For years, classic film enthusiasts have argued over the allegorical meaning of The Wizard of Oz. But perhaps chronically homesick expats can be forgiven for having their own empathetic interpretation.
Over the rainbow
First a recap: when a tornado rips through her homeland, Dorothy is whisked away from all her dear friends and relatives then abruptly deposited in the land of Oz. At home everything was so easy to navigate. It was all black and white; cosy and familiar. But Oz is an intense, richly coloured wonderland, where people are dressed in all kinds of strange outfits. When Dorothy says to her pet dog Toto, ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore’, she’s wide-eyed and overwhelmed.
The adjustment challenge
Dorothy does her best to adjust. She sensibly builds up her social network, befriending the Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Lion. She also bravely squares up to many challenges during her quest to find the Wizard – indeed, the film is partly a voyage of self-discovery, which will also chime with many expat partners’ personal experiences. But ultimately it’s all too much for Dorothy. We’re happy for her when she clicks the red slippers together and wakes up in her bed back in Kansas, as if it were all a frightful dream.
Extreme culture shock
Of course, Dorothy wasn’t trying to make a home in Oz but the film’s narrative setup will still resonate for anyone who has found themselves feeling very unsure of themselves in a foreign land. If an expat doesn’t know how to move forward positively and adjust to a new culture, they may experience much more than a dose of homesickness, for example, an identity crisis, crippling anxiety, or depression. When experiencing this kind of extreme culture shock, it’s quite understandable that someone could think ‘there’s no place like home’ and decide to end their overseas adventure.
Cycles of change
Should you be experiencing symptoms of extreme culture shock, it’s crucial to recognise that it’s the situation, not you. That’s one of the takeaways expat partners learn when they sign up for our ‘Cycles of Change’ coaching programme. This programme, specially designed by Global Connection, gives partners vital ‘breathing room’ by helping them to visualise the phases of adjustment that they will go through. That can help them to overcome challenges in an unfamiliar place. And then? Well, apparently ‘somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true’.
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
