Changes in patterns of behavior. While living in a host country, certain forms of verbal and non-verbal communication have been formed in most returnees. For example, in some Western and Eastern countries smiling or bowing to strangers might be viewed as the expressions of politeness, friendliness and greetings. Many returnees said that they used to always smile in a host environment and took this habit with them to their home country. However, it looked odd and usually turned out to be inappropriate in contact with people in their home country. Smiling or nodding at passport control, restaurants, and shops, on the street or even during job interviews sometimes led to a failure or misunderstanding in communication with people. Some returnees felt uncomfortable when they caught those curious or judging eyes when they emotionally or easily engaged in conversation with people. One of the research participants returned from Japan shared her experience in this regard: “I remember, when I greeted people or thanked them, I used to bow much. After some time living and studying in Japan, bowing becomes a normal thing and I had such a habit for about six months here, upon return to Kazakhstan. When I talked to my friends in the bus or other public places I started noticing that people were looking at me strangely, which made me feel uncomfortable, even my friends could not understand my behavior. Maybe because I used to talk to my friends, the way I talked to Japanese. I could express my emotions with certain accompanying phrases during conversations. For example, I used such phrases as "Ohh, sou desu ka?" (Is that so? Oh, really, that's pretty damn cool yo") or "hontouni?" (Really, truly, surely?) all the time during the conversations. After all, Kazakhs seem less emotional, they react things unemotionally, it is like “well, ok, yes, and so on”. I realized that I should give up some habits I had picked up in Japan as soon as possible". (Participant 2) In the process of re-adaptation to the native environment, a lingering smile often becomes a source of misunderstanding. The female participant returned from the UK added: “…Unfortunately, upon returning to Kazakhstan, I felt such a contrast, that our people are completely unsmiling. In England, you could smile a stranger and get a friendly smile in response. I got used to it, even more, I liked it and used to smile so much, regardless of whether I knew the person or not. When came back to Kazakhstan, I used to smile, moreover, I sincerely laughed, m...
