STUDY ABROAD: A GUIDE FOR WOMENIntroduction • Access to Information • Where to Find Information on Study Abroad
Other Important Considerations • The Testing and Application Process
Selection/Interviewing Issues • Terms and Conditions of Your Scholarship • Going Abroad
Culture Shock
Learning about and adjusting to another way of life can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be frustrating and stressful. While there is no way to anticipate every possible problem or situation you may encounter, there are strategies for helping you to make the transition to your new home as pleasant as possible.
Timing is very important. As soon as you know that you will be studying abroad, start a checklist of items that need your attention while you are still at home; such as, bank accounts, investments, credit cards, rent or mortgage payments, insurance policies, and legal matters.
Some international scholarship programs provide very thorough orientation materials, while others do not. Even for those programs that have good written resources, materials may be relatively generic because it is often not possible to produce very detailed information on the many countries where these programs operate.
To facilitate your experience, do your homework. Learn as much as you can about your country of study before you go. The more that you know, the more comfortable you will be. The university you will be attending might be able to provide the names of alumni whom you can contact from your home country and who are familiar with the university. Contact the alumni association for your program that serves returning grantees. Ask the embassy or consulate of the country for any general literature they might have, and ask to be invited to any lectures or programs they offer before your departure. Attend organized pre-departure events that some programs offer for candidates. Consult travel guides such as the Let's Go series of guidebooks. International student offices at host universities tend to have a lot of information and are helpful, so contact them directly. You may want to correspond with this office prior to your arrival to request any orientation materials they have. Allow sufficient time for these materials to arrive through the international post.
Programs also vary greatly in their ability to provide direct help when you arrive in your adopted country. Some will arrange to meet you at the airport when you arrive from your home country, while others simply do not have the resources for that kind of personal service. Find out in advance what to expect upon your arrival. You may have to deal with the airport and customs, as well as traveling to your university on your own. It may seem daunting, but you will not have any serious problems as long as you are prepared in advance with the information you need about where to go, and some local currency to cover unexpected travel costs.
Find out, to the extent possible, about the general cultural norms in your new country. Americans, for example, tend to be informal, curious about international visitors, and talkative. Many other societies can be more formal and reserved. While you should never be reticent about asking questions, be sensitive to the prevailing cultural attitudes to avoid any misunderstanding. The worst that can happen is that someone simply will not answer you or will not understand. Persistence is a virtue—and a necessary survival skill. Simply ask someone else and keep asking till you find out what you need to know. Ultimately you will get the information you need. Also familiarize yourself with the civil/political situation in your country of study, e.g., is it normal to see police patrolling the campus? Where is it safe or unsafe for women to walk alone? Where should you turn for help in case of an emergency? What are your rights and responsibilities as a foreign student or scholar, given your specific visa status?
Tips
Never assume, always ask.
Have local telephone numbers with you for the scholarship program and university staff.
Have sufficient funds in local currency for transportation and emergency lodging.
Be sure that the university and scholarship staff have contact information on where you are if you are traveling away from the host campus—and information on who to contact back in your home country in case of emergency.
Acclimation
No two people respond to a new environment in the same way. Some adjust quickly; for others it takes more time and effort. Depending upon your personal circumstances, you may be dealing with many different questions and situations, such as:
Housing
Setting up a household.
Where to find inexpensive furnishings (and clothing).
How to find compatible roommates.
How to deal with leases and landlords.
Transit
Negotiating the public transportation systems.
Commuting from home to school/job.
How to buy a car/bicycle.
Children
Finding day-care/reliable baby-sitters.
Finding good schools.
Meeting other families.
Finances
Dealing with banks.
Availability of emergency funds.
Talking with other people—networking—is the most effective way of navigating in a new country. In addition to the international student resources at the university and through your program, you should widen your circle by reaching out to the larger community. There are many organizations that may be able to help you in unexpected ways, such as:
on-campus special-interest student organizations (academic, professional and social).
religious institutions: churches, synagogues and mosques.
local chambers of commerce/tourist bureaus.
women's groups and community groups such as Rotary or AAUW (American Association of University Women).
arts/cultural organizations and local libraries.
civic/political organizations.
nonprofit and/or grass-roots groups and NGOs.
local media, newspapers, radio and television.
Many of these organizations have newsletters, or maintain bulletin boards through which you can learn about useful opportunities: used textbooks, cheap travel tickets, baby-sitting, cultural events, political rallies, religious services, help with child-care or housekeeping, book discussion groups, where to buy used furniture, clothes, sports equipment. If it is available, also consider using the Internet. Information on a huge variety of topics can be accessed electronically, and one significant advantage of the Internet over print resources is that its information tends to be the most current available. Some program participants are now beginning to use the Internet to communicate directly with other program grantees to share practical information.
Finally, it is important to maintain contact with your home country while you are studying abroad. Staying in touch with local embassy personnel and subscribing to a home country newsletter or an Internet resource are good ways to do this. Be sure to keep in regular contact with your employer or academic colleagues back home, as well as with your family and friends. Not only will this keep you informed on things happening at home, it will widen your network in your adopted country, and will ease your transition back home at the end of your international educational or training experience.
Remember that you are not alone! Tens of thousands of women worldwide have successfully followed the same path you are now setting out on—and have returned home to make important contributions. If you have the talent and desire and dedication to pursue your dreams of overseas study, you can succeed. We wish you well in your endeavor.