2011 VT Pre-Departure Training

1. Spring/Summer 2012
Pre-Departure Orientation

2. Agenda
•Introduction
•Logistical Information
•Cultural Information
•Refreshments
•Country-Specific Break-Out Sessions
•Completion of Forms

3. Education Abroad Office
Eric Miller, Director of Education Abroad
Jenny Sax, Assistant Program Director (Europe, Africa, Middle East, Latin
America)
William Pruitt, Coordinator (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Asia)
Matthew Creasy, Graduate Intern
Shannon Dove, Administrative Support Specialist
Kevin Shutta (Estonia)
Sarah Schneider (Chile and Spain)
Carey Bald (South Africa)
Tina Miles (Italy and Sweden)
Venkat Subramanyam (Dominican Republic)
Caroline Ickes, Graduate Assistant (Spain, Chile and Dominican Republic)
Chloe Quivers, College of Engineering Student Representative (Australia)

4. Logistical Information

5. The Basics
•Passport
•Do you have one yet??
•Do you need to renew it?
•Make 2 copies of picture page
•Visas
•Varies for each country, but generally required for stays longer than 3 months (and some
rules have changed!!)
•Some countries now require student visas for summer programs as well.
•You must apply for a visa yourself; the Education Abroad office can help you understand
requirements, but we cannot apply for you. Look into what you need to do IMMEDIATELY!
•Check requirements for your country on your country’s embassy or consulate website
•Airfare
•Check many different websites for the best airfare rates.
•kayak.com, expedia.com, airgorilla.com statravel.com, studentuniverse.com, are some
options (some airlines have unpublished student fares and you must call to get them)
•Make sure that you are aware of any cancellation and itinerary change fees.
•With all the concern about flu pandemics, coups, natural disasters, perhaps it would be wise
to purchase travel/evacuation insurance??

6. Getting There, Moving Around, and Pay for It

7. Money and Travel
Money
•Traveler’s Checks/Debit Card/Credit Card
•Bring some cash in local currency
•Tell your credit card company where you will be!
•Interest on cards?
•Transaction fees?
•Travel Arrangements
•Cheap student flights and train travel
•Eurail Pass? Low-cost European airlines? ISIC Card?
•Do you need a special visa for tourist travel to a different country???
•Airport Security Measures
•Make sure you know of any changes or special security requirements
•Different countries often have different regulations
•Airport Security Measures
•Make sure you know of any changes or special security requirements
•Different countries often have different regulations

8. Financial Aid
•Complete FAFSA and Education Abroad Program Document Form ASAP.
•You must also fill out a Summer Aid application through Financial Aid
•Discuss your financial aid and loan options with your financial aid
counselor.
•If you are on a Non-VT program, the overseas international office must
complete the Verification of Enrollment form and fax or scan it back to
us. Then aid will be disbursed.

9. VT Bill
You will see an administrative fee on your bill.
•Bilateral Program $300.00
•Summer Bilateral $100.00
•VT Direct $300.00
•Non-VT and ISEP $50.00

10. The classroom is where?...and
I’m getting credit for this?!?!

11. Academic Issues
Course Registration Abroad
•Different setting, different expectations – tricky registration
•Be patient and ask questions
Get pre-approval for your courses—”Authorization to Take Courses Elsewhere”
form through your academic dean’s office
•You’ll earn “T” credits – but grad schools will possibly ask for original
transcripts!
•If you change classes, then another form must be completed (you can list
more classes on the form than you plan on taking).
You must take your classes for a letter grade (not pass/fail), and get an equivalent
grade of C or higher (B for graduate students)
•If “pass” is one of the options for a letter grade, you need to get a letter from
your coordinator explaining this and have the letter sent with your transcript.

12. Course Withdrawals/Resignations/Registration
•Bilateral Exchange, ISEP or on Financial Aid, you
DO NOT register for VT classes
•We’ll register you for a special class #
•If you already have classes on your schedule, we’ll
drop them for you

13. Withdrawals/Resignations/Registration
If you haven’t registered… don’t.
You’ll be taking a leave of absence simply by not
signing up for classes.
Note: IF YOU ARE NOT GONE FOR MORE THAN 3
CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS, YOU’LL STILL BE A
VT STUDENT, AND WON’T HAVE TO REAPPLY!

14. Transcripts and
Future Registration at VT
•Before leaving host campus, be sure you’ve done everything necessary for
your transcript to come back to VT
•Have your transcripts sent to the Education Abroad office. If you get
your transcript, do not open it. It must be in a sealed envelope.
•You should definitely arrange to get some extra transcripts in sealed
envelopes in case you apply to grad school or if future employers request
them.
•While abroad, you’ll register online for your return semester. We’ll
remind you, but you’re responsible. Plan ahead!

15. Credit Transfer
•It is CRUCIAL that you save all course information,
including syllabi, exams, reading lists, course descriptions,
etc.
•You may need this after coming back to Tech to finalize the
course equivalency/ transfer process
•If you are on financial aid, you need to work with the host
school to get a final transcript sent to Tech within 6 months
of the end of your program

16. Communication

17. Communication
•Leave your contact info with OIRED
•Set up a communication plan
•Bring all necessary numbers…
•…for your family, Academic Advisor, emergency contacts, home
doctor, Ed. Abroad Office
•Parents/family members/significant others/friends will worry
•save the gory stories for your return
•contact them in case of crisis, but avoid alarming them about minor
issues—everything sounds worse when you are far away

18. Suggestions
•Phone Cards (shop around!)
•It is unlikely that your cell phone will work overseas, or it
will be very expensive
•Purchase a cell (mobile) phone abroad
•Prepaid “top-up” cards
•Reminder: you likely won’t have your own phone in your
dorm, and you should not use your host family’s phone – they
pay for local calls, too!

19. Healthcare Issues

20. Healthcare
•You must have health insurance that covers you outside of the U.S.
…and OIRED needs it on file!
•You’ll likely have to pay up front for doctor visits, hospital, service, etc.
•Check amount and nature of coverage
•Prescription medications – bring label with scientific name and note from doctor
•Is it legal to bring your medication to your host country???
•Avoid putting medication in plastic bags! ALWAYS use the original container!
•Do you need any special immunizations and or vaccinations???
•Check out these sites:
• http://www.cdc.gov/
•http://www.who.int/en/

21. The nuts & bolts of Safety Abroad
Don’t accept rides from strangers!!
Don’t Be A Fool!

22. Safety and Prudence
•YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR RIGHTS AS AN AMERICAN WITH YOU
ABROAD!!!!
•Safety – Be on alert until you feel comfortable with your area. Protect
your valuable documents.
•If you’re traveling – do your research! Travel with a companion.
•Avoid demonstrations (strikes, protests, etc…)!
•Know the laws of your host country – you will be held accountable! VT
Code of Conduct Applies too!

23. Safety and Prudence
Check out these websites for more safety
information:
www.asirt.org
www.studentsabroad.state.gov
www.saraswish.org
www.travel.state.gov

24. Help Us to Help YOU
•VT can help you with other personal and confidential
issues/challenges before you leave…
•Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
•Physical and Mental Issues
•Eating Disorders
•Family Dynamics
•Others
•Women’s Issues
•Health
•Personal Safety
•Attitudes toward women in the host culture

25. Packing Tips
And three pairs of jeans for the plane ride home!!!

26. Packing Tips!
•Don’t pack everything you own, expensive items, or items of sentimental
value!
•Do bring a rolling suitcase you can pick up easily and a small carry-on
with toothbrush and change of clothes.
•People in other countries tend to dress up a lot more than we do. Leave
the flip-flops, college sweatshirts, baseball caps and t-shirts behind.
•Do bring small (and ultimately disposable!) essentials like travel alarm
clock, towel and batteries – and gifts for your host family!
•And do bring a Mini Health Kit! Over-the-counter stuff you’re used to…
and keep the package labels!

27. Food and Housing Issues

28. Food and Housing Issues
•Living and eating abroad may not be what you’re used to… adjust your
expectations accordingly
•Expect different foods, meal customs, food safety concerns
•And you won’t be able to prepare for most of it!... Especially interesting:
•Public restrooms (the hole in the ground!) that you might have to
pay to use
•The (often lukewarm) push-button showers that last 10 seconds
•The stuffy, close-quarters of public transportation

29. Final Checklist
•…these are all the tips you need to head on out of here on the
right foot
•BRING YOUR PACKET WITH YOU
•And if you still need assistance, we’re here for you!

30. Fun Forms
•Program Liability Agreement (signed)
•Emergency Contact and Information Release Form
•Health Insurance Certification
•Copy of acceptance form (can be turned in later)
•Please drop them off at the front table with the OIRED staff
on your way out the door!

31. Self Assessment:
Changes in Latitude…
Changes in Attitude…

32. Cultural Information

33. Cultural Information
•Consular Information Sheets
•Be sure to check www.travel.state.gov periodically
•Pay close attention to Safety & Security, Medical Issues and Health
Information
•Culture Grams (country-specific)
•Provides detailed information related to history, politics, education,
language, dating, diet, holidays…
•Visit www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ for country specific background notes

34. What is Culture Shock?
CULTURE SHOCK is a term coined by the
anthropologist Kalvero Oberg (He died in 1973). He
was one of the first scholars to describe the more
pronounced reactions to the psychological
disassociation most people experience when they
live in a culture that is different than their own. One
must go through it in order to have the pleasure of
experiencing other cultures and countries in depth.

35. Dealing with Culture Shock
•You will experience Culture Shock—it can be a good thing depending on
how you react to it.
•Your reactions to situations can cause more problems than the situations
themselves.
•Remember that the anxiety and disorientation you feel is normal.
Others are experiencing the same thing.
•Keep busy and do things you find enjoyable.
•Be open-minded and flexible. Things are different, not wrong.
•Maintain a sense of humor.

36. Cultural Adjustment
•Cultural adjustment and culture shock are good
things
•Stages of cultural adjustment (4 Stages)
•“Honeymoon” phase
•“Culture Shock” phase
•“Adjustment” phase
•“Adaptation” phase

37. The Stages of Cultural Adjustment

38. THE CULTURAL ICEBERG
-
art business practices literature
dress/fashion architecture customs drama/acting
music law religious rituals games
in awareness
food/cooking dancing
out of awareness beliefs values superstitions attitudes body language
facial expressions sex view of disease concept of beauty eye behavior patterns of visual perception
group decision
-making ordering of time patterns of superior/inferior rela tions
notion on sin
conversational practices in various social contexts nature of friendship courtship practices
patterns of handling emotions arrangement of physical space relationship to animals attitudes toward death
work incentivespursuit of pleasure class occupation logic and validity s elf concept concepts of
past and future
definition of justice kinship concept of status mobility notions of puberty and adol
escence
concept of cleanliness definition of sanity
roles in relations to status by age etc.

39. Possible Symptoms of Culture Shock
•Homesickness
•Compulsive eating (or drinking or shopping!)
•Withdrawal/ Isolation
•Unexplainable crying/ anger/ irritability/sensitivity
•Boredom
•Exaggerated cleanliness/obsession with hygiene
•Stereotyping
•Family tension or conflict
•Hostility towards locals
•Excessive sleep

40. Helpful Techniques to Work Through
the “Process” of Culture Shock
•Exercise (not obsessively!)
•Keep a journal.
•Keep in touch with family and friends.
•Immerse yourself in the culture and try to make friends—not just
Americans.
•Join a club, volunteer somewhere or go to a religious or spiritual
organization of your choice.
•Analyze and assess your experiences, feelings and reactions with logic
and intellect—not just emotion.
•Talk to people going through the same experiences.
•Do not take things personally! Be tolerant and open-minded.
•Expect things and people to be different.

41. Reverse Culture Shock
•Coming home will be difficult
•Family and friends change—they may not be interested in
hearing your stories over and over again
•Others who have lived or studied abroad are generally more
supportive in this
•Come to OIRED—We’ll listen and give suggestions for
keeping your experiences vivid.

42. Student Advice
•Students who have studied abroad are your best resource
•Come to the OIRED and look at student evaluations of their experiences
•Set up an appointment to speak with one of the OIRED staff members
•Contact Cranwell International Center to meet with an international student
from your host country
•Be an English language partner through the Langauge and Culture Institute
•Remember, the more you know before you go the more prepared you will be
•See “useful hints” in your packet

43. “The Ugly American”
•Negative, but has nothing to do with physical features
•You can avoid being labeled as “The Ugly American”
•Be genuinely interested in your host country/people
•Ask questions, attend events/festivals, read the newspaper
•Don’t expect special treatment and don’t assume everyone speaks
English. Learn some basic phrases.
•What do we want others to think about us?
•You are Ambassadors of the U.S. and Virginia Tech

44. Let’s play 50 Questions!
•Learn about your host country
•Host country nationals like to know that you are informed about
their country and customs
•What are the laws?
•When are business hours?
•How do people dress?
•Etc.

45. Resources for Study Abroad
•Books
•Travel Guides
•Collections
•Videos
•Magazines
•Web Sites
•Health Issues
•GLBT Issues Abroad
•Students with Disabilities
•Students of Color

46. Country Specific Sessions
Agenda
30 minute session with returnees and host country nationals
•In group each person introduces themselves and tells what program they are
attending
•Returnees/host country nationals will share authentic documents/resources
(show and tell)
•Everyone writes down one question they want to know about that
country/region.
•Returnees/host country national will answer questions from their
knowledge/experiences
•If time permits another round of questions
•At end students should share e-mail addresses, if they wish

47. Questions….