{"id":4816,"date":"2017-06-20T09:49:19","date_gmt":"2017-06-20T08:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/?p=4816"},"modified":"2024-06-09T14:06:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-09T13:06:22","slug":"71-practical-tips-will-help-adjust-back-home-teaching-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/71-practical-tips-will-help-adjust-back-home-teaching-abroad","title":{"rendered":"7+1 practical tips to help you adjust to being back home after teaching abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, international teachers! Have you finished for summer? Are you off traveling the globe? Are you preparing for your next teaching adventure? Have you fallen in love with your school and city, and sticking around for the umpteenth year? Or have you decided to pack up and head back to your friends, family and those home comforts? If you are coming home, then welcome! You are not alone. This week we have a guest writer, Dimitris, who offers some tips on making your trip home hassle free…<\/h2>\n

They call it reverse culture shock – that odd feeling people get when they return home after they had spent a relatively long time abroad.<\/p>\n

I was never even aware of the possibility of such a feeling, until it actually happened to me. Recently, I came back home after a year spent teaching English in Thailand<\/a>. I remember my head being full of questions before I embarked on my Thai adventure. Who will I meet there? Will I enjoy the food? Is it really so beautiful?\u00a0Then, after a while, I settled into my new life and started enjoying it to the full. When the time came to return, I begrudgingly stepped onto a plane home and arrived into a new kind of shock.<\/p>\n

I was, of course, very excited to see my family and friends again, but, after a while, I began feeling confused, bored and misunderstood. That, is when I realised; it takes some preparation before returning from your adventure too. But my struggles back then, are your gain. Now I have some tips for a smoother transition back to life at home.<\/p>\n

\"save-money\"<\/h5>\n
1) Save money<\/h5>\n

I know it\u2019s very tempting to explore as much as you can while you\u2019re in an exotic place, but you should do so within your means. You\u2019ll have significant expenses when you return – you\u2019ll have to find a home, maybe buy a car, some furniture\u2026<\/p>\n

Also, it\u2019s not as easy to save money while working in most English speaking countries, so use the opportunity to do so while teaching abroad. Give some private lessons if possible and put that money aside. You will transition back to your old life more easily if you feel financially stable.<\/p>\n

2) Make a career plan while still overseas<\/h5>\n

Start planning the future while you\u2019re still abroad. The internet can help you a lot with this. While teaching anywhere in the world, you can study for your Master\u2019s Degree or get in touch with potential employers. LinkedIn is a great tool for this, for example.<\/p>\n

If you come home with a vague plan, your savings may evaporate quickly while you find your footing.<\/p>\n

\"make-plan\"3) Look for a place to live before you return<\/h5>\n

Look at options, contact landlords and set up viewings before you return home. This is the biggest expense for most returning teachers and taking care of this step beforehand can prevent a rushed and impractical decision.<\/p>\n

Again, the internet can help you a lot with this, and you can also ask family or friends back home for some assistance.<\/p>\n

<\/h5>\n
4) Pay your taxes and keep your licenses current<\/h5>\n

While having a great time enjoying the beaches of Thailand or admiring the architecture of Barcelona, you can easily overlook the less exciting obligations at home, like filing tax returns.<\/p>\n

Keeping your documents current may seem less important while living abroad, but once you return home, you\u2019ll have a ton of work to do. The more things you do while still overseas, the easier your transition will be.<\/p>\n

\"different-person\"5) Understand that you\u2019re a different person now<\/h5>\n

The first step of truly readjusting back home is accepting the fact that you\u2019ve changed. It was inevitable. And it\u2019s a great thing. However, your friends and family may not realise how much your worldview has altered.<\/p>\n

It can be hard to explain what you\u2019re going through to people who have never had the experience. Consider keeping a journal in which you\u2019ll note down your feelings, memories or doubts. Your writing doesn\u2019t have to lengthy or award-winning. It simply serves as a good outlet to process your readjustment.<\/p>\n

6) Keep your memories alive through your work<\/h5>\n

It\u2019s true – when you come back, most people will listen to your exciting stories for about ten minutes and then just switch off. You\u2019ll have a million stories to tell, but they simply won\u2019t care as much as you\u2019ll want them to. Frankly, you\u2019ll start getting on everyone\u2019s nerves.<\/p>\n

Here are some things that can help you express yourself fully:<\/p>\n