The Homebound Syndrome… A Sequel (on the hazards of never leaving home electronically)

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The Homebound Syndrome…The Homebound Syndrome…A SequelA Sequel

(on the hazards of never (on the hazards of never leaving home electronically)leaving home electronically)

Dennis WhiteDennis [email protected]

www.yeoresources.comwww.yeoresources.com

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Part I:Part I:The Inbound SyndromeThe Inbound Syndrome

• The tendency for expatriates (not just The tendency for expatriates (not just Youth Exchange students) to bond Youth Exchange students) to bond with one anotherwith one another

• Not good, not bad, just is - but has Not good, not bad, just is - but has implications for immersion in the host implications for immersion in the host cultureculture

The Inbound Syndrome revised.doc  

Part II:Part II:The Homebound SyndromeThe Homebound Syndrome

• The tendency for Youth Exchange The tendency for Youth Exchange students to maintain continual students to maintain continual electronic communication with family electronic communication with family and friends back home and friends back home

• Not good, not bad, just is - but has Not good, not bad, just is - but has implications for immersion in the host implications for immersion in the host cultureculture

Some historical comments on Some historical comments on the “younger generation” the “younger generation”

Children now love luxury; they have bad Children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they manners, contempt for authority; they allow disrespect for elders and love chatter allow disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children now are in place of exercise. Children now are tyrants, not the servants of their tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, parents, chatter before company, gobble up food at the table, …and tyrannize gobble up food at the table, …and tyrannize their teachers. their teachers. Socrates, 469-339 B.C.Socrates, 469-339 B.C.

Beloit College Mindset 2012Beloit College Mindset 2012

1.1. They have always lived in cyberspace, They have always lived in cyberspace, addicted to a new generation of “electronic addicted to a new generation of “electronic narcotics.”narcotics.”

2.2. If they miss If they miss The Daily ShowThe Daily Show, they can always , they can always get their news on YouTube. get their news on YouTube. 

3.3. They have never seen an airplane “ticket.”They have never seen an airplane “ticket.”

4.4. They can’t picture people actually carrying They can’t picture people actually carrying luggage through airports rather than rolling it.luggage through airports rather than rolling it.

Beloit College Mindset 2012Beloit College Mindset 2012

5.5. The Green Bay Packers have always The Green Bay Packers have always celebrated with the Lambeau Leap.celebrated with the Lambeau Leap.

6.6. Outdated icons with images of floppy Outdated icons with images of floppy discs for “save,” a telephone for discs for “save,” a telephone for “phone,” and a snail mail envelope “phone,” and a snail mail envelope for “mail” have oddly decorated their for “mail” have oddly decorated their tablets and smart phone screens. tablets and smart phone screens.

Beloit College Mindset 2012Beloit College Mindset 2012

7.7. They have had to incessantly remind their They have had to incessantly remind their parents not to refer to their CDs and DVDs parents not to refer to their CDs and DVDs as “tapes.” as “tapes.”

8.8. Point-and-shoot cameras are soooooo last Point-and-shoot cameras are soooooo last millennium.millennium.

9.9. The Metropolitan Opera House in New The Metropolitan Opera House in New York has always translated operas on York has always translated operas on seatback screens.seatback screens.

Beloit College Mindset 2012Beloit College Mindset 2012

10.10. Before they purchase an assigned textbook, Before they purchase an assigned textbook, they will investigate whether it is available they will investigate whether it is available for rent or purchase as an e-book. for rent or purchase as an e-book.

11.11. They watch television everywhere but on a They watch television everywhere but on a television.television.

12.12. Probably the most tribal generation in Probably the most tribal generation in history, they despise being separated from history, they despise being separated from contact with their similar-aged friends. contact with their similar-aged friends. 

Beloit College Mindset 2012Beloit College Mindset 2012

They have always been They have always been “connected”“connected”

Parents of today’s 16-17 year Parents of today’s 16-17 year olds:olds:

Probably born between 1955 and 1975Probably born between 1955 and 1975(If born in 1955)(If born in 1955)

• Were 2 years old when Sputnik was launched.Were 2 years old when Sputnik was launched.• Had stay-at-home moms.Had stay-at-home moms.• Were 8 years old when JKF was assassinated.Were 8 years old when JKF was assassinated.• Were too young to go to Woodstock Were too young to go to Woodstock • Were one year olds when Elvis appeared on Were one year olds when Elvis appeared on

Ed Sullivan. Ed Sullivan.

Parents of today’s 16-17 year Parents of today’s 16-17 year olds:olds:

Probably born between 1955 and 1975Probably born between 1955 and 1975(If born in 1975)(If born in 1975)

• Were 1 year olds for the U.S. bicentennial.Were 1 year olds for the U.S. bicentennial.• Probably never used rotary phones.Probably never used rotary phones.• Were the first generation with a majority Were the first generation with a majority

of working moms. of working moms.• Were two years old when Elvis died.Were two years old when Elvis died.• Ask “Who’s Ed Sullivan?”Ask “Who’s Ed Sullivan?”

Invasive ParentingInvasive Parenting

• Helicopter ParentsHelicopter Parents• Curling ParentsCurling Parents• Similar phrases for this phenomenon Similar phrases for this phenomenon

exist in many cultures today exist in many cultures today

A Helicopter Parent….A Helicopter Parent….• Will do homework for their child because Will do homework for their child because

they do not want them to failthey do not want them to fail• Fill out the college applications and SAT’sFill out the college applications and SAT’s• Probably filling out RYE applications tooProbably filling out RYE applications too• Write letter of recommendation and ask Write letter of recommendation and ask

teacher to signteacher to sign• Are the ones taking notes at OrientationsAre the ones taking notes at Orientations• Try to make their child’s life perfectTry to make their child’s life perfect• Take away all pain and frustration = no Take away all pain and frustration = no

psychological skills for happinesspsychological skills for happiness

The New Global StudentThe New Global Student

Maya FrostMaya Frost

“ “Swaddling our kids in bubble wrap prevents Swaddling our kids in bubble wrap prevents them from experiencing and developing the them from experiencing and developing the ability to adapt in unpredictable circumstances. ability to adapt in unpredictable circumstances. In making life easier for their kids in the short In making life easier for their kids in the short term parents are making it harder for them in term parents are making it harder for them in the long term. In addition, they are depriving the long term. In addition, they are depriving their children of meaning and a shot at deep their children of meaning and a shot at deep satisfaction”.satisfaction”.

Hara Estroff Marano, Hara Estroff Marano, A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive ParentingA Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting

Quoted in Quoted in The New Global StudentThe New Global Student by Maya Frost by Maya Frost

The progression of international The progression of international communicationcommunication

Land mailLand mail Placing an overseas callPlacing an overseas call Direct DialDirect Dial Calling cardsCalling cards FaxFax EmailEmail BlogsBlogs SkypeSkype Instant messaging (texting, etc.)Instant messaging (texting, etc.) Facebook!Facebook! Twitter???Twitter???

►VIDEO SLIDE VIDEO SLIDE WOULD GO HEREWOULD GO HERE

►VIDEO SLIDE VIDEO SLIDE WOULD GO HEREWOULD GO HERE

“ “Last year the International Center for Media Last year the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda asked 1,000 students and the Public Agenda asked 1,000 students from across five continents to not use media for from across five continents to not use media for one day and then report back. one day and then report back.

They… reported feeling depressed and lonely. They… reported feeling depressed and lonely.

They…felt that living without (their cell phones) They…felt that living without (their cell phones) was like losing a part of their identity.”was like losing a part of their identity.”

►VIDEO SLIDE VIDEO SLIDE WOULD GO HEREWOULD GO HERE

"My dream is for every 17-year old to "My dream is for every 17-year old to become a Youth Exchange Student.  If become a Youth Exchange Student.  If we could achieve this, there would be we could achieve this, there would be no more wars."  no more wars." 

Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Rotary International President 2004-2005Rotary International President 2004-2005

Why is this important for Why is this important for Youth Exchange?Youth Exchange?

1. Over-bonding with other Inbound 1. Over-bonding with other Inbound students (The Inbound students (The Inbound

Syndrome)Syndrome)

2. Never leaving home electronically 2. Never leaving home electronically (The Homebound Syndrome)(The Homebound Syndrome)

Among the top reasons Among the top reasons exchanges fail are:exchanges fail are:

Stages of Culture ShockStages of Culture Shock

1.1. Initial excitementInitial excitement

2.2. Irritability and negativenessIrritability and negativeness

3.3. Gradual adaptationGradual adaptation

4.4. BiculturalismBiculturalism

Culture Shock.doc

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Rotary Youth ExchangeRotary Youth Exchange

Adapted from a model by Robert KohlsAdapted from a model by Robert Kohls

Stages of Culture Shock:

1. Initial enthusiasm and excitement

2. Irritability and negativism3. Gradual adjustment and

adaptation4. Integration and bi-culturalism

If the easiest response to the If the easiest response to the

Irritability and negativismIrritability and negativism stage is stage is

to find comfort with other Inboundsto find comfort with other Inbounds

or electronically with friends and family or electronically with friends and family

at home, the student may get stuck at home, the student may get stuck going going

back and forth from stage one to two, back and forth from stage one to two,

in a vicious cyclein a vicious cycle

Stages of Culture Shock:Stages of Culture Shock:

1.1. Initial enthusiasm and excitementInitial enthusiasm and excitement

2.2. Irritability and negativismIrritability and negativism

((Discomfort)Discomfort)

3. Gradual adjustment and adaptation3. Gradual adjustment and adaptation

4. 4. Integration and bi-culturalism Integration and bi-culturalism

Two central issues, closely Two central issues, closely related:related:

1. Instant Communication

2. Intrusive Parenting

Examples of how students manage the IB/HB Syndrome:

►The student who insists that people speak in the host country language, even when very difficult

►The student who voluntarily restricts internet and text messaging to a few hours a week

►The student who first goes to host parents and local RYE officer with problems, rather than someone back home

Examples of how students manage the IB/HB Syndrome:

►The student who volunteers in a local orphanage or other service project

►The student who speaks with other Inbounds in the host country language, rather than English

Examples of how YEOs manage the IB/HB Syndrome

►Explain the Inbound Syndrome to students early in their stay

►Challenge them to voluntarily manage contact with other Inbounds

►Limit the number of Inbounds in any one club or school

Examples of how YEOs manage the IB/HB Syndrome:

►Limit the number of Inbound gatherings

►Limit unofficial gathering of Inbounds

►Insist Inbounds speak the host country language at Inbound events

Aren’t these the things we tell students anyway?

►Sometimes we get caught up in the good feelings that come when Inbounds gather

►Sometimes we confuse a good time with a good experience

Extreme ResponsesExtreme Responses

• Giving up – “There’s nothing we can Giving up – “There’s nothing we can do about it”do about it”

• Rules intended to prohibit or Rules intended to prohibit or controlcontrol

Reasonable ResponsesReasonable Responses

• Accept – These two phenomena are with us Accept – These two phenomena are with us for the foreseeable futurefor the foreseeable future

• Inform – Give people, parents, students, Inform – Give people, parents, students, YEOs information on how and why intrusive YEOs information on how and why intrusive parenting and instant communication can parenting and instant communication can interfere with immersion into the host interfere with immersion into the host cultureculture

• Challenge - If students can manage their Challenge - If students can manage their own behavior they can make a good own behavior they can make a good exchange become a great exchangeexchange become a great exchange

Discussion: Implications for Youth Discussion: Implications for Youth ExchangeExchange

• Challenge students to set goals and makeChallenge students to set goals and make

agreements about electronic contact backagreements about electronic contact back

homehome

• Challenge students to decide what kind ofChallenge students to decide what kind of

exchange they want to have – a good one, exchange they want to have – a good one,

or a great oneor a great one

Implications for Youth Implications for Youth ExchangeExchange

1.1. Interviews and Selection. Interviews and Selection.

2.2. Parent and Student Orientations.Parent and Student Orientations.

3.3. Hosting Inbounds.Hosting Inbounds.

4.4. Managing the exchange year.Managing the exchange year.

5.5. Communicating with the student, Communicating with the student, pre-exchange, exchange and post- pre-exchange, exchange and post- exchange.exchange.

6.6. And any other topics you wish.And any other topics you wish.

The Homebound Syndrome…The Homebound Syndrome…A SequelA Sequel

(on the hazards of never (on the hazards of never leaving home electronically)leaving home electronically)

Dennis WhiteDennis [email protected]

www.yeoresources.comwww.yeoresources.com