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We close with a caveat: Readers of this book could be forgiven for concluding that an overseas experience doesn't stack up very well against the apparent heartache of reentry, that unless one's sojourn abroad is extraordinarily rich, it could never compensate for the problems of coming home. But this is not at all the message here. Reentry, for all its minor and a few major annoyances, can't begin to diminish the lustre of an expatriate experience. Indeed, it is in some ways precisely because the overseas experience is so rich and stimulating that reentry becomes a problem. In other words, if you're having trouble readjusting, it's probably because you had such a terrific time abroad.
Moreover, simply because reentry can be frustrating, lonely, and generally unpleasant at times is not to say that it is either a harmful experience or even a negative one. After all, frustration, loneliness, and unpleasantness are very often the precursors of insight and personal growth. Maybe reentry doesn't always feel good, but then feeling good isn't much of a standard for measuring experience.
Make no mistake about it: Reentry is an experience to be reckoned with, but when the reckoning is done and the accounts are cleared, you're likely to find that the price you paid for your overseas sojourn was the bargain of a lifetime.
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