Re-entry Programming: Challenges and
Opportunities
Beth West
Coordinadora / EducationUSA Adviser
Centro Consejeria Educativa – Fulbright Colombia
WHA Regional Training Conference – Mexico City
2 de Octubre, 2009
Agenda for Presentation
Defining re-entry
Theories and stages of re-entry
Re-entry program model: OPERACIÓN RETORNO, Fulbright Colombia
Suggested re-entry programming and samples for your EducationUSA office
Getting re-entry program up and running
Additional resources
What is… re-entry?
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Re-entry is…
Many things!
A pattern of change of highs and lows
A period of adjustment and readjustment
The term used to describe the period of adjustment that occurs when you return home after living abroad
Source: Denney and Eckert
Isn’t re-entry just… coming home?
What’s so tough about THAT???
Assumptions about returning “home”
Re-entry is normal
Who is affected by re-entry?
Former grantee testimonies
“I had not been expecting all of this internal upheaval! I had expected to be ‘home’ and feel at home, but I had changed and was a different me – a more complex me (I now see) and a ‘me’ that I have been ever since.”
“At home, your standards and expectations are higher for the degree to which you belong to a place and culture. In retrospect, I learned from this bumpy return that such belonging is not automatic. It takes the same conscious effort, investment and initiative that we all employed when arriving in our host country for our Fulbright.”
And theories! The U-curve of Cultural Adaptation
Lysgaard (1955)
And more theories!
The U-curve Lysgaard (1955)
The W-curve Martin and Harrell (1994)
Stages of re-entry of the W-curve
(Leave Taking, Departure and Arrival) The Honeymoon
Reverse Culture Shock
Readjustment
The W-Curve of Cultural Adaptation
Source: University of the Pacific, What’s up with Culture? http://www.pacific.edu/sis/culture/
And more theories! LOTS of theories!
The U-curve Lysgaard (1955)
The W-curve Martin and Harrell (1994)
Expectation theories Weissman and Furnham (1987) & Martin and Harrell (1996)
As cited in Weber (2009)
Not just reverse culture shock… other factors to consider
Professional adjustments
Linguistic adjustments
National/Political adjustments
Educational adjustments
Technology differences
Financial concerns
Issues affecting the accompanying spouse and children
Adapted from Marsh, p.34 (1975)
Linguistic adjustments Testimonial from a U.S. grantee
“Often words would come to me in Spanish before English; I actually had to sit down a few times and practice saying all the (Spanish) names of streets in San Francisco with an American accent so that people wouldn’t think I was putting on airs with my pronunciation.”
Not just reverse culture shock… other factors to consider
Professional adjustments
Linguistic adjustments
National/Political adjustments
Educational adjustments
Technology differences
Financial concerns
Issues affecting the accompanying spouse and children
Adapted from Marsh, p.34 (1975)
Gosh…Re-entry sounds
AWFUL!
But it doesn’t have to be!
And the challenges certainly don’t outweigh the benefits!
A Re-entry Program ModelFulbright Colombia’s
OPERACIÓN RETORNO
Began with the founding of Comunidad Fulbright Colombia
Seeks to provide support to returning grantees in three main areas
1) Psycho-social/Emotional Support
2) Professional Development and Reintegration
3) Foster Civic Engagement … build social capital!
OPERACIÓN RETORNO:Key Program Components
•Networking Nights
•Return Mentoring Program
•Operacion E-Recursos
•Professional Development Workshops
•Emotional Support Resource lists
•Personalized Re-entry plans (pilot program)
•Re-Entry Breakfast
•Civic Engagement Initiative
OPERACIÓN RETORNOCivic Engagement Element
Perfect complement to the Fulbright mission Future leaders Implement knowledge at home
An opportunity to build social capital!
Social Capital is the attitude, spirit and willingness of people to engage in collective, civic activities. Social capital builds social infrastructure; people's commitment to build on existing strengths within the community, to address problems and react to potential opportunities.
Your mission, should you choose to accept, is….
to figure out…
What can you,as an
EducationUSA Adviser, do to help returning students
manage the process of re-entry?
As an adviser, you can…
Show interest
Provide opportunities for returnees to use their new skills and knowledge
Don’t feel threatened or offended by criticism or comparison
Be patient and avoid making judgement
Encourage your advisees to be patient… it takes time
Check in from time to timeAdapted from “What Others Can Do”, Craig Storti, The Art of Coming Home, p.89, 2003.
What kinds of events and activities can my EducationUSA Center offer to help returning students manage the
process of re-entry?
…and when should they begin?(psst...and what if we don’t have any budget
either?)
Overall goal is to help returning students
1) manage their expectations and
2) take inventory of their new skills
Suggested Timeline for Re-entry Programming
Pre-reentry Re-entry Post Re-entry3-6mos before Return 3-6mos after
Beyond
Re-entry Strategies for Students Preparing to Return
(3-6 months before return)
Communicate with students BEFORE their return (email, 2x a year free Survey Monkey census etc.)
E-recursos and online self-evaluation / reflection exercises
Alumni associations (or via www.alumni.state.gov)
Mentor program if available
GOAL = HELP STUDENTS MANAGE EXPECTATIONS!!!
A Thoughtful Return Reflection Exercise
1. In what ways have I changed?
2. In what ways might my friends and family have changed?
3. In what ways might my country and local community have changed?
4. What am I looking forward to the most? The least?
5. What challenges do I anticipate personally? Professionally?
6. What are some skills that I have learned?
7. What elements / values of my host culture do I wish to take with me?
8. Many say that re-entry shock is more challenging than intial culture shock. What are some things I might do to make the transition easier?
Adapted from Maximizing Study Abroad, University of Minnesota
Preparing to Return Home: 10 Quick Tips Handout (sample)
1. Prepare for the adjustment process
2. Allow yourself time
3. Understand that the familiar will seem different
4. There will be much “cultural catchup” to do
5. Reserve judgements
6. Respond thoughtfully and slowly
7. Cultivate sensitivity
8. Beware of comparisons
9. Remain Flexible
10.Seek Support Networks
Source: Aspire Newsletter, Spring 1994
On site programming ideas(First 6 months of return)
Brown bag lunch + speakers
Photo exhibit
Resume updating workshops
Debriefing / networking nights / re-entry breakfast etc.
Virtual events
No exact formula!
Talk to students who have returned to find out what they would have liked
Look to other EducationUSA Centers and even study abroad programs for ideas
Try a variety of low to no cost activities
Be ever aware of ACCESS issues
Activities and programming that supports social-emotional needs and helps them identify
New academic compentencies
New professional competencies
Country (or regionally) specific skills / knowledge / expertise
Language skills
And don’t forget personal growth and exploration!
Proposing your re-entry plan…
What about the office naysayer? You know the type…
Be prepared!
Just remember these points…
“Welcoming back isn’t a frill, but
essential…to validate the returnee and
reaffirm the organization’s commitment to those it sends abroad”*
Re-entry program = a greater return on the investment, for the student, the home community AND your organization
LaBrack, 1993 as quoted in Storti, 2003
Possible Funding / Support for your re-entry programming
ECA/State Department Grants (ex. Building the Fulbright Future)
Alumni.state.gov
The Foundation Center www.foundationcenter.org
Graduate Interns!
(recruit on www.idealist.org or directly to universities, see EdUSA Advisers resource page for more ideas on this)
E-Recursos on Re-entry
What’s up with Culture Modules
http://www.pacific.edu/sis/culture/
Middlebury College http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/ump/sap/reentry/resources.htm
LASPAU http://www.laspau.harvard.edu/grantee_guide/fulbright/reentry.htm
Fulbright Colombia www.fulbright.edu.co
LASPAU
Helpful print resources
The Art of Coming Home, Craig Storti
Counseling International Students: Clients from Around the World,
Nancy Marie Arthur
Thank you for being here! Feel free to contact me with any questions!
Beth West, Centro de Consejería EducativaFulbright Colombia
Calle 37 No. 15-73 Bogotáhttp://www.fulbright.edu.co
Phone: (57 1)232-4326 Ext.15Fax:(57 1)287-3520