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Accepted Students
Living Abroad
Difference makes the world go round: Every
culture, every neighborhood, every family, has a different
way of doing things. Keeping an open mind and a positive
attitude about those differences is crucial to your study
abroad experience. Try new things: Be spontaneous! Be
adventurous! Don't be afraid to experiment. This is an
opportunity to eat things you have never eaten and see
places you've never seen. Be open and friendly: Remember
that happiness is catching. If you are positive and outgoing
people will respond to you. Keep in mind that you are both
an academic student and a student of the world. Learn from
and about the new people you meet.
What is culture shock?
Culture shock is a type of homesickness. The term refers to
the stresses and strains which accumulate from being forced
to meet one's everyday needs (e.g. language, climate, food,
cleanliness, companionship) in unfamiliar ways. Some
symptoms of culture shock are: frustration, mental fatigue,
disorientation about how to work with and relate to others,
boredom, lack of motivation, and sometimes physical
discomfort.
When you leave home and all the things that are
familiar, you encounter many new and confusing situations.
These situations naturally create stress; the reaction to
this stress is called "culture shock."
Some of the differences between life at home and life in a
new place are obvious:
• language
• climate
• religion
• food
• educational system
• absence of family and close ties
Other differences are not as obvious:
• how students relate to teachers
• styles of communication
• personal space
These differences cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety:
• feeling isolated or alone
• sleeping too much or tiring easily
• finding it difficult to sleep
• suffering body pains, especially in the head, neck, back
and stomach
• wanting to return home
• avoiding contact with host nationals and only wanting to
spend time with those from you own culture
• anxiety

All
of these uncertainties . . . and more . . . are confusing.
You may also feel that you don't know what to do in certain
situations. Probably you did not think about these things at
home because you knew what to do and what to expect. You
also knew how other people acted and thought. In other
words, you understood "the rules" and "the signs." Life was
easier at home. Your body and your mind may react in unusual
ways to the stress and confusion of living in a new culture.
Difficulties occur in various situations: where to sit on
the bus, how and when to tip, when to accept and refuse
invitations, etc. It is very important to understand that
these reactions are normal. You are not ill. It is a
temporary situation for people who are adjusting to life in
a new environment and it is inevitable to some degree.
States of Cultural Adjustment
• Initial Excitement: Everything seems fabulous and
exciting. You've been thinking about this experience for so
long and you're finally here. This could last from a week to
a full month.
• Grumpy, Irritable and perhaps Hostile: During this
period you start to experience the cultural differences and
you can begin to focus on these differences. It is easy
during this stage to blow small things out of proportion.
• Beginning to Adjust: Now you are beginning to
understand how to respond in certain situations and you
begin to pickup on the cultural clues. You start to feel
less isolated and become more comfortable in the culture.
• Adapting to the culture or bi-culturalism-During
this period you find yourself enjoying a number of aspects
of this new culture. In fact when you return you will find
that you miss a number of these new ways of doing things.
Practice makes perfect: Attempting to speak the local
language will bring you closer to the people of your host
country and is bound to open up opportunities.
Take the initiative: Making friends can initially be
one of the most difficult aspects of living abroad.
Eventually, it will also be one of the most rewarding.
Returned students suggest getting involved any way possible:
volunteering, joining clubs or sports, teaching English.
Be prepared to be an Ambassador: For many people you
meet abroad, you will be "the American". Students in other
countries are more politically aware, as a rule, than
students in the United States. They may involve you in
heated political discussions.
Health and Safety
Abroad
How safe is
study abroad?
As you prepare to study abroad, health, safety and security
are important issues to consider. You should first realize
that while there are a number of potentially serious
situations that can occur around the world. Each country has
its own unique characteristics that differentiate it from
others. In the Scandinavian countries, bicycle accidents may
pose (statistically) the largest threat, while in certain
African countries the AIDS virus may be a more serious
threat. It is important for you to focus your attention on
matters that are relevant to your study abroad destination.
Nothing is more valuable than accurate information to help
you make wise decisions.
The overseas staff of Program Providers maintains ongoing
communication with U.S. embassies, consulates, and with
local officials for the latest security information. When
you arrive overseas, the staff will provide a complete
orientation about the local culture and thoroughly review
country and program related safety and security guidelines.
For the latest safety alert information on a specific
location, visit
www.travel.state.gov and select the country of interest
from the alphabetical listing. U.S Embassy contact
information can be obtained from the bottom of each country
page and should be copied in case of an emergency.
Your medical circumstances, personal habits, and the
activities you choose to engage in or the places you choose
to visit will undoubtedly play a crucial role in you overall
health and safety.
No orientation program or handbook can alert you to every
potential difficulty. Whittier expects you to attend all
program orientations and to learn as much as you can about
the country to which you are going. Being well-informed and
making wise decisions are the two best things you can do to
prepare for a healthy and safe year abroad. It’s amazing how
far common sense will get you.
Do the programs provide health insurance?
Each
program enrolls all participants in a health and accident
insurance plan, which is effective throughout the duration
of the program. However, in the rare case that a program
does not provide insurance (this most typically is the case
with direct exchanges), it can be easily obtained. Several
recommended sites for obtaining more information on
purchasing health insurance are:
•
www.internationalstudentinsurance.com
•
www.isicus.com/MyISIC - click on Travel, Travel
Insurance
What happens in the event of an emergency during my time
abroad?
Most students returning from study abroad say that it was
one of the most valuable aspects of their Whittier College
experience. While most students experience a safe and
healthy time abroad, some are forced to deal with minor
crises like pick-pockets, petty theft, or a minor illness or
injury. In an unfamiliar environment with communication and
cultural barriers, a minor crisis may be more difficult to
handle. In addition, similar to the realities on a U.S.
campus, there may be a few students who encounter a major
emergency while abroad. Many study abroad programs have
developed comprehensive support strategies to handle such
situations.
Emergencies Abroad: Your first call should be to the local
police or fire department. Next, call the Resident Director
or Program Representative of your study abroad site. If the
emergency occurs while traveling, call the nearest U.S.
Consulate. You should also notify the Office of
International Programs to keep us updated on your situation.
Emergencies at Home: People need to know how to get in touch
with you – especially if you are away from your program city
or after the program has ended. You should have a
conversation with your family before you
leave about what
you will do in the event there is a death or serious medical
situation in your family. Please inform the resident
director at your site if there has been a family emergency.
You must have a leave of absence approved by the resident
director in order to be excused from classes to return to
the U.S. even in a family emergency. In the case of an
emergency, parents are welcome to contact the Office of
International Programs and have us relay messages abroad.
Resources to Support
Health and Safety Abroad
Courtesy, Gary M. Rhodes, Ph.D. and Marcos Alvarado
University of Southern California
1. U.S. State Department
Publication: Your Trip Abroad/A Safe Trip Abroad/Tips for
Travelers
State Department Country Background Notes
Travel Advisories: +1 202 647 5225,
(press 1)
Linkage to Embassies and Consulates Abroad
Citizen’s Emergency Center:
+1 202 647 5225 (business hours)
+1 202 647 5226 (after hours)
In off-hours, note emergency and request Citizens Emergency
Duty Officer
E-mail:
Travel-advisories@stolaf.edu
Links:
http://travel.state.gov/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1231.html
(travel tips)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
(travel warnings)
http://usembassy.state.gov/ (embassies abroad)
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Phone: +1 404 6393534
Fax Updates/Information +1 404 332 4565
Publication: Health Information for International Travel
Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
3. World Health Organization (WHO)
20 Ave Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
011-4122-79121 11
U.S. Public Information: +1 202 974 3000
Publication Center (New York): +1 212 963 4388
WHO Liaison Office with the UN: 212 963 4388
Links:
http://www.who.int/ith/en/
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