PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

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PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

• UAB OFFICE FOR STUDY AWAY
• Heritage Hall Room 521 and 523
• [phone] Phone
• [phone] Fax

Email studyabroad_at_uab.edu Website
www.studyabroad.app.uab.edu
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Welcome to the Presentation

• Goals of this tutorial
• To provide a basic overview of international
  travel planning.
• To help UAB students understand that
  international travel has certain inherent risks.
• To provide a framework from which students can
  make informed decisions while abroad.

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Presentation Topics

• Pre-Departure Planning
• Culture Shock and Depression
• Communication Abroad
• Packing Tips
• Safety Abroad
• Money Abroad
• Health Abroad
• Law Abroad
• Re-Entry Planning

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Pre-Departure Planning
Travel Mantra 1 Know where your embassy is!

• The key to traveling safely is PREPARATION!
• Research your country. The US State Department is
  the best place to find information about your
  host country. GET A GUIDEBOOK! Learn a few
  phrases in the language of the country.
• UAB Insurance Information (if applicable)
• Health Insurance Information
• HTH Worldwide www.hthtravelinsurance.com
• SOS International www.internationalsos.com
• MedEx www.medexassist.com
• Travel Guard www.travelguard.com
• EAP (Emergency Action Plan)

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Pre-Departure Planning

• Have copies of the following with you in a secure
  location separate from the originals
• Passport This is the MOST IMPORTANT document
  you will have with you! A person without a
  Passport is a person without a country!
• Insurance Card
• Flight Information
• Contact information for bank/credit card
• Leave copies of the following with your primary
  emergency contact in the U.S.
• Identification documents (Drivers License,
  Passport, etc.)
• Insurance Contacts
• Medical Information
• Flight Information
• Your contact info while abroad contact
  information for bank/credit card

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Pre-Departure Planning
Travel Mantra 1 Know where your embassy is!

• Register with the US Embassy at
  https//travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

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Pre-Departure Planning

• Where do I send my final transcripts?
• UAB Office for Study Away
• HHB 521 and 523
• 1530 3rd Avenue South
• Birmingham, AL 35294
• Student Emergency Information Card (online)
• Personal Data Form (online)
• Be sure to turn in the following to the Study
  Away Office
• Study Away Release Agreement
• Study Away Contract
• Consular Information Sheet Sign-off Form
• Copy of my passport photo page
• Copy of my flight itinerary
• Copy of my Health Insurance Card
• Contact information for 3 people in the US while
  Im gone

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Culture Shock
Travel Mantra 2 There is no better, no worse,
only different!

• Travel with an open mind, respect for other
  cultures and the joy of learning something
  different.
• Travel Patiently Dont expect everything to work
  the same way it does back home.
• Travel Gratefully Enjoy every experience even
  the bad ones. They make you stronger, and
  youll be able to laugh about them later.

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Culture Shock
Travel Mantra 2 There is no better, no worse,
only different!

• Are you an Ugly American?
• How can you change the worlds negative
  perception of the US and Americans?
• Learn more about the current events related to
  US-Foreign Relations (especially as they pertain
  to your host country).

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Culture Shock The Homestay Experience

• Scared about your homestay? Here are some tips to
  help you cope
• Bring a gift.
• Participate in daily household activities (yes,
  even cleaning!)
• Do not use excessive amounts of hot water.
• Be receptive to activities planned by your host
  family.
• Try to be flexible and fit-in with familys
  routine.
• Stay in contact with your host family when you
  leave the country.
• With some planning to align your expectations to
  reality, a
• homestay can be one of the most rewarding
  experiences of
• your life!

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Overcoming Culture Shock Homesickness

• 5 Steps to Thinking Locally
• Be willing to re-think your sense of personal
  space
• Prepare for a different cultural level of body
  contact
• Think like a local, not a tourist
• Talk like a local, not a tourist
• Prepare for independence

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What Is Culture Shock?
Rhinesmith's Ten Stages of Adjustment
Source Returning Home, Canadian Bureau for
International Education, 1984, p. 7.

• 1. Initial Anxiety 6. Acceptance of Host Culture
• 2. Initial Elation (Honeymoon) 7. Return Anxiety
• 3. Initial Culture Shock 8. Return Elation
• 4. Superficial Adjustment 9. Re-entry Shock
• 5. Depression-Frustration 10. Reintegration

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Culture Shock Stages of Cultural Adjustment

• Stages 1 - 5 Honeymoon Phase to Culture Shock
• Upon arrival, you LOVE everything! Its just the
  most wonderful experience ever. Everything in the
  new place is BETTER than at home.
• After a little while longer, you start to miss
  home a little and start to compare the host
  culture to your home culture. Not everything is
  so perfect any more! Everything is WORSE than at
  home.
• Stage 6 Acceptance of a new culture
• You start to understand and appreciate the
  cultural differences between the US and the host
  country. You develop a new set of friends, may be
  traveling more, and may even be dreaming in
  another language. The "other way" may now become
  the "normal" way of living.

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Culture ShockHomesickness

• HOMESICKNESS IS NORMAL!
• Most common adjustment problem related to culture
  shock and loneliness. Experienced by students
  from every country, homesickness is a universal
  side-affect to being away from home.
• Some students might experience homesickness
  within the first few days or weeks of being
  abroad, while others might not be hit by
  homesickness until later on.
• You may start to actually HATE everything about
  the new surroundings as you long for the comforts
  of home. Nothing in the new place compares to
  what you have back home
• Also, many students report increased feelings of
  homesickness during the winter months when
  darkness, rainy weather and the cold can lead to
  feelings of depression.

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Culture Shock Coping with Homesickness

• Tips to help you cope with feelings of
  homesickness Dont wait for
• homesickness to go away by itself.
• Get involved in opportunities that keep you busy
  and occupied so that you wont think about home.
  Join a sports team or club, join a gym, or
  participate in program activities. Take classes
  that you're interested in and get involved in
  your favorite activity, or try new ones.
• Confront your feelings by talking to someone (a
  counselor, family member, roommate, or another
  student). Chances are likely that others may be
  feeling the same way you are.
• Make friends with locals and invite them to spend
  time with you. Creating such a support network
  can really help to alleviate homesickness while
  creating lasting friendships.
• Familiarize yourself with your new surroundings.
  Walk around. You will feel more in control if you
  know where buildings, classes, and services are.
• Be patient as you adjust to the unexpected
  realities of being abroad, and how abroad is not
  like home. Examine your expectations. We'd all
  like to be popular, well-dressed, well-organized,
  well-adjusted. Well, we're not. Setting a goal of
  perfection is the most predictable way of
  creating trouble for yourself. Laugh at your
  mistakes. You're learning.

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Culture Shock Depression

• Depression can leave you feeling helpless and out
  of control of your life, your thoughts, feelings,
  and behaviors. You want to regain and experience
  more power and control you want to get to the
  point where you feel like you can do something to
  improve your situation and life.
• What Can I Do If I Think I Am Depressed?
• Remember that these feelings can be a normal part
  of study abroad.
• Take a walk outside.
• Take one problem or issue at a time and think
  about, write down, or discuss with a friend, what
  might help alleviate the problem or issue.
• Write to the UAB Study Away Office.
• What NOT To Do If I Think I Am Depressed?
• Do not expect depression to just go away on its
  own.
• Lock yourself in your room.
• Call mom, dad, significant other every 5 minutes.

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Communicating back home

• Realize the importance of your experience
• Set expectations with family members/loved ones
• Put things in perspective
• A little isolation helps you grow
• Seek help locally
• Storytelling to reflect and enrich
• Stay connected and be open-minded
• Share your stories with those at home to put new
  experiences in perspective
• Keep contact with home in check find time for
  new friends abroad
• Respect the communication conventions of your
  host culture
• Seek help locally if you need it
• Make a record of your thoughts and feelings to
  help you reflect

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Communicating back home

• As you go through the cultural adjustment
  (immersion) experience, you will have to find a
  balance between communicating with loved ones
  back home and finding your place in the host
  location.
• Be strong! You can make it just fine in your new
  surroundings!

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Special Issues in Study Away

• Many countries around the world may not enjoy the
  same civil
• freedoms we do in the US. Be sure you understand
  how you
• might be perceived while abroad by reading more
  about the history
• or cultural norms of your host country regarding
• Women
• Minorities (Ethnic and Religious)
• LGBT Students
• Students with Disabilities

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Packing

• When planning your travel, not only do you have
  to leave your emotional baggage behind, you also
  need to leave non-essential items at home, too!
• YOU and ONLY YOU are responsible for your
  luggage. Dont take more than you can carry!
• Dont pack anything you dont want confiscated.
• Dont forget prescription meds! Keep all
  prescription and over-the-counter medications in
  their original containers. Consider packing some
  Immodium or Pepto Bismal.
• Know your airlines baggage restriction policy
  (weight, liquids safety, extra charges, etc.)
• Have a plan for bringing back those souvenirs.
  (You really do not have to buy something for
  everyone!)
• Believe it or not, clothing, laundry facilities,
  soap, shampoo, and other toiletry items are
  readily available in just about any country
  there might be something you can pick up once you
  arrive so that you can lighten your load now.
• Although unfashionable, a broken-in pair of
  sneakers is your best friend. New shoes mean
  blisters and a BAD start to your trip!
• As the Scouts say Be Prepared! Take a small
  first-aid kit along with you.

Travel Mantra 3 Travel Lightly!
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Packing

• Remember 3-1-1
• Airline guidelines for carryon luggage
• 3 ounce bottles for liquids
• 1 quart-sized clear plastic, zip-top bag
• 1 bag per passenger placed in a screening bin

Travel Mantra 3 Travel Lightly!
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Quick Review
Travel Mantra 1 Know where your embassy is!
Travel Mantra 2 There is no better, no worse,
only different!
Travel Mantra 3 Travel Lightly!
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BREAK
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Safety

• Remember to register your travel plans with the
  US Embassy. Its fast and easy!
  https//travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/
• The US Department of State provides the most
  accurate and current information about your host
  country as well as helpful information for US
  citizens abroad.
• Though airports are full of security, you still
  need to watch your luggage at all times.
• Prepare a personal Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
  Writing down what you will do in an emergency
  before an emergency happens can save you time and
  help you deal more efficiently with an emergency
  situation.

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Safety (Cont.)

• Dont travel alone at night or on long trips.
• Dont invite strangers to your room.
• Notify someone of your travel plans. Tell them
  your expected travel dates, expected arrival and
  expected return times.
• Excessive drinking can be an invitation for
  disaster. If you are drunk, you are more likely
  to become a crime victim.
• Feel free to email or call us if you think we can
  be of assistance, but remember that we are
  thousands of miles away and may not be able to
  respond as quickly as you need.
• REMEMBER

Travel Mantra 1 Know where your embassy is!
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Money Matters

• Dont put all your eggs in one basket! Carry a
  combination of a debit card, credit card and
  cash/travelers checks.
• ATMs generally work just fine everywhere in the
  world. If youre not sure if ATMs are readily
  available in your host country, ask your bank for
  advice.
• Dont carry a large amount of cash on you at one
  time. Take out only what you need for a day you
  can always get more later.
• Call your bank and credit card companies to alert
  them that youll be traveling abroad. Make sure
  you can increase your withdrawal limit should you
  need to use your credit card for an expensive
  emergency.
• Be sure you understand your currency conversion
  rates or bank fees associated with overseas
  withdrawals.

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Health Abroad

• Check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The
  World Health Organization (WHO) and the US State
  Department for the most up-to-date information
  regarding health issues and/or vaccination
  requirements in your host country.
• Meet with your physician before leaving the US.
• If you take prescription medications, make sure
  you have a sufficient supply to last you for the
  entire time you are abroad. It may be a good idea
  to have a copy of the prescription with you.
• Anticipate your health requirements. If you have
  an allergy to something, be sure to communicate
  that with your host family/program provider.
• Practice common sense health habits safe sex,
  washing your hands, going to a doctor if you feel
  flu-like symptoms, etc.

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Laws Abroad

• You are bound by the laws of the country to which
  you are traveling.
• You are also bound by the UAB Student Handbook
  Policies.
• Drug abuse will NOT be tolerated and could land
  you in jail.
• Drinking, while perhaps an important part of the
  local culture, is oftentimes subject to the same
  laws and restrictions as in the U.S. Alcohol
  abuse in any country is a recipe for disaster.
• If you find yourself in jail, UAB will not be
  able to assist you. Even the US Embassy in your
  host country may have limited authority to assist
  you.

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Coming HomeRe-entry Issues

• So your study abroad has come to an end and
  youre on your way home? Everything will be
  exactly as it was when you left, right?
• WRONG!
• You are not the same as when you left!

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Coming HomeRe-entry Issues
Rhinesmith's Ten Stages of Adjustment
Source Returning Home, Canadian Bureau for
International Education, 1984, p. 7.

• 1. Initial Anxiety 6. Acceptance of Host Culture
• 2. Initial Elation (Honeymoon) 7. Return Anxiety
• 3. Initial Culture Shock 8. Return Elation
• 4. Superficial Adjustment 9. Re-entry Shock
• 5. Depression-Frustration 10. Reintegration

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Coming HomeRe-Entry Shock

• Stages 7 - 10 Leaving a new culture behind
• As you become integrated to the ways of the host
  countrys culture, the more difficult it may be
  to re-adapt to the US upon return home. The U.S.
  just won't look the same way it did before
  leaving to study abroad. You may see home with
  new eyes and may also be more critical of U.S.
  cultural traditions once thought to be "normal".
• Things may have changed significantly at home
  while you were away.
• More importantly, you will have changed so much
  while those at home have remained the same. Dont
  expect too much of them!

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Coming HomeRe-Entry Shock

• Tips to help you cope with re-entry shock
• Start taking care of issues back home before you
  leave your host country
• Locate all return travel documents (passport,
  airline tickets, etc.)
• Confirm your return flights
• Remind your host program to mail your transcript
  to the Study Away Office
• Register for classes for next semester
• Tell your stories in small chunks. Dont expect
  your family/friends to be enthralled by a 5 hour
  slide show of every day you were away.
• Connect with other returned Study Away Alumni.

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GOOD LUCK!

• Thank you for completing this Pre-departure
  Tutorial.
• We hope you have a safe, healthy and thoroughly
  life-altering experience while away from UAB.
• As always, should you have any questions, issues,
  concerns, simply want to vent, or simply want to
  brag about being outside the U.S., dont hesitate
  to contact us.
• Bon Voyage, Buen Viaje, Arrivaderci, Aloha See
  you soon!

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PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

• UAB OFFICE FOR STUDY AWAY
• Heritage Hall Room 521 and 523
• [phone] Phone
• [phone] Fax

Email studyabroad_at_uab.edu Website
www.studyabroad.app.uab.edu