Articulating Adaptation of the American Alien

Cross section of motley scholars. Alas the Arabic Language Institute's summer class of 2005 is drawing to a close, with finals at the end of this week, and a dizzying array of prepatory lectures for our return. Including one on the most intriguing psychological syndrome known as "Reverse Culture Shock." I would have initially refuted its very existence, in fact I did. But given the extensive emphasis placed by the school via its speakers and literature, I am thinking otherwise. It's really rather difficult to explain to one not residing in Egypt (such an elitist and exclusive club it is)--but the general idea is this: vast amounts of energy are put forth in adjusting to life in Cairo upon arrival, and suddenly leaving and being injected back into life in the States is very distressing, as a loss of direction or purpose arises (sounds more existential than I think it is), confusion and anxiety of the disparity of regions of the world troubles, and tension with the hypocrisy of one's life boils. Tuning yourself to the rhythm of the city is an extraordinary task. Personally, I was fine, my expectations were right on. For others, after all this work, to be popped back home again is boggling. The United States begins to look backwards, that's the point I think. Once at home, you experience feelings of isolation, as though nobody can understand what you've witnessed, and nobody will ever be able to empathize with the struggle of the people of your host nation (sounds like a soldier returning from war, real melodramatic) The wealth and ignorance of Americans is all the more exacerbating, and while most here probably already harbored such sentiment, there is again, a sense of "now what?" as though one can't decide where they belong. Cue the multitude of US professors who came to teach at the AUC for just a year or summer, and wound up living here. I have spoken to many of them, they just couldn't take the States anymore. Strange. After the transition to life in Cairo, the US seems too easy after transitioning here. Flowing into Cairo is not smooth for many, a jostling ride of comfort and hostility. One feels accustomed to America, for most, it's their home, but now they are forced into reverting to a state not like that of a child or an immigrant, but an alien to their own country.

In all, it's a matter of having seen the other side. Having been entrenched in the other side. And the United States, no matter how hard you try, will never be the same again.