FLEX Alumni Engage in Re-entry Seminars

Across Eurasia re-entry seminars are being held with recently returned FLEX alumni to help them to find their bearings, and aid in a smooth re-entry process upon returning home. A total of 28 re-entry seminars in ten countries have been held since mid-June, involving nearly 50 percent of the recently returned alumni class of 2010. In addition to the seminars, FLEX alumni had the opportunity to take part in re-entry discussion topics on the 2010 FLEX Alumni Re-entry Forum on Facebook. The 476-member re-entry forum gives those alumni who were not able to attend the sessions a chance to catch up with those FLEX participants with whom they attended pre-departure orientations, and even studied with in the U.S.

Cindy Ross, author of Scraping Heaven: A Family's Journey Along the Continental Divide, notes that "Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; you have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits." And although some may assume that those who are sensing the feelings of reverse culture shock are just seeking attention or vastly overreacting, studies have shown that on average, 60 percent of those returning from an extended stay abroad have reported significant culture shock upon repatriation.

Recently returned FLEX alumni who participated in the seminars shared with their peers, American Councils staff members, and representatives from U.S. embassies their personal experiences living in the U.S. with a host family, and studying in a U.S. high school. In addition to discussing re-entry issues, alumni also heard presentations about educational opportunities with U.S. universities and FLEX Alumni program opportunities and events, as well as first-hand accounts from senior alumni about getting past reverse culture shock and moving on.

Some highlights of the re-entry seminars included a special guest visit to the Almaty, Kazakhstan event from Farah Pandith, Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Pandith discussed her work with Muslin communities and talked to alumni about the issues they have been facing upon returning home from the FLEX Program. In St. Petersburg, Russia, alumni combined the re-entry seminar with a community service event in which senior alumni together with the recently returned group and U.S. Consulate representatives painted the fence at a local orphanage. All alumni enjoyed the camaraderie of the event, and showed interest in becoming active members of the FLEX alumni community to continue to be agents for change in their countries.