The Hero's Journey: Processing Your Time Abroad Course

Overview:

Module 1: Introduction

Your reentry journey is a pivotal moment where you can harness the lessons and strengths gained abroad to propel your personal growth and career forward. By engaging deeply with your experiences and insights, you will not only navigate the challenges of returning home but also emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to apply your newfound wisdom.

Module 2: TASK—What did you set out to do?

So did you achieve what you set out to do? Did your goals change along the way? Sometimes, the answers aren’t so straightforward, and that’s okay. Taking the time to look back gives you a fuller picture.

Side Quest: Mapping Your Re-Entry

Did you know that returning home after living abroad can be just as challenging and transformative as your initial move overseas? Re-entry and reverse culture shock often bring unexpected emotions and adjustments as you begin to reintegrate into your home culture. This Side Quest is designed to help you pinpoint where you are in the process of re-entry and reverse culture shock as well as give language and descriptors to the stages of re-entry.

Module 3: TEAM—Who were your allies?

Throughout your journey, you’ve likely crossed paths with a wide range of people who have made a significant impact on your experience. Some may have offered guidance, while others provided companionship, encouragement, or support when you needed it most. These individuals—whether they were friends, colleagues, mentors, or even someone you met briefly—played pivotal roles in shaping your journey. In the Team module, we focus on the question: Who were your allies?

Side Quest: Recalibrating Your Expectations

Welcome to your next Side Quest: Recalibrating Your Expectations. In this lesson, we're going to dive into the art of handling unmet expectations—both those you have of others and those others have of you. When things don't align with our expectations, it can lead to frustration, disappointment, and even conflict. That's why recalibrating your expectations is a crucial skill for maintaining emotional resilience and fostering healthier relationships.

Module 4: TOOLS—What skills did you acquire?

Throughout your time overseas, you've navigated unfamiliar cultural landscapes, maybe you’ve learned a new language, honed your resilience in the face of challenges, and developed a deeper understanding of yourself and others. These acquired skills are not only a testament to your adaptability but also powerful tools that can enhance your life back home or wherever you may be in the world.

Side Quest: Taking Your Inventory

In this Side Quest, we’ll dive into the process of identifying and articulating the skills and tools you gained during your time abroad. These might include practical abilities, such as language proficiency or cross-cultural communication, but also deeper, personal growth tools like adaptability, problem-solving, and resilience. By recognizing and reflecting on these skills, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how they’ve shaped you into a more capable, self-aware individual.

Module 5: TRIALS—What difficulties did you face?

In this module, we will explore the diverse range of trials expats commonly encounter, from cultural adjustments to more profound traumatic experiences. We'll discuss how these challenges can impact your mental health and explore effective strategies for coping and building resilience.

Side Quest: Managing your Stress

Welcome to your next Side Quest: Managing Your Stress where we'll embark on a journey to understand and master the different types of stress that impact our lives, specifically focusing on eustress and distress. You can learn to harness the positive aspects of stress while mitigating the negative impacts.

Module 6: TOLL—What did it cost you?

In this module, we will explore the concept of Toll, asking the Driving Question of “What did it cost you?”— the various types of costs or losses you may have encountered. We'll discuss the importance of acknowledging both small and significant losses, and provide strategies for expressing, honoring, and ultimately integrating these experiences into your journey back home.

Side Quest: Honoring Your Losses

Loss is a common experience that will be encountered many times during a lifetime, especially during major life transitions. Over your last season of life outside of your home culture, no doubt you experienced many kinds of loss. Acknowledging your losses is an important step to healthy re-entry. But even beyond acknowledging your losses is grieving them. Engaging with grief empowers you to adjust to a new normal and continue with the stuff of life.

Module 7: TRASH—What do you need to let go of?

In this module, we will spend some time identifying your "trash.” And by that, we mean the unhelpful attitudes, habits, mindsets, values, and behaviors that no longer serve you. As you transition back from living abroad, it's crucial to recognize these elements to foster a healthier and more positive mindset as you move forward.

Side Quest: Building Your Resilience

Welcome to the next Side Quest: Building Your Resilience. By investing in building resilience, you’ll not only enhance your ability to handle the repatriation process but also improve your overall quality of life. Resilient individuals tend to experience lower stress levels, better mental health, and greater satisfaction in their personal and professional lives.

Module 8: TREASURE—What did you gain?

When you went abroad, you embarked on a transformative journey, navigating unfamiliar landscapes both externally and within yourself. Now, as you prepare to reintegrate into your home culture, it's time to pause and acknowledge the treasures you've uncovered along the way and answer the Driving Question, “What did you gain?”

Side Quest: Celebrating Your Gains

This Side Quest focuses on the transformative power of gratitude. By acknowledging your progress and expressing gratitude, you not only boost your mood and motivation but also cultivate a positive mindset that propels you forward. Celebrating your gains reinforces your resilience, helping you to see how far you've come and inspiring you to continue striving towards your goals with renewed energy and optimism.

Module 9: TRANSFORMATION—How did you change?

This module aims to sharpen the focus on your transformation. Living as an expat, followed by repatriation, was more than just a geographical change; it was a transformative journey that has reshaped your identity, perspectives, and capabilities. This module guides you through a reflective process, helping you acknowledge and integrate the personal and professional growth you've achieved and empowering you to leverage these insights in your future endeavors.

Side Quest: Telling Your Story

This quest is about more than just recounting events. It’s about thoughtfully shaping your story to fit the person you are today, highlighting the moments that have defined your journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. By mastering the art of storytelling, you can create a powerful, inspiring account of your adventure that resonates with others.

Module 10: Conclusion

This final module brings everything together, offering the powerful benefits of synthesis. By reflecting on and connecting the dots of your journey, you'll see just how much you've grown—both personally and professionally. It's about weaving your experiences into a cohesive story that highlights the challenges you've overcome and the lessons you've learned. By the end, you'll have a clearer understanding of how your journey has shaped who you are today and how to carry those insights forward.