Coming Home a New Person

Eleni Panagiotopoulou
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on
ones own country as a foreign land G.K. Chesterton (203). This quote by G.K. Chesterton is a
quote that needs to be thought of very carefully, critically, and analytically. The quote
undoubtedly explains how travelers feel in their home country after traveling to foreign places.
Travelers come back, and they tend to see their own country as foreign per se. In Richard
Slimbachs book, Becoming World Wise: A Guide to Global Learning, Slimbach uses G.K.
Chestertons quote to portray to readers how Coming home can actually take as much getting
used to as going abroad ever did, and maybe more (204). It is critical to examine what sets a
traveler apart when they return to their home country, what sort of conflicts there are, what sort
of accommodations there are, the things gained, the things lost, if loss is necessarily a negative
aspect, and also the importance of re-integrating oneself after travel. Traveling surely does have a
huge impact on an individuals view of their home country when they return.
Many particular things set travelers apart when they return home from a trip. Slimbach
discusses the three types of returnees in his book. He explains that the, reverting returnees, are
the ones who, after returning home, distance themselves from their foreign experience and
uncritically resume their predeparture lifestyle (210). This is an unacceptable way to return
home from a trip. An individual should not ignore everything they experienced and learned about
abroad. It is important that they try to integrate what they learned abroad with their own home
countrys views and perceptions. Additionally, Slimbach explains another type of returnee.
Slimbach calls these returnees the alienated returnees (211). Alienated returnees are the
people that, Instead of simply reverting to the person they were before they left[they] find
themselves either rejecting their home culture altogether or waging a single-handed campaign to

change it in unrealistic ways (211). These returnees Feel between cultures, without a
permanent home (211). It is important that theses returnees opt for something more
educative (211). Education is key while abroad. An aspect that really sets travelers apart when
they return to their home country is what [they] bring home (210). By learning while abroad
about many aspects, individuals are able to learn more about culture, people, and ultimately,
themselves. Because of this travelers are able to bring home more knowledge about the world.
Slimbach explains this person as an integrative returnee (211). He explains that, They speak
of new world understandings and self-discoveries (211). Being an integrative returnee
provides the individual with the greatest potential for personal change (211). Personal change
is vital for every individual. This is a huge gain. Nonetheless, travelers that do not get out of their
comfort zone, that do not pay attention to details, and that do not interact with the natives of a
certain country, unfortunately do not come back home with much. It is essential to be
adventurous and social while abroad. Individuals have complete control on the way that they
return to their home country after being abroad.
Sometimes travelers can endure some conflicts when returning home, as well as some
accommodations. At times, when travelers return home, their hometown, family, and friends all
feel different (205). To explain how things feel different, Slimbach uses the examples of the
pace of life, the sheer size of things, new gadgets, and clothes in a travelers home country (205).
Slimbach describes that these aspects can cause the traveler to feel disoriented (205). This is a
conflict that travelers encounter when returning to their home. But, after a little of getting used to
their home country again, travelers eventually recognize them as familiar aspects of the culture
in which [they where] born and bred (205). Additionally, travelers at times might need to adjust
to their home again due to being critical (213). For example, Slimbach explains that, Travel

from one culture to another often results in a measure of estrangement from [their] own (213).
Being abroad causes travelers to reconsider, often in disturbing ways, the views we hold of
our own native land (213). This can be a gain and a loss of traveling. While the individual
obtains more views about a certain culture and educates themselves more about the world, it also
causes them to reevaluate some things in their own culture. This can be seen as a loss as well.
This loss is not harmful. This portrays to the traveler how their life is like and causes them to
be more evaluative of their life. One quote that Slimbach uses in his book is by novelist Thomas
Wolfe. Wolfe explained that, You cant go home again (205). Slimbach says that this is because
youre probably a different person than when you left (205). This can be seen as a gain and a
loss as well. Most of the times when an individual returns from abroad, they gain more
knowledge and a deeper sense of self. But sometimes, traveling can change an individuals
perception of things. These things can sometimes be negative aspects. But ultimately, loss is
certainly not always negative. Traveling helps an individual to learn more about the world and
other people. Whether this is a good or bad thing, the individual still acquires knowledge of
certain aspects.
Travel may make some things difficult to get used to once a traveler returns to their home
country. On the website, Travel Alchemy, the writer explains many ways to re-integrate oneself
after traveling. There are two examples that Simon uses that provide a great way for travelers to
re-integrate themselves. Simon explains that, Coming back is often a bizarre and difficult
process, and will require a serious dose of integration (Simon). The first example that Simon
uses is the importance of spending time alone (Simon). He explains that, Spending time alone
will allow [an individual] the time and space to find [their] center again after a potentially rough
transition (Simon). Another example that Simon uses in his article is to Read, write, and

unplug (Simon). Simon explains that it is important to reflect on a trip. By simply writing,
reading, and removing themselves from things, travelers are able to focus on themselves and
meditate ideas. After returning from a trip, at times, it is difficult to feel completely at home,
one may even feel as if they are a stranger in their own country. This is very likely, but
travelers can use many re-integration methods to feel more at home and comfortable again once
they return to their home country.
Numerous travelers around the world experience a weird feeling when they return to their
home country after being abroad. Some travelers seem to see their home as foreign due to
many reasons. The traveler obtains some positive aspects but, also some negative aspects. But it
is important that the traveler keeps in mind that many people do not have the opportunity to
travel to such amazing places around the world. It is important that travelers do not to take things
for granted while abroad. Let everything sink in while traveling. It will create memories of a
lifetime. It is critical to be different, to see things in a different perspective while abroad. This
will not only create a great experience, but it will also teach the traveler so much more about the
world. What sets a traveler apart from another when they return to their home country after
traveling is what they learn. It is important to understand that, Those who find their homeland
sweet are still tender beginners; those to whom every soil is as their native one are already
strong; but those who are perfect are the ones to whom the entire world is as a foreign landHugh of Saint Victor (212).

Works Cited
Simon. "5 Essential Steps of Post-Travel Integration." Travel Alchemy. N.p., 9 Dec. 2014. Web.
11 Mar. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travel-alchemy.com%2F5-steps-of-integration
%2F>.
Slimbach, Richard. Becoming World Wise: A Guide to Global Learning. Sterling, VA: Stylus
Pub., LLC, 2010. Print.