Reverse Culture Shock
This week it has been a year, that I left for/arrived in India. I remained silent the passed weeks on the blog, email, facebook or wherever you would expect me. As far as the blog was concerned, I did not see a point in writing, as actually the "India-experience" seems completed - what a bullshit!
When I started my job in India I remembered going through the phases and situations that I had prepared people for for years as faci in Exchange Preparation Seminars (eg. first meeting with the boss, etc.). And now, more than a month after my arrival back home, I still am in such a situation. I got into a severe Reverse Culture Shock.
However, a friend of mine praised me for getting the difference straight between cause (RCS) and symptoms (feeling lost, a drop in energy and self-confidence, insomnia, some stupid nightmare involving a teddy bear and an omnipresent feeling of disappointment and loss).
Having seen others in very similar situations, I remember the quote "it feels like I never had left!" This describes the first impression - and the biggest trap.
This is not what I left behind 1 year ago! My environment has changed while I was gone. I have changed and it is hard to link back. Assuming things were still the same is dangerously wrong! Life has moved on, so must I. I am repeating myself!
Obviously this was the best time for facilitating an XPS, as I did last weekend. Maybe I bored the shit out of the delegates with all my little anecdotes from India (don't worry, delegates' feedback was mostly positive). I think we got the right message through though. Don't underestimate the challenges, no matter if you go to China or Germany. Ironically the RCS was never stronger than after XPS.
Meanwhile my job-application machinery is running. I am sick of it, but what can I do? It is not the right time to lose confidence. My attitude is getting more and more positive and my CV was "refurbished", is less complex now, but more "sexy" and you cannot beat that 1-mio-dollar-smile on my application picture shot in a professional studio.
Also my hobbies develop. However, warmer weather would be highly appreciated! And I was selected to be a volunteer at the Euro2008 in my city. They call it work but promise a big party.
Last but not least I got a call from a farewell party on the top of a doubledeckerbus cruising through Bombay last night. The phone at the other end moved from Juliana to Nihan, on to Chris and back to Juliana again. They also prepare for the future in one way or the other - facing similar challenges.
In a nutshell, I am on track!
When I started my job in India I remembered going through the phases and situations that I had prepared people for for years as faci in Exchange Preparation Seminars (eg. first meeting with the boss, etc.). And now, more than a month after my arrival back home, I still am in such a situation. I got into a severe Reverse Culture Shock.
However, a friend of mine praised me for getting the difference straight between cause (RCS) and symptoms (feeling lost, a drop in energy and self-confidence, insomnia, some stupid nightmare involving a teddy bear and an omnipresent feeling of disappointment and loss).
Having seen others in very similar situations, I remember the quote "it feels like I never had left!" This describes the first impression - and the biggest trap.
This is not what I left behind 1 year ago! My environment has changed while I was gone. I have changed and it is hard to link back. Assuming things were still the same is dangerously wrong! Life has moved on, so must I. I am repeating myself!
Obviously this was the best time for facilitating an XPS, as I did last weekend. Maybe I bored the shit out of the delegates with all my little anecdotes from India (don't worry, delegates' feedback was mostly positive). I think we got the right message through though. Don't underestimate the challenges, no matter if you go to China or Germany. Ironically the RCS was never stronger than after XPS.
Meanwhile my job-application machinery is running. I am sick of it, but what can I do? It is not the right time to lose confidence. My attitude is getting more and more positive and my CV was "refurbished", is less complex now, but more "sexy" and you cannot beat that 1-mio-dollar-smile on my application picture shot in a professional studio.
Also my hobbies develop. However, warmer weather would be highly appreciated! And I was selected to be a volunteer at the Euro2008 in my city. They call it work but promise a big party.
Last but not least I got a call from a farewell party on the top of a doubledeckerbus cruising through Bombay last night. The phone at the other end moved from Juliana to Nihan, on to Chris and back to Juliana again. They also prepare for the future in one way or the other - facing similar challenges.
In a nutshell, I am on track!
posted by Sabi at 11:08 AM
2 Comments:
mmm.. I never understood why you wanted to leave everything/everybody behind u...
Did I?
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