So you've selected a study abroad program, applied and been accepted. You've survived the barrage of information, red tape, and important preparations to leave the country. As you're walking down that narrow corridor that runs from the airport to the plane, your study abroad adventure is about to take flight (literally!) But what are the steps you should take to maximize the benefits of your time abroad?

BE PREPARED

The first few days in a new country can be some of the most intimidating as well as the least pleasant, but if you are prepared, you can minimize any problems you will have and hit the ground running.

Immigration & Customs

Immigration will be the first hurdle as you step off the plane. Depending on the country, immigration can range from relatively painless to the sort of time-consuming, frustrating experience that will leave you wanting to rip your hair out. Either way, it is important to remain courteous and reasonable throughout the proceedings. Having all proper documentation with you beforehand (passport, visa, etc.) should help expedite the process. Also be careful to check with your adviser for anything else a particular country might require. (For example, one student related an incident to us where she had traveled to London on a flight with e-ticketing so she only had the computer printed copy of her itinerary as proof of her return flight. Thinking the paper not very important, she had misplaced it between her departure and destination and spent a terrified few moments in the London airport when the immigrations official refused her access. Happily she found the paper and a crisis was averted, but being aware of what you need can avoid starting your trip off with a panic attack.)

Jet Lag

Jet lag is one of those unpleasant consequences of traveling across a number of time zones. Typical symptoms include feeling tired, waking up and wanting to sleep at the 'wrong' times of day, and the irritation and feelings of unease that would naturally accompany such symptoms. Helpful travelers will typically offer you a range of contradictory solutions to the perils of jet lag. Probably some of the best advice is to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and try to get into the pattern of the new time zone as soon as possible. Another tip that sometimes helps people if they are not shifting too many time zones is to try to move their schedule somewhat closer to that of the new country before getting on the plane.

Orientation

Almost every program will offer some form of on-site orientation shortly after arrival. This is typically very helpful, and you should be sure to attend. The people who have formulated these sessions have been dealing with foreign students for many years and can help you to avoid many pitfalls that you would never imagine on your own.

For example, walking can be a huge problem. You laugh, but how many of you despite being told since elementary school to look both ways before crossing a street, actually look one way, step into the street, and then look the other way. This is fine if you can trust that the traffic will be traveling on the same side of the road it always has. However, it can make walking very hazardous in a country such as England where you have already been hit by a double-decker bus by the time you look the other way!

Besides walking and buses, orientation typically covers a variety of issues including an introduction to the program, health and safety information, information on registering with the local embassy, information on housing, personal conduct, traveling, and language training where applicable. Basically, many of the things you desperately want to know, you will be handed if you go to orientation. And probably most of it will be handed to you physically in some written form that you should keep for later reference since there is little chance you will absorb everything on your first attempt.

Culture Shock

During your first few days or even couple weeks, you will feel as though you have been swept away and must be traveling at top speed toward a raging waterfall. Have faith, keep your sense of humor, and things will begin to sort themselves out.

While excitement will probably be the your initial reaction to all of these new experiences, students generally experience a period of frustration with all of the things that do not work the way that they SHOULD! (By which you really mean they do not work the way that they do at home, which is not really the same thing at all.)

The first and most important consideration when dealing with culture shock is to recognize the symptoms. Do not assume that studying abroad was a bad idea or that there is something wrong with you if you are feeling frustrated, lonely, confused, scared, or depressed. Instead find ways of coping with these feelings. Talk to local students to begin understanding the new culture. Find other Americans so that you can support each other and know that you are not alone in your feelings and experiences. Keep in touch with friends and family back home. Stay busy by exploring and experiencing the local environment. Make sure to keep a balance with all these things and do not allow yourself to use culture shock itself as the excuse not to embrace the experience of being in another culture. We will consider this process more in-depth in our Good Stuff section.

THE ESSENTIALS

In order to maximize your experience, there are certain basic guidelines to follow to assure you are able to fully experience and enjoy the new culture and country.

Stay Safe

Staying safe in a foreign country typically involves many of the elements that staying safe anywhere involves. The general rule of thumb is, "If it is stupid in Cincinnati, it is stupid in Singapore!" Now this may sound like common sense, but many students leave for foreign countries and seem to think that they can act in a way that they would never consider acting at home, which is fairly silly.

One note with this, however: If you are used to a very rural or suburban environment and have traveled to a big city for variety, you may need to keep that switch in mind. It would not necessarily be accurate to say "If it is safe in Backwater Town US, it is safe in Big Foreign City."

Stay Healthy

In some countries food and water can be the biggest dangers, and obviously, you cannot just avoid them as you would try to avoid most dangers!

If you are in a country that may have suspect food, the traditional rule can be summarized: "Peel it, boil it, cook it, or forget it!" Those salad fanatics in the group will not be thrilled with this rule.

Probably the best way of figuring out what is safe or potentially dangerous is to talk to your adviser, host family, or local friends who all may be able to give you advice. Water may also be a problem, the most common solution being bottled water and avoiding tap water as well as ice! (A consideration many forget.) However, problems with diarrhea are common for people traveling to a new country with the potential for drinking water issues. If you find yourself a victim, make sure to drink plenty of fluids and have some stomach medication handy. You may want to consider visiting a doctor before going abroad to obtain prescription medications that will help if you contract a more serious stomach ailment.

Speaking of doctors, visiting one before you go abroad is a good idea in general! Anytime you are going someplace new, make sure you are in top condition before you leave. This will avoid you discovering a problem that could have been prevented after you are already out of reach of familiar medical care. You may find the services where you are studying abroad to be of lesser quality than you would prefer so trying to avoid needing them is always the best plan. You may also need vaccinations for certain study abroad destinations, which will require visiting a doctor, possibly several months in advance.

Obeying the Law

Once again, if it is stupid here, it is stupid there. Although the laws may be different abroad, it is just as stupid to break the law abroad as it is here. In fact, many countries have steeper penalties for some crimes than you would experience in the United States, and while in the country you are responsible for following those laws.

Knowledge is key. You want to know the laws so that you can follow them. A little pre-trip research will help here as well as talking to your adviser to determine if there are any surprises you might encounter.

Alcohol

We are not going to lecture you about alcohol use. Two brief comments: First, laws regarding alcohol and public drunkenness may vary by country so be aware of them. Second, drinking responsibly will keep you out of unnecessary problems and a number of bad situations. (Another fact that is true both here and there.)

Spending Reasonably

Another little hint for general satisfaction abroad is to spend reasonably. The currency rate may be against you to begin with, and there are going to be a plethora of new and interesting things to try and places to go. Probably the best way of handling these pressures is to develop a reasonable budget that allows you to experience the country without going broke in the process. You do not want to be living on beans for the last month of your trip or not be able to visit that stunning temple because you cannot afford the train fare.

THE GOOD STUFF

Fitting In

As we discussed on the other page, culture shock can be an unpleasant experience, but being prepared can be your best defense.

You are going to want to stereotype people. Because new experiences and cultural practices are barraging you, the temptation will be to put them into neat boxes for sanity's sake. The tendency as you try to simplify the experience is to stereotype. Recognize and move beyond this tendency by carefully learning from what is going on around you. Talk with and listen to the people around you so that you build relationships. This will inevitably help you to avoid stereotypes because it is much harder to stereotype an individual that you have a relationship with than one who you barely know and who is part of a mass of people acting in unfamiliar ways.

At the same time, recognize that people are probably stereotyping you. Those who have never spent time in America probably have a preconceived vision of Americans based on the movies that Hollywood produces: an image most of us would agree is largely inaccurate. However, being aware that this will happen can help you meet the challenges of dispelling stereotypes. Just remember to keep your sense of humor when some people "naturally" assume you live the idyllic, decadent lifestyle of a filthy rich, obnoxious American. (After that all the other stereotypes should be manageable!)

Observing those around you and learning the local behavior, dress, customs etc. will go a long way toward helping you fit into the new culture. While conformity is not everything, it can definitely be helpful to understand what is considered typical behavior in a given culture and to conform your own actions accordingly. There are many little things such as personal space that can vary widely from culture to culture. You may either be uncomfortable or be making others uncomfortable if you are not aware of differences like these.

Learning/Embracing Local Customs

The old truism, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" has never been so applicable as with studying abroad.

And of course, one of the best ways of figuring out what "Romans" do is to talk to them. Talking to your host family, friends at university, advisers, etc. can begin to help you learn more about the new country in which you are living. They can help explain the conventions like personal space, the local holidays and customary observances, the traditional clothing that people may wear, and a multitude of other cultural nuances.

Studying ahead of time to learn some of the big cultural differences may help you to fit in and feel comfortable more quickly. While most of those around you will be happy to help, they may occasionally have trouble understanding your point of view in order to help you get past your confusion. Having a basic understanding of different cultural practices will not only help you avoid embarrassing blunders straightaway, but will also help you to learn some of the more in-depth aspects of the new culture more quickly and efficiently.

Another major avenue for learning about the new culture is to simply open your eyes and use your head. You are surrounded, immersed in a different way of life. Therefore, if you just watch and learn, that should go a long way toward gaining a new understanding.

Throughout the process, it is vital that you remain open-minded! Diversity is wonderful. However, that can be difficult to remember when something is unfamiliar and therefore intimidating, irritating, or otherwise upsetting. If you try to remember that the people around you have grown up with a different, sometimes very different, perspective on life, and try to see life from that perspective, you may find that many things that would never make sense from an American viewpoint make a great deal of sense from a different worldview.

Being "The American" Abroad

Just as you will be learning much about the culture from your new friends, they also will be learning about the United States from you. You should not be surprised if curious friends ask a range of questions about history, politics, culture, and even day-to-day attitudes in the United States. When America hits the news for doing something you will probably be asked not only what you personally think of what has happened, but what you as 'the American' feel about your country's actions and how Americans as a whole feel. It can be quite an intimidating position to have to speak for and represent an entire country through your words, actions, and attitudes. This, however, is yet another part of the growth process that is vital to a vibrant study abroad experience.

Many students on returning home say they wished they had studied up on some of the politics and history of the country so they would have been better prepared to answer questions. If you know your own grasp of some of the basics have weakened with time, you may want to review a bit before leaving. Once again, just keep a sense of humor and perspective if asked questions you find less than polite or if people express opinions about the United States that are less than favorable.

Learning and adjusting to all these foreign customs and situations may seem overwhelming, but that is where the real meat of a study abroad experience can be found, and where you will gain the biggest advantage. The most lasting impressions and important lessons from your experience abroad may or may not be found in the classroom, but they will surely benefit you throughout your life no matter the source.