Homeward Bound: A Spouse's Guide to Repatriation
Robin Pascoe

Expat Review by April Davidson:
April is from Michigan, United States. At the time of writing, April was living in Mexico City, Mexico. April is now back in the US.

I am new to the process of being an expatriate and had no idea what “repatriation” even was until I read this book.  After reading this book, I have realized that moving abroad wasn’t the only hardship that I am going to have to face. 

Pascoe describes repatriation as “re-entry shock.”  She describes the different stages (challenges and struggles) that expatriates will face, while giving friendly advice on how to cope with each one, without taking it out on your spouse.  Just like culture shock, the length and severity of each stage is different for every person.  According to Pascoe, there are three stages in re-entry shock:

1.  The Honeymoon Period:

• the time in which everything seems perfect, if only for a moment;

2.  The Crisis Stage:

• in which the smallest obstacle can turn into a midlife crisis; and

3.  The Period of Readjustment and Reconciliation:

• the time when you “grow up, move on [ and just] get past it”.

Another chapter that I found very interesting was the one called “Re-entry Rage and Resentment.”  In this chapter, she goes through various situations that could cause you to be angry – all the while giving you suggestions on how to find the source of the anger and tips to overcoming that anger. 

I highly recommend this book to any expatriate who is planning on eventually going “home” (wherever and whenever that may be).  Pascoe uses many personal examples, as well as stories from her fellow expat friends, to stress the importance of the process that you will go through.  Moving is never easy, but I feel that I am more prepared for our next move after reading this book.