Housing and Life Abroad : Study Abroad

Housing & Student Life Abroad

Housing overseas
Housing for your return semester at UR
Dining Plan Information
Meals Abroad
Parking for your return semester at UR
Senior Portraits for the Yearbook
Daily life
Local students
Meeting people
Culture shock
Questions about your host country and culture
Peer Advisers
Related web sites

Housing Overseas

Study abroad programs typically offer several housing options. You might live in a dorm with students from the host country. Or, you might live in a homestay, with a family. Alternately, you may live in an apartment with other students who are studying there. Finally, some programs arrange for you to spend part of the semester in one type of housing and the rest of the semester in another type.

Whatever the housing arragements on your program, remember that housing standards in other countries may be different than what you're used to here. Specifically, rooms may tend to be smaller; buildings may be older; windows might be more drafty, or plumbing more fragile. So it's especially important to be flexible with your expectations. Also, be aware that published housing arrangements may change prior to your arrival on the program.

Residence Halls

Dormitory life abroad will be quite familiar to UR students, given the residential structure of The College. Programs that offer residence halls will often afford you the opportunity to live near or with students from your host country. This is a great opportunity to get to know them. In-room cable TV and speedy internet connections are not common overseas, so don't be surprised to find fewer such luxuries. Just as in the UR dorms, remember that there are rules that you must follow when living in such close proximity to others (e.g. quiet hours). When you break the rules in the UR dorms, you're a lousy roommate or hallmate and are subject to disciplinary action. When you break the rules abroad, in addition to being a lousy roommate/hallmate, you're an "Ugly American," and you're still subject to UR disciplinary action, including being removed from the program and sent home.

Homestays

Homestays are a great way to get an intimate view of life in your host country, including practicing the language. Homestays are more common (and arguably more effective) in some countries than in others. Spain and Italy, for example, have a social structure that makes homestays quite feasible. Even there, homestays sometimes are more like a boarding arrangement, and you may see your host family regularly, but may not have extensive contact with them other than passing greetings. Students often fear that homestays will be too limiting, in terms of not being able to come and go as they please. It is true that homestays require a high degree of cultural sensitivity--indeed, that's precisely why they are an effective way to learn about your host country. This will require you to be respectful of when your host family eats meals and goes to bed. Moreover, you'll need to be sensitive to issues of food tastes, use of utilities and water, standards of timeliness, and financial issues. For example, if your host family is traveling to visit a historic site, be sure that it won't inconvenience them before inviting yourself along.

Apartments

Apartments afford you a great deal of freedom while you're abroad, but they can also serve to isolate you from the people and the culture of your host country, especially if you're sharing an apartment with other U.S. students. Some programs arrange an apartment for you, which will be ready upon your arrival. Other programs require you to find your own apartment once you arrive in the country: this is a challenging exercise in finding your way in your new environs.

You may find that preparing your own meals in your apartment is a good way to budget your money (it costs less than eating out all the time). At the same time, you should challenge yourself to get out and meet the people of your host country, and to see the sites.

In any case, you should be prepared to pay a security deposit upon move-in. If you damage the apartment (or residence hall, or homestay) at all during your stay, be prepared to pay for those damages with your security deposit (and with additional payments, if necessary). If you leave your place of residence undamaged, your deposit will be refunded to you. Realize that in many countries (especially in Europe), apartment buildings may be many decades old, and plumbing may be even older. Take special care, as these facilities may be easily damaged.

Hotels, Hostels and Other Lodging

Most students spend part of the semester abroad staying in hotels and other lodging during travels. Many programs will house you temporarily in a hotel upon your arrival . Notice that the hotel industry may be far less developed and less regulated in your host country than it is in the U.S. The disadvantage is that you may find yourself in substandard accommodations if you're not careful (no elevators, less than pristine sanitary conditions, and thin walls are a few common pitfalls). The good news is that you may find lodging far more affordable than it is here in the U.S. For example, while you may not be able to find a room here for less than $35, you might be able to rent a decent room abroad for $20, or even less in some countries. Youth hostels are a great example of affordable housing for college students, and a good way to meet other travelers. Consider getting a Hostelling International Card before you go abroad. Of course, for the weak of heart, the sore of feet, or the well-to-do, you'll find Sheratons, Marriotts and better five-star hotels in most cities around the world.

While your housing abroad may sometimes serve as a refreshing retreat from your new surroundings, remember that it is not an oasis of American life. You're still a guest in the country, even when you're in your own living space. Be respectful of your neighbors, and of your landlord or host family.

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Housing for your return semester at UR

Office for Residential Life
Pre-departure Information for Study Abroad Students
Fall 2008

Housing Contracts

Your housing contract and room assignment will be cancelled when Residential Life receives official notification that you are officially going on a study abroad program . Once this occurs, that room is no longer available even if you change your mind at a later date about going abroad.

It is ok to submit a housing contract if you were not sure whether you will be accepted to a study abroad program or if you are unsure about whether you are going. However, please realize that if you decide to go abroad, this can affect your friends in suites. We will not able to keep your room vacant for fall semester due to very heavy demands for housing during the fall semester. Please advise your suitemates that a person will be assigned to the vacancy – this may affect their strategy for the upcoming room draw.

Many students elect to form suites where there is a student who is planning to go abroad for spring semester and a student returning from a fall 2008 study abroad can replace them in the suite. In this particular case, Residential Life will work with you to try to make this happen successfully.

No Storage Available

Residential Life does not have any available storage. If you need information about local storage facilities, check your Area Office or come to the Office for Residential Life, 020 Gates for details.

Housing When You Return

For students going abroad for fall semester only:

The Office for Residential Life will be emailing information to you in late October-early November regarding spring semester 2009 housing. If you request, we will also send it to your parents/guardian. Please be sure the Study Abroad Office has your overseas email address--we rely upon them for this information. Students may mail or fax the housing contract to the Office for Residential Life. You need to be aware that it is highly unlikely that you will be returning to a single room for spring semester. Priority for available singles goes first to currently housed (fall 2008) students who have requested room changes throughout the fall semester. If there are any singles remaining after room changes are made, then study abroad students will be considered for them based on class year (seniors first, then juniors, then sophomores) and the date the contract was received. When housing returning study abroad students in double rooms, Residential Life tries to place students with like-class year students whenever possible.

For students who will be abroad for the entire year:

The Office for Residential Life will be emailing Room Drawing information to you in late February. Please be sure the Study Abroad Office has your email address as soon as possible--we rely upon their information. Students may mail or fax the housing contract to the Office for Residential Life. Students have the opportunity to designate which lotteries they wish to participate in and to designate a proxy to act on their behalf they should so choose. It is possible to be included in a suite of your best friends or in a special interest housing group (greek or non-greek). Details on how to do this will be included in this mailing.

If students have specific questions, they can be addressed this week in the discussion portion of this course or by contacting the Office for Residential Life at 5-3166 or email housing@reslife.rochester.edu.

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Dining Plan Information:

DINING PLANS

Students abroad are not required to purchase a UR meal plan during their time abroad. You will need to purchase a meal plan when you return from your time abroad.

For a full description of the University’s selection of dining plans, please refer to the 2008-2009 Dining Options publication, the University Dining Services Web site www.rochester.campusdish.com, visit the Customer Service/ID Office, or phone

(585) 275-3975 or (800) 661-1118 or email mealplans@services.rochester.edu. .

DINING PLAN CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

Important Note: Students studying abroad for the spring semester do not need to cancel their dining plan for the spring semester. Dining Services will refund any spring dining charges to the bursar bill once official notification is received that you are on Study Abroad Status.

Fall and spring dining plan changes and cancellations are permitted only during the designated change periods.

A $25 fee is charged for any plan-level decrease or cancellation that is requested during any modification period except the October open modification period. Parents or legal guardians cannot make dining plan changes/cancellations for the participant. Changes or cancellations must be submitted via the Dining Plan Change/Cancellation form. Phone or oral requests are not accepted. Changes or cancellations must be made at the Customer Service/ID Office in Susan B. Anthony Halls.

The Modification period for the fall semester begins the Monday following the first week of classes (09/08/08) and ends on 09/20/08. The Open Modification period for the spring semester will be the first full week following fall break (10/13/08– 10/18/08). The Late Modification period for the spring semester for meal plan changes will be during the first full week of classes in January (01/19/09–01/24/09).

REFUND POLICY

Club Meal and Declining Plans

Unused fall semester declining balance dollars carry forward to the spring semester. Remaining declining balance dollars at the close of the spring semester are nonrefundable.

Refunds of unused declining balance and flex funds will be issued for any participant who withdraws from the University or whose status changes to inactive during a semester, as certified by Academic Support, the Registrar’s Office, or the appropriate dean. Refunds will be credited through the University’s Bursar statement. Club Meal Plan costs are also credited through the University’s Bursar statement and are subject to proration based upon the official date of cancellation.

URos Accounts

URos Account balances will carry over from year to year, or until your permanent departure from the University of Rochester. Should you withdraw or resign from the University at the close of a semester or upon graduation, any unused balance of $20 or more will be refunded to you.

DINING PLAN EXEMPTIONS

Participants requesting exemption from dining plan requirements must request and submit a Dining Plan Exemption and Change Appeal Form to the Customer Service/ID Office in Susan B. Anthony Halls. The request will then be forwarded to the University Dining Advisory Committee. Requests for exemption for religious reasons will be reviewed with appropriate University authorities. They will make recommendations to the committee.

Exemptions for special dietary needs or medical reasons must be submitted in letter format from the participant’s medical doctor on the physician’s letterhead. This request should be mailed to: University of Rochester, University Health Services, C/O Director, University Health Services, 250 Crittenden Blvd., Box 617, Rochester, NY 14642-8617.

For all such requests, we ask that the student provide a description of the special diet that needs to be followed due to his/her medical condition. The request will be reviewed, and recommendations will be made to the University Dining Advisory Committee. Decisions of the University Dining Advisory Committee are final. Only one exemption per participant will be considered in a semester.

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Meals Abroad

Few study abroad programs offer meal plans such as those that are available on campus at UR. Your university or program may have a dining hall (as is often the case in Australian residential colleges, for instance) or—more commonly—a variety of on-campus eateries. However, in many cases, you’ll have a greater degree of independence and flexibility in planning your meals. You may be able to choose from a number of local restaurants. This can be a great way to try out the local cuisine, but it can also be a very expensive way to feed yourself, depending on the cost of living and the caliber of the restaurant. Also, pay attention to the sanitary conditions wherever you eat. For example, the food stalls at the local farmer’s market might be very cost-effective and culturally authentic, but they might also serve up a sure recipe for traveler’s diarrhea (see the section on “Health Care While Studying Abroad” for more on this topic).

In many cases, your best bet will be to prepare your own meals. This is usually the most affordable option, and a good way to stay within your budget. It may sound intimidating if you’re accustomed to relying on a Platinum Plan here on campus, but most students find cooking and food shopping an exciting aspect of overseas living. Your program staff can give you advice about the best places to buy groceries (don’t expect to find a Wegman’s nearby), and your housing will often include kitchen facilities. Particularly if you’re staying with other students, it makes sense to share meals and take turns cooking. Preparing your own meals allows you to regulate the sanitary conditions of your food preparation. So, for example, you can avoid raw vegetables if you’re not confident about the quality of the water used to wash them. And while you might be able to find boil-and-serve comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, you can experiment with local delicacies, too.

Last but not least, if you’re living in a homestay, your host family will typically provide at least one meal per day. This, of course, is a wonderful way to sample some home cooking typical of your host country. Sometimes it can also present awkward dilemmas which require you to balance sensitivity against dietary requirements. It’s important to be clear up front about any special dietary limitations you may have. That way, if you’re a vegetarian, your host mother will know not to put chicken feet in your soup. Also, your program staff will usually provide the host families with guidelines for food preparation, since foods that seem ordinary to them might present gastronomical challenges for someone newly arrived in the country.

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Parking Information

The Parking Office holds a lottery for Resident Student parking permits in the spring before students leave for summer break. Students studying abroad during the fall semester may participate in this lottery. For those students who will be abroad during the spring semester, the registration form for the lottery will be emailed to you while you are abroad. This will enable you to join your classmates for the space allocation for the 2009-2010 academic year. This space allocation is done by seniority. Permit prices are included and payment must be made by the specified date to hold the space for the following school year. If for some reason you do not receive the emailing and need parking for the following year you may contact the parking office at (585) 275-3983 or mail 15 Fauver Stadium, University of Rochester NY 14627 or email rcpark@facilities.rochester.edu.

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Senior Portraits for the Yearbook

If you will be abroad for the fall semester of your senior year, keep in mind that the UR yearbook, Interpres, usually arranges to collect senior portraits in September. In order to have your portrait included in the yearbook, you'll need to make alternate arrangements for your senior photo. For details, contact Interpres at:

Wilson Commons 105
(585) 275-5357
interpres.yearbook@gmail.com

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Daily Life

"Campus life" is generally an American concept, with the exception of some British universities. Buildings are often in the heart of a city, and may be scattered over a considerable area, separated from each other by residences, restaurants, and shops. You may live in one part of the city, attend classes in another part, work in the library somewhere else, and eat your meals in a student restaurant. You will participate in everyday city life: mass transportation, pollution, strikes, impersonal attitudes, different gender issues, etc. Generally, expect less planned or "pre-packaged" student life, fewer clubs, fewer social affairs, and fewer organized sports than in the United States. An exception to the above rule would be universities in smaller cities, so this might affect your choice of where to study. On the other hand, study in a larger city will offer greater varieties of independent cultural and social activities.

Most study abroad programs do not have a full array of student service offices, but all have a program director or site administrator. This person variously serves the roles of academic adviser, residence hall director, counselor, and tour guide, and will be an invaluable resource throughout the course of your program. Get to know your program director.

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Local Students

There are study abroad programs in over 100 countries, so it is impossible to generally characterize the local students you might encounter. In some countries, the host country students you encounter will have gone through a more specialized system of education. As a result, they tend to be somewhat older and better prepared to meet the academic demands of their university education.

Most likely they will have begun studying their major subject earlier than their American counterparts, so expect them to have a much more extensive knowledge of the subject. They may seem more serious, tending to act with formality and reserve, even among their peers. It is conceivable that you might sit next to a local student in class for a year without ever striking up a conversation. On the other hand, in other location, local students may be surprisingly like the American students you are used to.

Students in your host country will be politically knowledgeable; work on improving your own knowledge of history and politics of the United States and of the host country before you go. We recommend reading The Economist, Washington Post, Asian Wall Street Journal, or The International Herald Tribune, all of which can be found in the Messinger Periodical Reading Room at Rush Rhees Library. Many newspapers and news magazines have internet sites. You can access them at http://news.yahoo.com.

Class schedules on study abroad programs are often organized differently than those at UR. For instance, classes may meet only once each week for three hours at a time. In many cases, the class may involve fewer exams and quizzes than at the University of Rochester. At the same time, expect to do more independent learning.

Talk to Peer Advisers who studied in the countries you are considering. They will be able to give you more insight into host country student life.

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Meeting People

In many societies, particularly in western Europe, it not as easy to make friends as in the United States. For example, the concept of a "friend" is quite distinct from the concept of an "acquaintance." It takes months to make a "friend," but once a friendship is formed, it will last a lifetime.

If you are living with a family, your relationship will typically start off as that between boarder and landlord/landlady. It will be up to both of you to create something more than the initial, formal relationship. It may take time to adjust to the customs and habits of the family and to develop a warm relationship. Be patient: it does happen, but it takes time and flexibility.

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Culture Shock

Be prepared to undergo a fairly typical adjustment cycle during your stay; in other words, expect some ups and downs. You'll start out with a great deal of excitement; the host country seems to be the most fantastic place on earth, and you will be high with enthusiasm. After a while, the novelty will wear off, and you may feel lonely, frustrated, depressed, homesick, and irritable. You will complain about everything and everyone; you may wish you had never left home and long to be back in Rochester. Don't worry! Things will get better. The petty frustrations will disappear. As you complete your adjustment cycle, you will come to accept and then to enjoy everything, including the academics, food, drinks, habits, and customs of the host country. By the end of the term, you may not want to leave, and you will try to figure out how to get back again as soon as possible.

Some required reading on Culture Shock:

The "What's Up With Culture?" website was created by Dr. Bruce LaBrack, an anthropologist at the University of the Pacific in California. It is specifically designed for students traveling abroad. It is a wonderfully thorough, informative, engaging and interactive presentation about crossing cultural boundaries. If you're majoring in anthropology, you may already be familiar with some of this material; for all students, this is an essential crash course in cross-cultural communication and adjustment. If you find yourself at a low point when you're abroad, refer back to this site: it can help you understand some of the cultural complexities that may be making your life difficult.

Dealing with Culture Shock and Cross-Cultural Adjustment

by Peter Lai '99, who studied abroad in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Spring 1998

Culture shock is a term widely known and a condition widely feared. It involves emotional and physical responses to the accumulated stresses and strains which stem from being forced to meet one's everyday needs in unfamiliar ways. But culture shock isn't all bad, as you may discover.

As you approach that anticipated day when everything is packed, addresses have been exchanged, and you are ready to board that plane, a million different questions would have raced through your mind: "What if I don't fit in?" "How will I know how to act in certain situations?" "I don't know the language; how will I get around?"

Relax. Undoubtedly you will feel some jolts as you try to get along in a strange culture, but they can help you to develop more effective ways of coping and accomplishing your aims in being abroad. For many people, culture shock and cross-cultural adjustment progress through stages, sometimes in cycles, sometimes in conjunction with each other, and sometimes in haphazard order. The following contains the general stages I went through in coming to grips with culture shock and the progression towards cultural integration.

1) Honeymoon stage. The emotions associated with this stage can hit you almost immediately when you arrive in your host country. Appropriately named the Honeymoon Stage due to an overwhelming sense of euphoric fascination, this stage is characterized by elevated emotions (usually happy and excited) from lots of unusual stimuli, exhilaration from novel activities, a heady sense of having done yourself proud in getting to another culture, and an early fascination with all the sights and sounds. Undoubtedly, your new environment will be nothing like the one you're used to in America. You will want to see, taste, smell, and discover every fascinating nook and cranny of your incredible new world. But take caution. You are going to be living in this new place for at least the next semester. Don't swallow the whole pill at once. Cultural adjustment and integration don't happen overnight.

2) Post-Honeymoon Depression Stage. This stage is the most troublesome for many. After a brief but rousing ride of the senses during the first few weeks, you are faced with the harsh reality that you are a stranger in a strange place. You may feel a sense of mild to acute depression coupled with confusion and frustration, fatigue, and irritability at slight provocation and criticism. The most difficult part of this stage for me was an overwhelming sense of loneliness, the sense of being a naive American amidst a sea of strangers. I felt a need to meet others, but a reluctance to take the initiative. I felt a fear of getting lost, anxiety over language demands, and a strong desire to interact with and be dependent upon other Americans. Many will experience, as I did, a terrible longing for home and a preoccupation with maintaining close contact with friends and family back home.

There is no cultural aspirin, though talk is a good antidote to homesickness. Try to talk with people who are experiencing it at the same time as you are, but don't let the discussion degenerate into mere griping. The most effective way is to identify loneliness and depression early on and then explore ways to overcome them productively. Telltale signs of early stress may be evidenced in ways so mild you may not even know they are products of depression and homesickness. Symptoms such as change in appetite, prolonged and distressed sleep, loss of inventiveness, spontaneity and flexibility, and decline in school work quality may be the manifestations of your anxiety and depression.

I didn't know why, after three weeks of seemingly nonstop exploration of the city, I was sitting at home, night after night, watching American re-run TV programs, and retiring to bed early in the evening. One of the problems in dealing with homesickness is that frequently people don't realize (or even deny) they are experiencing it. The feelings are ascribed to other causes and it is difficult to counteract something you don't believe is affecting you. But once you do recognize what is happening, there are a number of things you can do.

The first thing I did was to find a willing ear in someone to listen to my grievances. Confide in friends (by this time, you should have already befriended at least one other person on the program), and even your host family, that you are sad and homesick. You may be surprised at how supportive they can be.

Next, I tried to come up with productive solutions to counteract my feelings of loneliness. I surrounded myself with some familiar things--a favorite photo, postcards from friends back home, etc.--to make my new environment pleasant and reinforcing. I cut back on writing postcards and letters, refrained from making daily email checks, and stopped overseas phone calls altogether. You may feel an overpowering need to dial back home to hear a comforting and familiar voice. But take heed: Not only will you end up paying through the nose for overseas phone tolls, but in the end, it may serve to just prevent you further from integrating yourself into your new culture and making new friends.

There is no easy solution to overcoming homesickness and depression. Each person's situations different and each person will find his or her own way of dealing with stressful times. Be assured that, however stressful, homesickness and depression will pass if you are willing to let the process of cultural learning and cross-cultural adaptation take its course.

3) Cultural Acclimation Stage. For many, this stage overlaps the previous in that, while you are searching for solutions to maladjustments, you are at the same time meeting new friends and becoming involved in the new culture. You are learning new procedures and establishing new patterns to old routines, adapting to new ways, and seeing things in a new light. This is the stage in which you grab yourself by the bootstraps and make your slow ascent toward cultural integration.

For me, this stage was a rediscovery of old interests and a realization that those things that once elicited fear now bring joy. With my new-found vigor and curiosity, I forced myself to discover parts of the city (and parts of the country) that I had never visited before. I took the initiative to familiarize myself with cultural etiquette and norms, and with this knowledge, I went out and made new friends.

4) Cultural Integration Stage. This is the stage in which you are putting together everything you have learned so far. You are redefining your own cultural borders while accepting the highs and the lows of the new culture. Essentially, you are trying to become a part of the host culture and comfortably traversing its various terrains.

By this time, I felt very integrated and comfortable with my new culture. I knew the city streets by heart and was recognized by neighbors and patrons alike as being a part of the community. Unfortunately, this also came at the time when my program was on its last leg. Many may experiences feelings of not wanting to leave this "second home" that they have worked so painfully and diligently to become a part of. Many will feel cheated at the fact that this feeling of comfortable integration is a process and most processes take a great deal of time and investment to make them work out right. If for no other reason, take comfort in the thought that your next visit to your "second home" will be a much more pleasurable one.

Remember, study abroad is a dynamic learning experience. Part of this learning experience involves testing your independence and flexibility in adapting to a new environment. Have faith in yourself and trust that each high point and low point is part of the natural process of cultural adaptation. Relax, be confident, and above all, HAVE FUN!

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Dealing with Your Parents

by Jeremy M. Cooper '97, who studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, Spring of 1996

Today's the big day. You've been waiting for this day to arrive for at least an eternity, if not longer. Today is the day that you board that jet-plane, anxiously awaiting what many tell you will be the best semester of your college life. Little to no "real work", seemingly endless fun. Or so you've heard. "They" tell you that it’s an educational experience, a chance to see the world – a growing experience that will return you to American society a more mature, cultured, and responsible young adult. You're worried whether or not you'll be too jetlagged to go out the first few nights or not.

That's right, today is the day that you embark upon your study abroad journey. It's the day that the world seemingly revolves around no one else but you: your anxieties, your expectations, your fears. Today is the day that your parents completely freak out.

“Do you have your passport, your Visa, your plane tickets, all the important addresses and phone numbers, a toothbrush, a camera . . . enough clean underwear? “What if it's cold or raining when you get there? Should you pack an extra coat? Do they have phones where you're going? If they do, call us to let us know that you got in OK....”

You already know or can probably guess the rest. You're scared to death and excited and they're worried whether or not you have enough underwear! But don't panic! They're your parents . . . they don't know any better and they're just as scared or excited as you are. You see, study abroad isn't just about the experience of living and studying in a foreign country, or at sea. There's so much more to it. It's about becoming a mature young adult, it's about assimilating, it's about finding yourself, it's about making new friends and seeing amazing places. It's about dealing with your parents!

From the moment you get that letter of acceptance into a study abroad program your relationship with your parent(s) or guardian will change considerably. It's like that first day you left for the U of R. . . .Your parents bugged you to death and all you wanted to do was get away. You were nervous, but you had to play it cool. They were nervous too . . . they cried. However, don't think that just because you're going abroad your relationship with your parents has to suddenly become problematic (or in some cases, more problematic).

The following page contains some points of advice that should help you in dealing with your parents before and during your study abroad experience.

(1) Be honest. Tell your parents all your thoughts, your feelings, your hopes and your fears. Don't beat around the bush. You are the one who is going abroad and you are the one who ultimately has to be happy. An invaluable means by which you can work towards this happiness, without starting World War III, is by maintaining an open and an honest relationship with those concerned for your well-being. With honesty comes trust, and with trust comes understanding.

(2) A semester of study abroad is not a semester at the U of R. Believe it or not, your study abroad experience will be nothing like the rest of your Rochester experience. That's just the point! Although your parents may not want to believe this, your time spent studying abroad will not revolve around academic pursuits. Study abroad, like all of college, is an experience. Whether you are going to England or Kenya a major part of this experience will have absolutely nothing at all to do with academics. Academic pursuits, in this case, take a back seat to having a worthwhile experience. There's so much more to studying abroad than just studying, and your parents need to be made aware of this fact.

(3) The news and the media are often misleading. From your local news station to CNN, the media has a tendency to sensationalize the news. If they didn't do this nobody would pay much attention. So, if your parents start to freak out when they turn on CNN and hear that a bomb blew up in Ireland and you are in England and the two countries are close to one another so you should come home immediately, you have to let them know that they shouldn't panic until you do. After all, their news will always be second hand; thus, what you tell them is usually more accurate.

(4) The "Safety Issue". Many parents tend to think that their son or daughter will be less safe abroad than at Rochester. This is almost never the case. What your parents need to understand is that theft, assault, and all kinds of crime in general occur far less often in other countries than in the United States. Most foreigners in fact view the United States as very dangerous country and cannot fathom the idea of a persistent concern for one's personal safety. Therefore, it is important that your parents understand that not every country shares in our country's crime problems.

(5) Someone is watching out for you while you are abroad. This is a big one. Many parents tend to worry that there will be no one looking out for the well-being of their "precious" sons and daughters while they are abroad. However, any recognized study abroad program will certainly have one if not numerous individuals watching out for you at almost all times. While nobody can be there for you all the time, there will always be a program director or liaison near by ready to lend a helping hand or to give advice, whether it be a minor problem or a major emergency. You are not alone. However, it is important to remember that a big part of study abroad is learning to watch out for yourself and learning to deal with problems on your own.

Remember, study abroad is meant to be a learning experience and above all else, a fun time. Part of this learning experience involves forming a new relationship with your family. This relationship needs to be based on trust. Hopefully, both you and your parents will always be able to look back at your study abroad experience with a smile. Sooo, sit back and relax because the ride has just begun. HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!

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Questions About Your Host Country and Culture

Take a proactive approach to encountering difference in your host country. These questions are designed to help spark your curiosity about the country, to direct your reading and research, and to sharpen your knowledge. How many can you answer? Once you arrive overseas, you might use them to fill a quiet moment with your host family, or to strike up a conversation at a pub.

People:

How many people can you name who are prominent in the affairs (politics, athletics, religion, the arts, etc.) of your host country?
Who are the country's national heroes and heroines?
Are other languages spoken besides the dominant language? What are the social and political implications of language usage?
What things are taboo in this society? How do people greet one another? Shake hands? Embrace or kiss? How do they leave one another? What does any variation from the usual greeting or leave-taking signify?

Customs:

Can you recognize the national anthem?
What are the most common forms of marriage ceremonies and celebrations?
What is the attitude toward divorce? extra-marital relations? plural marriages?
What is the attitude toward gambling?
What is the attitude toward drinking?
Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are customers expected to bargain? How is the bargaining conducted?
If, as a customer, you touch or handle merchandise for sale, will the storekeeper think you are knowledgeable, inconsiderate, within your rights, completely outside your rights? Other?
How do people organize their daily activities? What is the normal meal schedule? Is there a daytime rest period? What is the customary time for visiting friends?
On what occasions would you present (or accept) gifts from people in the country? What kinds of gifts would you exchange?
Do some flowers have a particular significance?
What are the important holidays? How is each observed?
How are children disciplined at home?
Are children usually present at social occasions? At ceremonial occasions? If they are not present, how are they cared for in the absence of their parents?
How does society observe children's "coming of age?"

Religion:

What is the predominant religion? Is it a state religion?
What are the most important religious observances and ceremonies? How regularly do people participate in them?
How do members of the predominant religion feel about other religions?

Food and Entertainment:

What foods are most popular and how are they prepared?
If you are invited to dinner, should you arrive early, on time or late? If late, how late?
What is the usual dress for women? For men? Are slacks or shorts worn? If so, on what occasions?
What are the favorite leisure and recreational activities?
What sports are popular?
What kinds of television programs are shown?

Gender Issues:

What are the special privileges of age and/or sex?
What are the minority groups in your host country? Are you a minority in that country?
What are men's, women's, and minorities' roles (social, professional, religious, etc.) in your host country?
Do men, women, and minorities have equal opportunity/protection under the law?
Do men, women, and minorities have the same educational opportunities? Job opportunities?
Do women and minorities serve in the military?
Do women work outside the home?
What type of leadership roles do women and minorities hold?
How do men treat local women? American women?
How does your host country view minorities within the country and elsewhere?
Are pay scales equal for men, women, and minorities?
Is there a women's rights or civil rights movements?
Are there special concerns/issues that women and minorities should be aware of before they study abroad in your host country?
Where do women and minorities fall within the social hierarchy?

Transport:

What kind of local public transportation is available? Do all classes of people use it?
Who has the right of way in traffic: vehicles, animals or pedestrians?

Politics:

Is military training compulsory?
Are the largest circulation newspapers generally friendly in their attitude toward the United States?
What is the history of the relationships between this country and the U.S.?
How many people have emigrated from this country to the United States? Other countries? Are many doing so at present?

Medicine:

What kinds of health services are available?
What are the common home remedies for minor ailments? Where can medicines be purchased?

Education:

Is education free? Compulsory?
What kinds of schools are considered best: public, private, parochial?
Where are the important universities of the country? If university education is sought abroad, to what countries and universities do students go?

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Peer Advisers:

These students studied abroad recently, and are an excellent source of detailed information about student life overseas. They will be able to answer questions about topics such as: packing, making friendships abroad, dating, culture shock, travel arrangements, gender roles, differences in instructional methods & study techniques, advice on learning foreign languages, and how to research the history, culture and current events of your host country.

Name	Major(s)	Study Abroad Site(s)	Email Address
Karen Oddo	History	Italy	koddo@mail.rochester.edu
Amanda Stoebe	Health & Society	Semester at Sea	astoebe@mail.rochester.edu
Mari Stefano	Psychology	Italy; New Zealand	mstefano@mail.rochester.edu
Caitlin Powalski	History	UK	cpowalsk@mail.rochester.edu
Jon Elkin	Political Science	Kenya	jelkin@mail.rochester.edu
Teresa Oeinck	Physics; Take 5	Egypt	toeinck@mail.rochester.edu
Donte Watkins	German	Germany	dwatkin2@mail.rochester.edu

Your fellow students are your best resource for these types of questions. Click the link above to send a message and a study abroad returnee will respond to you directly!

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