Sojourners to Another Country: The Psychological Roller-Coaster of Cultural Transitions

Abstract

Cultural sojourners are temporary visitors to another country who return to their home country. They can be students enrolled in a foreign university or corporate employees assigned to an international branch of their company. This chapter explores the psychological aspects of the cultural transition cycle experienced by the sojourner. The concepts of enculturation and cultural identity are introduced followed by a discussion of a transition model which focuses on awareness, adjustment, adaptation, self-concept change, cultural identity response and repatriation. Ideas for minimizing repatriation distress are suggested.