So, what was it like over there? A common question posed to humanitarian workers by well-meaning family and friends, but one that is truly difficult to answer. Often, returning humanitarian workers have neither the language to describe the experience nor the confidence that others have a framework for understanding it. This is one example of the many challenges faced by staff returning from the field. Research shows that humanitarian workers often experience significant stress upon re-entry; many describe the process as difficult and some return with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Materialism, waste, indifference of fellow citizens, reorientation to the culture and lifestyle, and a feeling of not belonging are a few of most common re-entry challenges.
It is clear that re-entry is a major life transition, in particular when it comes after an intense overseas experience. Transitions have been viewed as a double edged sword; loss comes with growth, difficulty with opportunity. Anthropologists studying this concept have called it a form of disorientation anxiety. This is a complex—and often stressful—emotional process that results from people moving from one culture to another, in which some of the basic assumptions people make about life and lifestyle no longer seem appropriate or comfortable in a different environment.
As a returning worker, you'll have to contend not only with the physical process of re-entry (packing, travel, unpacking, etc), but also with the central, psychological tenet of the re-entry challenge: home has changed, and so have you. While "home" is often used to describe the physical location, most people use the term in a more personal sense. Home is a place where you are known, where the routines are familiar, where you can relax and be yourself and feel "at home." Returning from an overseas assignment may involve living in a new place, or returning to the same location only to find it has changed over time. And just as you have changed, so have your family and friends. You may need to re-establish relationships or build new ones, while also finding or starting a new job, finding a place to live or re-establishing residency, and taking care of all the other details of moving from one place to another. In short, re-entry can be overwhelming.
Helping to prepare workers for re-entry, and supporting them during process, is an essential practice for all organizations. This section includes re-entry resources for both managers and field staff.
Re-Entry Syndrome is a psychological response suffered by many people returning home from field work in another culture. It not only affects you, but your family and friends as well. Read more on this Aid Worker's Network advice page, and find out how to avoid or recognize the symptoms.
This self-study module from the Headington Institute's Learning Center focuses on the travel-related issues faced by humanitarian workers, while also delving into coping strategies for re-entry stress.
This is a quick review on normal challenges of expatriates returning home. Prepare yourself—know what to expect, and know that what you're experiencing is not unusual.
Be aware of the special adjustments that you might need to make as an expatriate coming home. This quick tip sheet shares some reminders on ways to take care of yourself as you experience the process of re-entry.
This helpful article suggests some things to think about in preparation to return home, and gives a timeline of when you should try to accomplish certain things before you go. In addition, you can visit the top righthand corner of this webpage and select "returning home." You will find a resource guide that could be helpful as you search for services to help you move your life back home!
On this Aid Workers Network discussion string, several people posted helpful responses to one colleagues question: "how to prepare to come home from the field?"
The UN's booklet deals with how to recognize stress and trauma, and includes a self-test assessment. The booklet also includes a lesson recognizing symptoms of post-mission stress and suggestions for recovery and stabilization.
Public health officials, including doctors at the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, are just beginning to address the mental health problems faced by aid workers. In the wake of recent attacks on workers in Afghanistan and Iraq, there is a growing need for support services in the field—and when workers return home.
This book offers a full commentary on a variety of aspects of re-entry. Storti describes the stages of re-entry, and looks at the experience from the point of view of a returning employee, returning spouses and children, and family members who welcome you home. The link above leads to an introduction and purchase options; you can also preview parts of the book on Google Books.
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