1. Preparing to Study Away Office of Study Away Peters 205 new.oberlin.edu/office/study-away April / May 2015

2. Set realistic goals What do you want to have accomplished by the end of the semester? Academic goals Personal goals

3. Course Selection and Registration While Abroad Must be registered as full time student as defined by your program. ALOA will allow for the equivalent of 4 full courses transferring back to Oberlin. Getting preliminary approval for courses while abroad

4. Important Academic Considerations Understand and follow the policies of the university and/or program in regards to attendance and submission of work. Courses transfer, grades do not. Your ALOA semester will not count against the post-matriculation transfer credit limit of three (3) courses. Courses will not meet curriculum exploration requirements but may count toward major or minor requirements with departmental OK.

5. Important Academic Considerations (continued) Your ALOA semester will count as only one (1) of your required three (3) Cultural Diversity courses if you are on an international program or on the Border Studies program. Save your syllabi, exams, and papers in case you need them upon return. If you want to participate in internships, a practicum, or independent research for credit, please make sure you have preliminary approval.

6. Preparation for Departure Read pre-departure online information carefullypre-departure Studentsabroad.com, guidebooks, online resources Studentsabroad.com Ask yourself: Does it matter that your cultural background, race, religion, skin color, disability, sex, or sexual orientation, etc. may place you in the minority or the majority in countries to which you will be traveling?

7. Travel Documents - passports and visas www.travel.state.gov www.visahq.com, travisa.com www.visahq.com Tickets Insurance Communication – cell phone, Skype, Viber, etc. Vaccinations if necessary How will you deal with money while abroad?

8. Cultural Adjustment Culture shock and its effects can occur in a number of stages. However, culture shock is not an exact step-by- step process; every student doesn't experience culture shock the same way or at the same time. Source: Returning Home, Canadian Bureau for International Education, 1984, p. 7.

9. 1. initial anxiety 2. initial elation 3. initial culture shock 4. superficial adjustment 5. depression-frustration 6. acceptance of host culture 7. return anxiety 8. return elation 9. re-entry shock 10. reintegration

10. Conduct and Safety Abroad Top Ten List Knowledge of and respect for cultural norms www.studentsabroad.com

11. Responsible Study Abroad Good Practices for Health & Safety by the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad In study abroad, as in other settings, participants can have a major impact on their own health and safety through the decisions they make before and during their program and by their day-to-day choices and behaviors. Participants should:

12. A. Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations. B. Read and carefully consider all materials issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies). C. Conduct their own research on the country(ies) they plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as the social, cultural, and political situations. D. Consider their physical and mental health, and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to the sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience. E. Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers. F. Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of their whereabouts and activities. G. Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.

13. H. Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program. I. Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions. J. Obey host-country laws. K. Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner. L. Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol. M. Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of their whereabouts and well-being. N. Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in the host county.

14. Returning To Campus Extending your leave Registration Housing Mailing Address Email

15. Useful Web Resources new.oberlin.edu/office/study-away – See Health and Safety link under the Planning Your Departure section new.oberlin.edu/office/study-away studentsabroad.com travel.state.gov studentsabroad.state.gov cdc.gov – Center for Disease Control cdc.gov goabroad.com WHO.org – World Health Organization WHO.org internationalvaccines.com skype.com visahq.com