After years of life abroad, returning “home” often feels like it should bring a sense of comfort and ease. But for many international families, especially those with children who have spent their formative years in Bangkok, the experience is more emotionally complex. Children who have grown up in globally diverse environments like NIST International School often return to a country that feels less familiar than expected, even if it’s their official place of origin.
This sense of disconnection is called reverse culture shock, and it can affect everything from friendships and school adjustment to a child’s sense of identity. Unlike the initial transition of moving overseas, returning home doesn’t always come with the same level of preparation or support. In this article, we’ll explore how parents can help children manage the emotional and social aspects of this change, so they feel seen, understood, and supported as they step into their next chapter.
What Is Reverse Culture Shock?
Reverse culture shock is the often-overlooked emotional response that occurs when returning to a once-familiar place. Unlike the excitement and preparation that come with moving abroad, returning home can bring feelings of confusion, disappointment, or even disconnection. The environment may be the same, but children have changed. Their values, routines, and worldviews have been shaped by years of living in a multicultural setting, and “home” may no longer feel entirely like theirs.
This phenomenon can be especially jarring because it’s unexpected. Families may assume the hardest part is over, only to realise that reintegration has its own set of emotional and social hurdles. For children who have grown up attending schools like NIST, where diversity is celebrated and global awareness is central, returning to a more homogeneous environment can feel like a loss of identity.
Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable
Younger children may not have clear memories of their home country, while older students might experience tension between their international identity and cultural expectations at home. In both cases, common challenges include:
- Feeling “different” or out of place among peers who haven’t lived abroad
- Missing friends, routines, or even favourite foods from Thailand
- Struggling with a shift in school structure, teaching style, or social dynamics
Common Challenges Children Face After Returning Home
Social Disconnection
For many students, leaving an international school community means saying goodbye to a world where diversity is the norm and shared experiences of mobility are common. Returning to a school in which few classmates have lived abroad can lead to a sense of isolation. Children might find it difficult to connect with peers who haven’t experienced international life, and conversations about past travels or cultural differences may be misunderstood or seen as “showing off.”
Emotional Reactions
Reverse culture shock can trigger a wide range of emotions, from sadness and frustration to boredom or even resentment. Children may miss everyday elements of their life in Thailand, school events, local food, the rhythm of city life, and feel a strong sense of nostalgia. In some cases, this may look like:
- Mood swings or irritability
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Expressing a desire to “go back”
Academic and School Adjustment
Transitioning into a different education system can be surprisingly disruptive. Children may find new expectations around homework, classroom behaviour, or assessment methods difficult to adapt to. For instance:
- A student who thrived in a collaborative, inquiry-based setting may struggle in a more exam-driven environment
- Language differences (even subtle ones) can affect confidence and participation
- Previously studied subjects may not align with new curriculum content
Strategies for Parents to Support the Transition
Every family’s journey home is different, but small, intentional steps can ease the emotional adjustment for children. Below are practical strategies to help your child feel supported, understood, and connected.
Prepare Before You Leave
Setting expectations early can reduce the emotional shock of returning. Consider:
- Talking openly about what will change and what will stay the same
- Creating memory keepsakes such as a scrapbook, video messages from friends, or a Bangkok photo album
- Letting your child lead part of the process, whether it’s packing their room or choosing a farewell activity
As Year 13s recently took their final walk, the NIST community gave a proud farewell with a lasting show of support.
Normalise the Ups and Downs
Let your child know that it’s perfectly normal to feel conflicted about going home. Share your own feelings honestly. Try saying:
- “I’m excited to see family, but I’ll miss the pace of life here too.”
- “It’s okay to feel sad and grateful at the same time.”
Create Continuity and Connection
Even once you’ve left Bangkok, parts of your child’s international identity can stay with them:
- Schedule regular video calls with close friends
- Keep celebrating Thai holidays or cooking familiar dishes together
- Continue speaking or reading in Thai or other languages studied at NIST
Support Identity and Belonging
Your child’s sense of self may have shifted during their time abroad. Embrace that.
- Encourage them to reflect on what they’ve learned about themselves
- Help them find local groups, clubs, or activities that match their global interests
- Frame their experience as something to be proud, not something that makes them different in a negative way
Journals, art, or even family dinner conversations can be excellent tools for helping children express and process their evolving identity.
If your child attended NIST, it may also be helpful to maintain a short connection back to the school, an email to a former teacher, a postcard from their new location, or a quick update shared with friends. These small gestures remind them that their international journey isn’t something to leave behind, but something to carry forward with pride.
Embracing the Transition as a Family
Repatriation is a whole-family experience. Taking an intentional, collective approach can help everyone adjust with greater empathy and resilience.
Here are some ideas to foster a smoother transition together:
- Share stories: Make space for everyone in the family to talk about what they miss and what they’re discovering anew. This might be during family dinners or even through a shared travel journal.
- Create rituals: Whether it’s cooking a Thai dish once a week or celebrating holidays from your time abroad, maintaining cultural traditions gives continuity and comfort.
- Be patient with one another: Each family member may adapt at a different pace. While a parent might quickly reconnect with their home culture, a child might need longer to feel settled. That’s okay.
How Schools and Counsellors Can Help
International schools like NIST are uniquely positioned to guide families through transition periods, including the often-overlooked phase of returning home. Schools that understand third culture experiences recognise that re-entry can be as emotionally complex as the initial move abroad.
Support During Departure
- Exit preparation: Many schools offer leavers’ programmes that encourage students to reflect on their experiences, say meaningful goodbyes, and prepare emotionally for what's next.
- Counsellor involvement: School counsellors play a vital role in helping students understand the emotions they’re likely to face when they return home, normalising the experience of reverse culture shock.
Continued Connection Post-Departure
- Some schools, including NIST, maintain alumni networks or offer ongoing pastoral support, especially for older students transitioning to university. Staying connected to a global school community, even from afar, can provide reassurance during uncertain moments.
- Families are encouraged to keep conversations open with previous mentors or teachers, particularly if a child is struggling with identity, belonging, or re-adapting to school life.
The graduation of the NIST Class of 2025
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Returning home is rarely as simple as picking up where you left off, but with the right support, children can find their footing again and carry their international experiences forward in meaningful ways. By staying curious, open, and patient as a family, you’re helping your child readjust and grow through the transition.