The Intellectual Adjustment Cycle

So the time to leave has finally come… I don’t like farewell, especially in this circumstance where I might never ever see these people I’ve come to know the past few months anymore, for the rest of my life. Now that makes it really sad. Well I’d like to think that I might come to Europe again one day and visit them, but what If I got married to a poor guy who doesn’t even have the money for a honeymoon in Bali =P….But that’s what people keep telling me, when else would u have the chance to visit Europe? And I agreed…simply because it’s expensive and I’m likely to be bonded in Singapore at least for the next 7 years…unless I marry a superrich guy who can pay my ransom huahaha….-.-‘

As I was packing up, I came across an article given to me by the International Relation Office of NTU before I left for my exchange…This article mentioned the 7 stages of adjustment cycle which I think it’s quite accurate though some are funny. In short, the stages are:

1. Application anxiety
2. Selection / Arrival Fascination
3. Initial Culture Shock
4. Surface Adjustment
5. Mental Isolation
6. Integration / Acceptance
7. Return Anxiety
8. Shock/ Reintegration

I guess I’m about to be in stage 7 and 8 then. Here’s what written bout these stages:

7. Return Anxiety: Once a person is settled in, the thought of leaving familiar faces and their new community raises anxieties similar to those the visitor felt during stage 1, before their departure *I agree*. The begin to sense how much they have changed because of their experience and apprehension grows in them as the thought of leaving and returning home to people who will not understand him/her and their new feelings and awareness. *mmm I quite agree*. They may even feel guilty for wanting to stay and not return home, because they know that there will be many people waiting for them. *heh? I WANT to go home..though I’ll definitely miss Ireland*.

8. Shock/ Reintegration: Once the former visitor is back home, the contrast of old and new may come as a shock. *I’ll anticipate this*. He or she probably will have changed a great deal while away, and it will be difficult for family and friends to accept many of the changes. *mm hopefully not*. Likewise, having been the centre of attention in another country for a period of time, the returnee will be forced after a few days to realize that they have lost their glamour.*huahaha..this is hilarious…got glamour meh? :s* They then face the problem of being one of the crown again, while longing for the friends they left…*and the explanation stops here :s…what a good ending for an advice :s...so I might end up wanting my ‘crown’ back heh :s*

-taken from Bringing Home the World by Stephen Rhinesmith-

We’ll see how true they are….in 3 weeks time =)….