The document provides information for students attending a pre-departure orientation for study abroad. It discusses insurance requirements, health and safety abroad, finances, cultural adjustment, and preparation tips. Key points include mandatory insurance coverage amounts, registering travel with International SOS for emergency assistance, carrying medications in original packaging, being aware of local laws and customs, using caution with alcohol/drugs, accessing money safely via ATMs, and understanding culture shock is normal.

1. UT Arlington Study Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

3. Optional plans through UT Arlington

4. International SOS

5. Cards available for all participants

6. Health and safety abroad

7. Emergency procedures

8. Alcohol & drugs abroad

9. Accessing money abroad

10. Packing and travel advice

11. Cultural learning & adjustment

12. Post Acceptance Forms

14. Expectation vs. Reality“How not to blend in with your surroundings” by Maggie Lunday COBA in Spain, summer 2010

16. Side note: Travel is NOT an excuse to miss class!

17. Not without challenges and difficult moments

18. Not Texas

19. It is an academic pursuit that will be fun too

21. Medical Evacuation - $10,000 (covered by SOS)

22. Repatriation of Remains - $7,500 (covered by SOS)

25. $129.00 per month (age 60-64)

26. $0 deductable per injury or sickness

28. $0 deductable per injury or sickness

31. Keep your insurance policy with you while traveling and know the customer service number for insurance claim advice

32. Be sure to ask your provider what documents you will need for your claim (receipts, doctor’s notes, etc)

33. Reimbursements can be tricky if you try to collect documents after your return to the U.S.

36. Non-medical coverage – travel delay, lost baggage, etc

37. Worldwide discounts – hotels, restaurants, museums, etc

38. Increasing discounts available in DFW area

39. Good for one year

41. Provides emergency services while abroad, but does not replace medical insurance

42. Great resource for non-emergency situations as well!

43. The Study Abroad Office will register your trip for you, but it is important for you to create your own profile

44. Follow instructions in your Post-Acceptance Forms

45. Print out proof of your registration with SOS and include this with your Post-acceptance Forms or Email registration to studyabroad@uta.edu

47. Your SOS Itinerary

50. WHO – provides country profiles that include health risks & statistics (www.who.int)

51. OSAC – collects health & safety news articles and updates from around the globe (www.osac.gov)

53. Failure to let in-country staff know about a medical condition can cause a serious and even fatal delay in the diagnosis and treatment of any condition you have that may occur while on study abroad

54. Medical alert bracelets are a good idea while traveling abroad

56. Take a copy of the prescription with you - you may need it to carry the drug into the country. For more tips, visit www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/medications

58. It is highly recommended that you register any side-trips

60. Travel Alerts/Warnings

62. Passport, visa, credit card(s), insurance policies, etc.

63. Carry a copy of your documents in your luggage separate from the originals

64. Before you leave, develop an itinerary and record it through your International SOS profile. Also leave a copy with your emergency contact

66. You were traveling with a friend independently from the rest of the group and your friend needed immediate medical attention?

67. Your faculty-leader was involved in an accident and was incapacitated and in the hospital?

68. You missed your flight and were unable to join the group at the pre-determined destination?

70. More on Alcohol Never go home with a stranger. Always go out with at least one friend (especially if you are a woman), and return with that friend. Please note that abuse of alcohol can be grounds for dismissal from the program.

71. Drugs Doing illegal drugs in a foreign country is a VERY BAD IDEA. Drugs account for almost half of Americans arrested overseas. If you get caught with them, you could be thrown into a jail unlike any you could ever imagine. The U.S. government cannot help you out of such a situation. You are subject to laws of that country.

73. Steer clear of demonstrations, large or small

74. Do some research about your destination before you get there – weather, customs, political climate, landscape, currency, etc.

76. Never agree to carry something across the border for another person

78. It’s probably not the best idea to get married while you’re abroad. Be aware that an individual may be interested in you more for your citizenship than for your shining intellect, wholesome southern beauty and cute American accent.or

80. FA procedure – direct deposit

81. No university officials can take care of financial aid in your place

83. ATM’s are widely available globally, but it’s good to have some back-ups

84. Currency conversion & other ATM fees

85. Does your bank have an overseas branch?

86. Money as a safety issue

87. Be diligent at ATM’s & mindful of where you keep your money

88. Keep exchange rates in mind when budgeting and spending your moneyBank of America Traveling Internationally? Use your ATM card or check card within our Global ATM Alliance in the countries shown with no fees. Barclays (United Kingdom) BNP Paribas (France) China Construction Bank (China) Deutsche Bank (Germany) Santander Serfin (Mexico) Scotiabank (Canada) Westpac (Australia and New Zealand)

90. Get a money belt

91. Be aware of your surroundings and be very skeptical of any strangers who want to help you with anything money-related

92. Don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket

93. Don’t carry an open purse/bag

94. Be especially vigilant at ATM’s

96. Checked vs. carry-on items: www.tsa.gov

97. Baggage weight & restrictions – be sure to check your airlines website well in advance! AirfareWatchdog has a great chart of all major airlines: http://tinyurl.com/baggagechart

98. Packing checklist: http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html

99. Power converters are a must (for most)

100. Universal Travel Adapters are best

101. A money belt & travel umbrella

103. Student Universe – student airfare (www.studentuniverse.com)

106. Local mobile phones

107. Calling cards

109. Culture is formed by a group deciding what values are most important to them.

110. All cultures consider their behaviors to be good, proper, natural and normal. Therefore conflict and change involving core values cause tension.

111. Therefore, studying abroad can be expected to be uncomfortable and incomprehensible at times.Taken from: What’s Up with Culture? http://www.pacific.edu/sis/culture/index.htm

113. Irritability

114. Fear of being cheated, robbed, or injured

115. A glazed stare

116. Intense desire for home and friends

117. Loneliness, isolation and disorientation

118. Defensive communication

119. Stress- headache, upset stomach, sleeplessnessCulture shock can be very intense for some and nonexistent for others. But it can be controlled and eventually eliminated.

120. Cross-Cultural Adjustment The Four H’s: 1) Honeymoon 2) Hostility 3) Humor 4) Home

122. Rest- you will need to sleep more than normal

123. Meet new people- this helps you learn the culture faster

124. Suspend judgment as much as possible

125. Write and reflect on your experiences and feelings

127. Submit a photo and short narrative for each category:

128. Landscape

129. People

130. Architecture

131. Cultural Snapshot

132. Comical

133. Photos will be displayed in the University Center Gallery during International Education Week

135. Check out the past years’ photos on the UTA Study Abroad Flickr Page By: Joshua CampbellCategory: Cultural SnapshotLocation: Bologna, Italy

137. Help promote studying abroad at SA fairs, info sessions, preview days, etc.

138. Serve as an International Peer Advisor and help welcome new international students to UTA

139. Help organize activities for International Education Week, including the annual Study Abroad Photo Contest

141. Please be sure forms are fully completed – if any forms are unclear, please give me a call to discuss

142. Forms must be submitted by 04/29/11. Submit to the Office of International Education, Swift Center, 1022 UTA Blvd