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

bwest@fulbright.edu.co