The impact of cross-cultural reentry on shaping life histories

• Main Author: Crystal, Kenneth M.J.
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5852

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.