Dealing with identity challenges

Exposure to different cultures – to different ways of behaving, of problem solving, and of perceivng the world – leads us to question beliefs and values that were once taken for granted. It is almost like trying to sort out two versions of you. This sorting out is a process. The first step in this process is to be aware of the changes that have occured within you and to embrace your new „intercultural identity”. Although  this should be a  liberating and developmental experience, it may also be accompanied by a sense of loss because you are not exactly the same person you were when you left home. (Paige, M. et al 2002, p 152)

Some returning students come back with a very sense of their own unique cultural identity. Others do not longer feel about their national identity  in the same way they did when they left the country. Identity conflicts can be overwhelming.

You may feel in-between two „poles,” and for a few monthsfollowing your return you might experience a feeling of cultural identity crisis and might also feel like you are creating a very new identity for yourself. Be patient and also take a time to reflect on how you can incorporate  all your cultural identities into your own unique perspective on the world. (Paige, M. et al 2002, p 153)

Take a moment to reflect upon these questions:

1. What values, beliefs, and behaviours I learned from my host country that I want to maintain while back at home?
2. In what ways might these conflict with my home culture?
3. How can I find support for these „new” values?