Re-Entry

Ever since I've been back from Asia I've missed it as if I were homesick. Everything reminds me of Hong Kong and China. From the totally fake imitation Hui Loh San dessert place (don't even get me started on that one!) to the dirty old TTC subways to chatting with the people who just came back from the motherland.

You know you're longing to be some place else (or crazy) when you get 'homesick' from watching Chinese sitcoms with the parentals! Glimpses of the HK skyline, the bickering and bantering between the fish mongers and fish eaters at the Wan Chai market (gai see) and the fast paced speed of civilians and drivers on the streets.

I find such frustration when I reach into my wallet to pay for my purchase and realizing all over again that $9.99 actually means $11.20! I know, I know, it's not a lot - but wait until you purchase something over $100 - that's when the PST and GST really nips you in the butt.

In any case - I miss life in Asia. Don't get me wrong, with school starting and CCF up and running again there's a ton of things to do and the action just doesn't stop. But regardless - I miss it over there. I miss the simplicity but even more so than anything, I miss the people.

I have a friend who understands just my two cents because she was over there herself for a long period of time. She sent me this article about a study done at U of T about people just like me.

It's called 'Re-Entry'. For the full article click here.

Here's an excerpt:

Re-Entry Shock: Reverse culture shock is a term associated with the phenomenon of returning to one's own country and culture. Very similar to culture shock, a person entering into their home environment will have to make adjustments to reacquaint themselves with their surroundings. Unlike culture shock, most don't anticipate feeling like a foreigner in their own home. However, it should be expected. If you have made any cultural adjustments while abroad, you will have to readjust once back home.

Euphoria: Most travellers will experience some form of euphoria or high when returning home. For weeks the traveller has anticipated returning home and has now come face to face with family, friends and double chocolate donuts. To friends and family you are nothing short of a celebrity. People want to hear about your trip, most enthusiastically look at your photos and everyone is really glad to see you. This eagerness can last for a surprisingly short period of time. As can your tolerance to hearing over and over again, "how was your trip?"

Shock!: All those social cues that you once took for granted now have to be relearned. You feel frustrated that loved ones have so quickly put your travels into the past. One can tend to feel similar to the effects of culture shock; anxious, irritable, nervous, unable to sleep. Or oversleeping. There really is no one pattern or set list of symptoms for reverse culture shock. And unlike culture shock, there is no timetable for moving past it.

Adjustment: Given time, the majority of travelers will come to some final state of adjustment. They will take the teachings that their experience provided them and put them into the context of their home. Homesickness for the home that you left behind gives way to a renewal of bonds with old and new friends and family. Your life begins to resemble a little of the life you left, except with a broader perspective from your journey.

Homesick for another home: Experiencing some type of homesickness for the host country is common. Missing people, the food and the way of life abroad are all a natural part of re-entry. Being a foreigner abroad, in some parts of the world, can give you instantaneous merit and celebrity status. Being in another country can also give way to feelings of exalted personal freedoms and addictive adrenaline from the adventure. As such, one can easily romanticize your host country once back home.


It's kind of funny how this article sounds a bit incredulous yet at the same time I can relate to a lot of it. I'm glad to be home and back to the familiar but I just wanted to share how I've been feeling as of late :)