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.

Next...Essentials > > > >

IM This Article