What is going on after an expatriate experiences culture shock but continues to struggle in the host country? Is it unusual or normal? Am I the only one?
Read my post about culture shock, culture pain, and culture stripping at A Life Overseas today.
How have you experienced culture shock? Culture pain? Culture stripping?
This was a great article Rachel! I have always felt that shock was not really the right term to describe what I feel. As a TCK and a lifelong nomad, I cannot remember ever knowing the buffers of a shared history or family with any one particular place. I have felt like an outsider most of my life, especially now that I live (temporarily) within a 10 mile radius of where my husband’s family have lived since the 18th century. That pain of realizing you will never be a local is with me everywhere I go in varying degrees. I’m sure that as your own TCKs turn in to TC adults, your experience of working through the pain of cross-cultural living will be a great resource to them.
Thanks Christy. Interesting that you feel like an outsider especially where you live now. Any tips for me or my kids?