Female returnees may experience more difficulty and conflict upon returning if the home society has a strong patriarchal tradition or set roles in the family and work place. This does not necessarily mean that women prefer the overseas environment. In general, there is greater potential for personal conflict for female returnees who have strengthened their independence of thought and action during overseas study. Previous Cross-Cultural Experience. The hypothesis is that foreign students returning home after overseas study encounter a less difficult re-entry if they have previously been away from and returned home.
Return is easier the second time around.
Length of Stay and Degree of Interaction with the Host Culture. The longer a student stays abroad and the greater the interaction and empathy with the host culture, the more difficult re-entry to the home culture may be. Sometimes the students who have been most adaptive to the host culture have the most difficulty re-adapting to the home culture. On the other hand, cross-cultural experience tends to make people more adaptive overall, whether leaving or returning to one's home culture. Readiness to Return Home.