Jul 08
You can never go home
Cats: Uncategorized|A blogger and Twitter friend – the lovely and talented Alias Grace – asked me to guest post as part of a series she’s doing on immigration/emigration.
Having lived and travelled internationally more than once, I came to know about something called Reverse Culture Shock.
The *syndrome* was explained to me by a foreign aid worker but the experience and symptoms were all very familiar.
The easiest was of describing it is this: you can never go home. That’s because the experiences change you forever.
Anyway, go here to read my post. I’ve always wanted to write it, but never had the courage to do it here.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:46 am
That’s a lovely post, even though it confirms my suspicions that were I ever to go back to the place that always felt like home to me, it would no longer be there. Although that knowledge makes me sad, of course, it also makes me determined to find home wherever I happen to live. And to hold onto the memories of the place that once was.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Great article…despite the typo.;)
Not something I have experienced, except maybe going back to the old neighborhood and no longer being able to fit in the treehouse.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Great post GT – you capture it so well. I think the biggest challenge to my experience was realising what was causing the niggling alienation and unease.Now I accept it, but my sense of home has changed completely – for me home has become a state of mind, not a place. I’m not sure the alienation ever goes away completely. Perhaps it gets countered by familiarity and social contacts, but I have a sense that one (some?)are likely to never regain that nostalgic sense of a physical home. Perhaps it’s true – home is where the heart is.
July 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Who says you can’t go home? Certainly not Jon Bon Jovi. I have to take his word over yours. Sorry, I’ve known him longer.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Barbara, I think you are wise, the home of your past is in your mind
Dick, the ultimate rejection!
TT, I think you nailed it
BeckEye, I would never stand in the way of JBJ or anyting he says
July 8th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I have the same sad feeling every summer when we make the trip home to NS. It is not the “home” I grew up in, it changes every year. If we ever were to move back to NS I would want to live in a completely different town than the one I grew up in because I have a hard time with the fact that things keep changing. I don’t have roots where I live in Ontario. I don’t see myself living in the same spot once I retire either – this isn’t home.
We are heading “home” to NS this weekend though and it’s still good to see the family. No matter how depressing the changes can get.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:29 am
loved this post.
so much of this echos what i am feeling at this moment in time. i miss the UK terribly, yet with every move i make away from ‘home’ in ontario i feel like i grow even more. still i feel like i’ll always be left of the dial…searching through the static.