Study Abroad
Pre-Departure Orientation!
Orientation Agenda
• Welcome and Introduction
• Power Point Presentation
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Intercultural competencies
Career Services
Study Abroad Bucket List
Culture Shock
Seek Education. Find Adventure
• Dinner
• Q&A
• Pre-Departure Wrap Up
Intercultural Competencies
Top 5 Goals of Billikens Abroad
1. Gain a greater understanding of different cultures
2. Travel within and around the host country
3. Growth in self-awareness
4. Growth in interpersonal skills and adaptability
5. Gain a different perspective on American culture
Intercultural Competence:
What? Why? How?
What: The ability to interact and communicate effectively
and appropriately with people of other cultures
• Know: recognize & understand differences
• Accept: desire to not only understand differences,
but to acknowledge, appreciate and accept differences
• Act: incorporate your skills of knowledge and
acceptance throughout your interactions
Process of moving from a monocultural mindset
to a global mindset
Intercultural Competence:
What? Why? How?
• Fulfill Personal, Academic & Professional Goals:
• Greater understanding of different countries
• Growth in self-awareness, interpersonal skills &
adaptability
• Diplomacy & Globalization: your experience is unique
and carries global responsibility
• 300,000 US students study abroad (2011/12)
• 14.2% of US bachelors students study abroad
during their degree program (2011/12)
Intercultural Competence:
What? Why? How?
• Knowledge & immersion are not enough
• Engagement requires effort
• Interaction requires intentionality
• Observation requires reflection
Intercultural Competence:
What? Why? How?
1. How do you plan to actively engage in your host
culture?
2. How can you expand your cultural engagement beneath
the surface of the iceberg?
3. What is your cultural lens & how will it impact your
experience and immersion in your host culture?
4. How will you reflect on your experiences?
5. How will this experience enhance your personal,
academic and professional goals?
Making the Most of an
International Experience:
Career Considerations
Presented By: Career Services
Becky Carlson
• Quote or picture? Something captivating?
Academic Growth
• Reflection
• Experience your chosen field in a
new “light”/education system
Personal Growth
• Awareness of self and others
• New skills (critical thinking,
problem solving, communication)
• Immersion opportunities
Professional Growth
• Active involvement in professional
opportunities
– Internships
– Volunteer
– Job shadowing
– Student/community organizations
• Informational Interviewing
Things to Know
• Changing your mind
• Employers/grad schools
• Internships at home—still
possible?
Questions?
Career Services
Phone: 314-977-2828
Schedule: SLU Appointments
Location: BSC 331
Study Abroad
Bucket List!
Study Abroad Bucket List!
• Learn a foreign language
• Increase intercultural competence and
communication skills
• Learn about foreign cultures
• Study a specific subject in depth
• Enhance future career skills
• Encounter one’s heritage
• Expand your limits
Culture Shock
Culture Shock
 - Culture shock refers to the stresses and
strains associated with adapting to life in a new
and different cultural sphere.
 - Symptoms: Frustration, mental fatigue,
disorientation about how to work with and relate
to others, boredom, lack of motivation and
physical discomfort.
 Reverse Culture Shock can be worse
The W Curve of Culture Shock
Entry into Host Culture
Positive
Feelings
Reentry to Own Culture
Honeymoon
Stage
Honeymoon
at Home
Adjustment
at Home
Adjustment
Negative
Feelings
Recovery
Stage
Recovery at Home
Crisis at Home
(Reentry
Shock)
Crisis Stage
(Culture
Shock)
Time
Seek Education. Find Adventure.
Forms
• Submit any outstanding forms
• Complete Study Abroad file
• Failure to submit required forms may
jeopardize credit transfer!
Credits & Grades:
Academics
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Have all courses approved by your Mentor, Advisor and Dean prior
to departure. If you would like to add additional classes while abroad,
email them for approval.
•
Forward additional approvals while abroad to the Registrar:
registrar@slu.edu to add to your file.
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Grades will transfer and affect SLU GPA!!!
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You must take at least 12 credit hours during your semester abroad.
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Keep your course materials just in case you should need them.
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Check you SLU Email account in regards to registration for the
following semester.
Academics
• The academic system may be very different from
SLU
– Academics
– Calendar
– Work styles
– Class and tutorial formats
– Faculty & Student relations
– Evaluations and Assessments
• Remember, part of the study abroad experience is
adapting to a new academic and cultural system.
Travel Preparations
Passport & Visa
• Make three copies of your passport:
– Parents
– Purse/wallet
– Luggage
• Keep an electronic copy of your passport & visa easily
accessible through email
• If your passport gets stolen, contact the US Embassy
or consulate in your country
• Who here does not have a valid passport?
Travel Preparations
• Looking for student discounts for movie,
theatre tickets?
• Free entrance to museums?
• Discounts on transportation fare?
Travel Preparations
ISIC Card (International Student ID Card)
• Mandatory for all students
• Provides rail, air, hotel, museum, etc. discounts
• Recognized all over the world (SLU ID will not be!)
• Provides some additional travel and emergency medical
insurance benefits
Travel Preparations
PACKING:
• Every student says “I wish I would have packed LESS!”
• Aim for 1 piece of luggage & 1 carry on
• Know your airline’s luggage restrictions
•Only use TSA approved locks
• Mark your luggage with name & address inside and out
• Carry all of your important documents, money, credit cawith you on the plane.
• Pack a change of clothes, toiletries, & medications in your carry on.
Luggage can be delayed a day or more!
•Review carry on requirements – they may change
Travel Preparations
PACKING:
•How you dress will affect how others perceive
and act towards you.
•Americans are more casual than many other
cultures -extremely casual dress may be
considered disrespectful.
•Some places have dress codes when going out
to nice venues/restaurants.
•You do not need to give up your sense of
identity to dress appropriately
Helpful Travel Apps
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Smart Traveler by US Department of State
WordLens
iPronounce
Skype
Yelp
What’s App
Travel Preparations
• Know how you will get to your final destination from airport
(train, taxi, metro, bus, or some combination thereof?)
• Have a written plan and bring phone numbers in case of
delays or something goes wrong
• Call your family—they will be worried about you (Remember
to tell them ahead of time you probably won’t be able to call
for a few days)
• Email us that you have arrived: goabroad@slu.edu
• For Fall students make sure you fill our the arrival information
form
Travel Preparations
Embassy:
• If there is unrest in the country you’re going, contact the US
Embassy.
• Make sure you know how to get in contact with the US
Embassy or consulate near you.
• Register with the US Department of State before you leave the
country: http://studentsabroad.state.gov
•Do not participate in anti-American demonstrations.
Communication
• Email – A great cheap way to stay in touch (University, Internet café)
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SLU ACCOUNT
• Calling cards – Purchase in your host country
• Pre-Paid Cell phone-very common!
• Voice over Internet (i.e. Skype)
• Host Phone -Respect phone usage in your host household.
Local calls are not free & calls to cell phones may be expensive.
Banks & Credit Cards
• Inform your credit card company
• Do not open a bank account while abroad (except Lyon/Poitiers)
• Withdraw money from ATM. It will be in local currency.
– Check with bank for additional fees
• Don’t bring all your money in cash. You can use traveler’s checks,
ATM and credit cards.
• Change approx. USD$150 before leaving.
• Contact bank for sister banks
In Case of Emergency
• If anything happens while you’re abroad, tell someone
• Contact us:
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Office of International Services:
Monday through Friday, 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.
314.977.2318
Saint Louis University Department of Public Safety & Security Services:
After-hours emergencies
314.977.3000
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HTH Worldwide 24/7 Emergency Assistance (Insurance Provider):
1.800.257.4823 (from within the U.S.)
1.610.254.8771 (from outside the U.S.)
Office of Overseas Citizens Services (U.S. Department of State):
1.888.407.4747 (from within the U.S.)
1.202.501.4444 (from outside the U.S.)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention International Traveler's Hotline:
1.877.394.8747
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• Tell your coordinator abroad
• You are never alone and we are here to help you
Health & Safety
HTH Insurance
• http://www.hthstudents.com/videoPlay.cfm?vi=uloQJ6UOYq4
• Coverage is effective only when outside the US
• Complete the insurance form if you haven’t already, so we
may enroll you in the plan.
• Logon to the website at www.hthstudents.com for full
details, hospitals, English-speaking doctors, translations,
etc. BEFORE you go abroad. The plan information is also
on the study abroad website
Health & Safety
• If you take a prescription drug, make sure you have
enough for the entire semester. If you can, get a letter
from your doctor stating that you are authorized to take
that medicine. This is important as some medications
are nearly impossible to obtain and the formulas vary by
country.
• It is not recommended to cancel your U.S. Insurance
Plan while you are abroad.
Health & Safety
Drugs, Alcohol & Local Laws
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Never leave food or drink unattended while abroad – may be drugged
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Don’t go out or stay out alone
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Know your limits. Worse-case scenarios CAN happen.
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Each year, 2,500 Americans are arrested overseas. One third of
the arrests are on drug-related charges.
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You are responsible for understanding and following the laws of the
country you are visiting. You are subject to all laws of the host country.
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You will not receive special treatment because you are a
foreigner/American.
Health & Safety
• Understand the role/impact of alcohol in:
• Host culture:
• Norms and expectations
• Study abroad:
• Increased social anxiety in foreign countries
• Culture shock
• Availability
• Sexual relationships
• Regret, assault, sexually transmitted disease, etc.
• Know the alcohol laws of your host country and the
countries you intend to visit:
• Legal drinking age, open container laws & public
intoxication, etc.
(drinking on the street or public transportation)
Health & Safety
• Cultures and laws vary widely in what is acceptable
and non-acceptable behavior.
• Be aware of stereotypes that exist of Americans.
• Dating norms and gender roles will be different.
• Be alert. Avoid crowds, demonstrations, or other
situations that could put you in danger.
• Keep a low profile. Try not to attract special attention
to yourself.
• Do not leave your bags unattended.
• Avoid places where Americans are known to
congregate and you may consider avoiding American
logos on your clothing and belongings.
Health & Safety
Safety Is YOUR Responsibility!
• Institutions Cannot:
– Guarantee or assure your safety or eliminate all risks
– Monitor or control your daily personal decisions,
choices, and activities
– Prevent you from engaging in illegal, dangerous, or
unwise activities
– Assure US standards of due process apply in overseas
legal proceedings
– Assume responsibility for persons or events that are
not part of the program, or for situations due to lack of
your disclosure
– Assure that home-country cultural values and norms
will apply in host country
Study Abroad: Don’t’s
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrQAu4o3Js
Study Abroad: Do’s
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Step out of your comfort zone
Meet people
Explore your host country
Try new foods
Learn the local language
Experience pop culture
Set goals before you go
Adapt to the new environment
Respect Host Culture
Do your Research
Where in the world are you going?
What do you know about your host
countries’ culture and values?
MOST IMPORTANTLY…
• Embrace this experience.
• Studying abroad opens your eyes to a
world of possibilities.
• Always feel free to contact us if you need
anything at all.
Take lots of Pictures!
Keep your eyes open for details regarding a
study abroad photo contest!
Enjoy your experience!