A CROSS-NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON REENTRY OF HIGH-SCHOOL EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Set in the context of a historical perspective and recognizing various disciplinary contributions to and rationales for learning about the c oncept of reentry, this cross-national study looks at the ''coming hom e'' experience of high school exchange students in Australia, Ecuador, Norway, and Sweden. Interview and questionnaire data describe how 272 young people feel about coming home and the ways they have shared the ir experiences, coped with the frustrations of communication such as d ealing with stereotypes, and become bridge-builders in their own commu nities. The author relates the findings to previously described theore tical approaches to reentry, including Kim's theory which is the conte xt for this study, and to questions about whether reentry is problemat ic, about identity, about the ability to teach others, and about natio nality. Finally, implications for research and practice are suggested.