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The Transformative Power of the International Sojourn: an Ethnographic Study of the International Student Experience.

Brown, L., 2009. The Transformative Power of the International Sojourn: an Ethnographic Study of the International Student Experience. Annals of Tourism Research, 36 (3), 502-521.

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DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2009.03.002

Abstract

The findings from an ethnographic study of international postgraduate students’ adjustment journey through life in England illustrates the transformative potential of the international student sojourn. It is shown that removal from the familiar home environment gave students freedom from cultural and familial expectations and the opportunity for self-discovery, whilst exposure to a new culture offered them the chance to improve their cross-cultural communication skills. The durability of change was questioned by students who were apprehensive about re-entry to the origin culture and the receptivity of those left behind to the changes they had made. By pointing to the possible similarities between the experiences of international students and long-stay tourists, this paper calls for research into the outcome of long-stay tourism, in order to measure the extent of change in tourists’ self-concept and cross-cultural awareness.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0160-7383
Uncontrolled Keywords:sojourners personal growth; intercultural competence; life changes; going home
Group:Bournemouth University Business School
ID Code:10123
Deposited By: Lorraine Brown
Deposited On:28 Jun 2009 19:52
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:22

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