This week on The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech ruminates on the homecoming phase for expats. You may think the hardest part of a foreign assignment is moving overseas and getting to learn a new culture and new language. John argues that the most challenging part is coming back to your home country.

John lived overseas with his family for eight years, starting when his children were quite young. By the time they returned home, the children barely remembered having lived in the United States. John relives some of his adventures in Egypt and Russia, setting the stage for examining the difficulties of settling back into his home culture.

While living overseas with family you are immersed in learning, in challenge, in adaptation. You have to learn about a new culture which is all around you in your host country if you want to have a well-rounded overseas experience. Every day brings learnings, challenges, and adventures.

In the meantime, back in your home country, in your hometown, life goes on like normal. People have adapted to you being gone. And they continue their lives with focus on their everyday activities.

Once the overseas assignment or living concludes and you pack your belongings and head home, you may be surprised at the indifference that people display towards the wonderful adventures you’ve just had. You’ve also adjusted to living in a different culture that may then require readjustment to living back home.

This episode examines those feelings and emotions. John also shares how his family coped with the return to the United States and what they did to remain connected in some way with their international experience.

If you find the conversation riveting, and perhaps even a bit reminiscent of what you have gone through, please leave your comments on the homepage at www.auto-ethnographer.com

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