This document provides the details of a session titled "ALIEN ON EARTH" that aims to make attendees aware of reverse culture shock when returning home from an international experience. The session uses role-playing to simulate the experience, followed by breakout groups and discussions. Topics will include tips for reintegrating, how to use the experience to advance one's career, and listening to those who have lived abroad. While fewer returnees are expected than planned, the facilitators will try to include some people with longer international experience to lead the breakout groups and take on roles as returnees.

1. The Global Experience. Learn to change the future!
Session Name: ALIEN ON EARTH
Facis Responsible:Alexa &Daniela
Logistics
Day: 3rd
April
Time:16:00-17:30
Location:
Material:
Delegates movement:
Goals/outcomes
• make the SNs aware of the reverse cultural shock they will go through
when coming back
• make them realise the importance of evaluation of their trianeeship , the
effects of reverse culture shock and ways to cope with it
• encourage the returnees to share from their international experiences
Ideas/remarks
The session is based on a role play- which is to be analyzed by the
delegates in order to get them to the main ideas
Links with the session before
The session will be linked to the “AMBASSADORSHIP” one through the
idea that after an international experience one becomes the ambassador of
the hosting culture- in the sense that the main role of the returning individual
is to destroy all the stereotypes he once used to have about the other culture,
stereotypes inherited from his/her own culture.
Links with session after
The idea that is supposed to link the Re-integration session to the “CAREER
PALNNING” one is that the that the traineeship is a very changing experience,
from a personal view and that it can be a step ahead into your career or it can
make you take a 180 degrees turn concerning your career.
Flow
Cultural Preparation Seminar 2004

2. The Global Experience. Learn to change the future!
Topic Objectives Method Timing Materials
needed
Responsible
1.INTRO - importance
and logic of
the session
-expectations
-explanation
of the title
-flow
Plenary 10 min flip charts
markers
tape
computer
Dani
2.ROLE
PLAY
-create a real
situation the
audience can
relate to for
greater
impact
-summary of
all the key
messages the
training has
and it is a
base for the
rest of the
subsessions
-Working
Groups
-Q&A
15 min -markers
-flipcharts
-photos
-tape
-mobile
Alexa&Dani
3.ALIEN ON
THE MOON
-establish the
state of mind
and emotions
of the soon to
be returnee
-re-integration
is a process
that begins
even before
coming back-
tips & tricks
for ways to do
that
-Working
Groups
-Q&A
10 min -markers
-flipcharts
-tape
Alexa
4.ALIEN ON
EARTH
-ambassador
of the hosting
culture
-re-entry
shock
(symptoms;
a bipolar
process)
-re-integration
(clarification
of the
process& the
emotional
state that it
implies)
-personal
change
-groups->
brainstorming
10 min --------||--------- Facis
5.PLACE
YOURSELF
- convince the
audience of
-moderated
discussions in
40 min ---------||-------- Facis
Cultural Preparation Seminar 2004

3. The Global Experience. Learn to change the future!
IN THE
ALIEN’S
SHOES
the reality of
the process
by listening to
the students
who`ve lived
abroad
-tips and
tricks of
coping with
the re-
integration
process from
the personal
experience of
the students
who`ve lived
abroad
working
groups
-summaries
on flipcharts
-maybe
presentations
in working
groups
6.WRAP-UP - emphasize
the main
ideas of the
training
-on the
success or
insuccess of
the re-
integration
process
depends their
future,
including their
career
Plenary 5 min --------||-------- Alexa &
Daniela
You, know what , Alex, I have a cool idea. So when we already know that there will be much fewer returnees that
expected the working groups have to be arranged so that there are enough people who will adopt the role of
returnees. After all the experience is the same and they will serve as returnees.SO we can check this personal info /for
staying abroad for a longer time/, even if it wasn`t included in the application form, as every LC knows it`s delegates,
Sn forms, etc
After all the predominant part of the delegates will be SNs and @er who`ve entered the organisation comparatively
soon/ I guess/So the session is designed for them.If we can assure that there are 3-4 people who`ve been abroad for
a longer time, the need to rearrange the session drastically is not in the agenda
I propose an introductory session and a wrap up in plenary and the rest in working groups.I`ll talk to Lavi tomorrow to
see if it`s possible to have 3-4 people who`ve been abroad for a longer period /at least 3 for a group of 20 people/
Cultural Preparation Seminar 2004