| Summary: | A hermeneutic-phenomenological, mutli-case study was conducted to discern how the
experience of cross-cultural reentry impacts the life histories of three repatriated, English
speaking, Canadian males. In this study, identity is defined as a self-narrative. During an audiotaped,
in-depth interview, the co-researchers described motivations for leaving Canada, their
experiences of life overseas, cross-cultural reentry to Canada, as well as, expectations concerning
their futures. A comparative analysis was conducted to illustrate common themes and narrative
structure among the three accounts. The overall cross-cultural experience was seen to be
structured as an adventure: the quest for personhood. The drive towards personhood is described
as the search for harmony among the various stances or roles that provide life with a sense of
fulfillment and meaning. The cross-cultural quest for personhood has four phases. The first two
phases of the quest correspond to leave taking and of consecrating an overseas home. These
phases are defined by their outward adventure of action taking. Themes associated with phase
one are separation, attachment, commitment and unfinished business. Themes associated with
phase two are building a framework of life supports and settling down. The next phase of the
story corresponds to disruption of the co-researchers' lives and an inward adventure of sustained
self-confrontations. Themes highlighted during this period of cross-cultural reentry are
developmental, cultural, and temporal assaults upon self-identity. The final phase of the story
corresponds to responsibility-taking and the re-appropriation of a life path towards fulfillment.
Implication for models of cross-cultural adjustment, as well as, implications for counseling
practice, are discussed.
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