Transcript General Orientation - Santa Clara University

Santa Clara
University
Abroad
Orientation Basics
2012-13
Susan M. Popko,
Associate Provost for
International Programs
Overview
 SCU
Goals for intercultural learning
 Documents
 Being an American Abroad
 Health & Safety
 Legal
 Crossing Cultures
Passports, Visas & Registering with
US Embassies Abroad
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Passports required/valid 6 mos. beyond return
to US
Visa = A stamp inside your passport
Processing times for passports and visas
All students must register with the US embassy
abroad through the STEP program
To register in STEP, link through SCU:
http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/safety/req
uired-travel-preparation.cfm
Check-In: Issues with passports and visas?
SCU Goals for Intercultural
Learning - One
 Develop
an understanding of the history
and contemporary situation of the
country which you visit
 Seek ways to live like a local
 Understand the impact that your
presence has on the local community
 Seek opportunities for reciprocity – what
does the local community who is hosting
you tell you that they need?
SCU Goals for Intercultural
Learning - Two
 Engage
with the local culture through
living in a homestay; volunteering;
participating in an academic internship;
joining a local club; studying the local
language
 Connect your experience abroad with
your academic and personal experience
at SCU.
Being An American Abroad
Not
all of you may identify as being “American”
but may still be considered to be American by
citizens of the country you are visiting
Not all of you may “look like an American” by
others’ standards but may still be considered to
be American by citizens of the country you are
visiting
What does “Being American” mean, anyway?
How Do I Appear “American”
 Appearance
 What you look like physically and what you wear
 Behaviors
 What you do and how you act
 Language
 What you say and how you say it
Before You Go: Understanding What
“American” Means to Others
 Read
about and be aware of the political
context of the country you are visiting,
particularly how U.S. politics impacts that
context
 Read about and be aware of political
issues in the U.S.
Health & Safety Essentials:
US Department of State (DOS)
 Country
Specific Information
 Travel Alerts
-Worldwide Caution
 Travel Warnings
 Great links!
http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/safety/
required-travel-preparation.cfm
Health & Safety Essentials:
Before You Go
 Centers
for Disease Control (CDC)
Travelers’ Health:
http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/safety/
required-travel-preparation.cfm
 Immunizations
 Prescriptions
 Special Needs
Know Your Country: Health &
Safety
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What are the modes of daily transportation?
What precautions should you take while commuting
from class to your residence?
How do you take a taxi, e.g., hail from the curb, call,
find in a taxi queue?
How do locals handle computers, cell phones,
cameras in public?
How will you manage drinking water while abroad?
What is the cultural practice of eating meat
(vegetarians, vegans)?
Are there foods of which you should be aware not to
eat?
Staying Healthy On-Site
 Wash
your hands frequently
 Carry soap papers and hand sanitizer
 Take a multi-vitamin
 Drink a lot of water
 “Peel it, boil it, or forget it” - refer to DOS
Travel, CDC and country guides for your
specific destination
 Drink bottled water or other drinks
 Be aware that most students do become
ill at some point
Immunizations & Medications
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Follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Guidelines:
http://www.scu.edu/studyabroad/safety/required
-travel-preparation.cfm
Plan ahead – it make take six months to be fully
immunized
Plan for how you will take regular medications
abroad – some countries limit the quantity of
medications that may be brought into the country
from acne medicine to birth control. Check with
the embassy of your country and limits and talk
with your doctor about taking or filling your
prescriptions abroad
Emergency Evacuation
Insurance
 All
SCU students studying through an
approved University program abroad are
covered by the University’s emergency
evacuation insurance.
Sexual Harassment
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Expectations of gender and sexuality differ
significantly in other cultures
Legal definition of “sexual harassment” is entirely
absent from many cultures
American women are often perceived as “loose”;
you need to expect that is how you may be
perceived initially and be aware of what you
communicate through your dress and behavior
Local women often experience what in the US
context would be considered harassment –
observe how they respond
Local cultures may not recognize gay or lesbian
people
If you experience harassment tell your director
Theft and Scams
 Avoid
places where foreigners may be
targets
 Be aware of pairs or groups of thieves
working together
 Be aware in crowded places, e.g.,
airports, bus stations, metro, concerts, etc.
 Do not take valuables that you cannot
stand to lose
 Do not “flaunt” your cell phone, camera
etc. on the street
 1-5 SCU students are robbed each
semester abroad
Legal Issues
 Students
must abide by the local law of
the country
 The US government, the State of
California, SCU do not have legal
standing to intervene if you break the law
 Most legal incident involving students
abroad happen when alcohol is involved
Quiz: Know Your Country!
 Who
is the current political leader of your
country?
 What is the political and economic system
in place?
 Name your country’s signature food(s).
 What percentage of students graduate
from high school in your country?
 What percentage attend university?
Quiz: Know Your Country!
 Name
the countries which border your
country.
 Name the three largest cities.
Quiz: Know Your Country!
 List
two authors or artists from your country
and the works for which they are known?
 Say “hello” and “thank you” in the local
language?
Personal, Cultural, Universal?
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Culture is only one dimension of human behavior
and it is therefore important to see it in relation to
the other two dimensions: the universal and the
personal.
Because of universal behavior, not everything
about people in a new culture is going to be
different; some of what you already know about
human behavior is going to apply in your host
country.
Because of personal behavior, not everything you
learn about your host culture is going to apply in
equal measure, or at all, to every individual in that
culture.
Personal, Cultural, Universal
 Personal
- the ways in which each one of
us is different from everyone else,
including those in our group.
 Cultural - what a particular group of
people have in common with each other
and how they are different from every
other group
 Universal – the ways in which all people in
all groups are the same
Which Statements Are
Personal, Cultural or Universal?
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Sleeping with a bedroom window open.
Running from a dangerous animal.
Considering snakes to be "evil."
Men opening doors for women.
Respecting older people.
Liking spicy food.
Preferring playing soccer to reading a book.
Eating regularly.
Eating with knife, fork, and spoon.
Being wary of strangers
Calling a waiter with a hissing sound.
Regretting being the cause of an accident.
Feeling sad at the death of your mother.
Wearing white mourning robes for 30 days after the death of your
mother.
Not liking to wear mourning clothes for 30 days after the death of your
mother.
Crossing Cultures:
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment
 1.
 2.
 3.
 4.
 5.
Euphoria
Irritability & Hostility
Gradual Adjustment
Adaptation & Biculturalism
Re-entry
Responses to Culture Shock
 Contextualize
your feelings in terms of CS
 Inquire about aspects of culture that
seem different or difficult
 Seek cultural patterns
 Avoid other Americans in a constant state
of CS
 Make friends with host country nationals
 Resist the temptation to withdraw
 Keep a journal, blog, etc.
The “It Should…” Perspective
 American-oriented
 Consumer-oriented
 Liability-oriented
Crossing Cultures Successfully
 What
is “immersion”, anyway? Long-term
adoption of daily living like a local
 How
would a local student live?
 How can I participate in the local culture?
 What is the intersection between my own
identity and local norms?
 How do I navigate the experience of
being both a guest and a resident?
“It’s Going to be Different”:
Develop a Plan
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Classes – with Americans? With local
students?
Housing – with host family?
Pursue an academic internship
Volunteer
Commit to a Language Partner
Join a club or community organization
Play a sport/instrument
Be flexible
Questions?