationships.
Even if you will be returning to the organization that sent you on assignment abroad, you may need to be prepared for the process of finding a new position to take some time. Few people are in the ideal situation of knowing their next assignment before they leave, and even large companies can take some time to successfully place returnees in a new position.
Find out about any re-entry regulations that may apply to your home country, and keep them in mind when acquiring items on assignment. Electronic equipment can be subject to regulation. Pets, even those that were originally brought to your host country from your home country, may require examination and new vaccinations. Prepare an inventory of personal goods, so that you will have it for your return shipment.
Make sure that you have complete birth records and citizenship papers for children born during your time abroad. Medical or dental records that you bring with you, or acquire during your assignment, will need to return home with you. School records are likely to be required on your return. Keep these and other personal and legal documents up-to-date, and easily accessible.
Re-entry shock, sometimes referred to as reverse culture shock, is a very real syndrome that family members are likely to experience in different ways and in different degrees. It can be similar to the emotional roller coaster many experience while on assignment. Symptoms can include feeling disoriented, angry, anxious, lonely, or insecure. Insomnia and depression can also occur.
Acknowledging reentry shock as a part of the repatriation process, rather than as a sign of weakness, creates more channels for support. Awareness, and conversation about the phenomenon with family, friends, and colleagues, can make a difference when it matters. Communicating with others who have had similar experiences or attending counseling sessions also helps. Setting personal and professional goals that require focus on self-care and adaptation to change can be especially useful.
Repatriation will be easier if you have kept in touch with friends, family, and colleagues, whether you are returning to your home city or a new community in your country. It is important to remember that because you are the one who moved away, it may fall to you to do the majority of the work in maintaining those contacts. What’s more, such work is often specific to individual situations and needs.
Advances in online technology have provided a variety of ways to keep in touch with others, no matter the physical distance. Email is an ideal tool for those who enjoy reading and writing at length, or at their leisure. Services such as Skype and Google Hangouts can provide video teleconferencing. Facebook and Instagram allow for short, immediate updates, often accompanied by photos and video clips. Even those who prefer texting via smartphone can find apps that allow those messages to be transmitted via Internet rather than SMS, which can cut mobile telephone expenses quite dramatically. Take some time to evaluate available lines of communication. What services do your friends, family and colleagues currently use? How are they compatible with your own goals of keeping in touch?
You should take time to stay current with trends and news back home. This includes lifestyle and entertainment topics, as well as political and current affairs. Being in sync with your peers will important on your return. This is especially true for pre-teens, teenagers and young adults. Subscribing to media services such as magazines, newspapers, or streaming services where available, is a good way to do this.
In a professional environment, it is wise to establish regular communication with your home office to keep you informed of new developments, strategies and procedures. Staying involved and visible to the domestic management team will be critical upon your return. Some employers appoint a contact person responsible for maintaining communication with expatriates abroad, or assign individual local contacts. If yours doesn't, try to identify someone yourself who is willing to act as your link with events back home.
Spouses and partners of international assignees should think about how best to keep up with developments within their professions and industries. Resuming a previous career will be easier if the person has been able to stay involved. Many professional and business organizations throughout the world facilitate this, both in person and online.
Plan your home leaves carefully, to make the most effective use of your time. Consider timing your visits to coincide with an event at which there are likely to be many friends and/or relatives: perhaps a wedding, or a significant birthday. Encourage your children to see their closest friends. Coordinate plans with the people you especially want to see, and then make arrangements with others. Be sure to include free time in your schedule, as visits can be emotionally and physically draining.
The longer a person has been away from their home country, the longer it can take for them to feel completely at ease when they return. Anticipating change and challenge can help to shorten that time. This also supports drawing from the benefits of global mobility experience, to attain future success.
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