More EXPATS are now coming home – how to make the move back a successful one and avoid Reverse Culture Shock
How to make the move back a successful one and avoid Reverse Culture Shock
The Times recently wrote a piece called ‘Meet the Repats’. A fascinating insight into the couples and families who have decided to move back to the UK after a long stint abroad. The pandemic and global lockdowns being the key triggers in their decision to return. Indeed, a recent survey by Knight Frank found that two thirds of expats said that lockdown had led them to buy a property in their home country. Lockdown and the inability to travel home to see family has had a major impact on many who now feel the need to be closer to aging parents and who wish to ensure that their children can spend valuable time growing up close to grandparents.
At Chiltern Relocation we have also witnessed a similar trend with many expat clients reaching out for our help to repatriate them back to the UK. Returning after such a long time away can seem daunting – culturally and socially – as things have moved on since they have been away with many experiencing ‘reverse culture shock’.
After the hard work of becoming established in a new city, many would be easily mistaken for thinking that returning home is the easy part. However, lots of studies and anecdotal evidence have found that expats often find it just as tough – if not tougher – readjusting to life back home than they did starting out in a new country.
Returning home should be joyous but there will be sticking points to consider when making the move. Chiltern Relocation have put together five pointers to consider if you are in the process of returning home from an international assignment and our advice as to how to make the move back go that bit smoother.
- Good-bye good life. If you are returning from somewhere like Dubai or Singapore, no doubt you will miss the warm weather, the vibrancy and the higher standards of living that enabled you to eat out more often, enjoy state-of-the art leisure facilities or experience luxury weekends away. You may even have had a maid or a chauffeur and are not looking forward to dealing with the mundane chores again. Don’t underestimate the impact of grey skies, long winters and back to the reality of UK day to day living on your mental well-being.
Prepare yourself for the shift change and try and organise any additional help you will need in advance of returning. Be sure to embrace the weather differences and look forward to crisp walks and hunkering down in front of a fire with friends.
- It’s home but not as you knew it. Things change and people move on; the UK political climate has changed demonstrably in the last five years and at a local level, your favourite local restaurant may have changed hands or new development has changed the look of your home town. Or perhaps you are landing in a new and unfamiliar city where everything is new.
Join a few local community social media groups and ask about local amenities and restaurants to get a flavour of places to look out for when you arrive.
- You’ve changed. You may have developed new skills, taken up new hobbies and adopted some of the local cultural norms during your time overseas. You may have changed, but so have your family and friends; new relationships, children, personal dramas and workplace crises. Everyone has moved forward during your absence so slotting back in might not be as easy.
Try to arrange a few casual meet ups for your return but appreciate that, whilst keen to see you, there will need to be flexibility as others are busy with their lives too.
- Family concerns. Quite possibly the children didn’t want to move overseas in the first place – they would miss their school friends, their clubs and hobbies and the familiar routine. But after the initial homesickness, they’ve had a wonderful time and would rather stay put than go back home. Not only will you need to prepare for your own psychological adjustment to but also be mindful that your children might struggle with their own adjustment to a different schooling system, new friendships groups and the latest in-jokes and cultural references.
Research clubs and activities in advance to give your children a chance to keep with routine in addition to meeting new friends. If you are concerned about schooling, engage a specialist schools’ consultant who can guide you to choose the best school for your children.
- Work place worries. Research has shown there to be a high attrition rate of expats returning to their home employer. They leave because they feel their new skills and knowledge are under-valued, the company has restructured and there isn’t a suitable role available or perhaps their champion or mentor has moved on and they feel neglected and isolated. Finding a new job can be just as challenging, particularly if you had to put your career on hold for your partner’s overseas assignment. You may have lost confidence, neglected your professional network or become out-of-date with developments in your industry.
Be prepared that the working environment in the UK office may differ quite demonstrably to the one you were used to. Be open minded about the new working set up and give yourself time to settle back in.
Coming home can, and should be, a positive experience but like any transition careful preparation and management are crucial and bear in mind that ‘reverse culture shock’ is likely. Putting in place plans and strategies to help alleviate potential feelings of isolation and frustration will help enormously enabling you to rebuild a new life back home that captures all your new knowledge and skills. Readjustment coaching can help to navigate the challenges of coming back home and build on the positive experiences you have brought with you.
If you would like help with your move back to the UK in terms of housing, seeing a global mobility consultant, a schools consultant or help in setting up bank accounts etc then please do get in touch. Call Chiltern Relocation on 01494 672086. Email: enquiries@chilternrelocation.com or visit www.chilternrelocation.com
