Study Abroad Programs

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/