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Black Hawk College students are eligible to participate in many study abroad programs. There are even programs permitting BHC students to work abroad...without learning another language! Study abroad programs exist for students in business, in liberal arts and transfer areas, and vocational programs.

Study Abroad? Selecting a Program Another Country? Culture Shock Acceptance Gender Roles

Racial Considerations Reverse Culture Shock Security Documentation Immunizations Identity Cards Web Resources

Why Should I Study Abroad?
A good question each student needs to ask is "Why should I study abroad?" Consider the following possibilities:

• To advance career development
• To enhance cultural sensitivity
• To dispel stereotypes
• To gain first-hand geographical knowledge
• To travel to distant lands
• To prepare for a global economy
• To create a more appealing job resume
• To develop a greater appreciation of one’s own country
• To increase communication skills

The selection of a study abroad program should be a time-consuming task. Because the choices of a study abroad program can be overwhelming, it is not recommended that you adapt a "spin the globe tactic" to select a study abroad program that is appropriate for you. Many of the study abroad programs available to Black Hawk College students are appropriate for transfer students; others are intended to serve students going directly to the world of work. Some programs provide the opportunity of work experience, and others do not. Some are 4 weeks long; others can involve a year of study.

The options for a study abroad program are many, and you should consult with the BHC study abroad office in deciding which programs are most appropriate. The director of study abroad programs can narrow the choices to a few, and then you and your parents, your spouse or your friends can assist in selecting THE program for you.

Selecting a Study Abroad Program
When selecting a study abroad program, consider the following

• How much is the total cost of the program?
• What is included in the program fee?
• What is not included in the program fee?
• How long can I be away?
• Is a foreign language fluency required for participation?
• Do I have the necessary program prerequisites?
• Will my health insurance provider provide coverage in another country?
• Is financial assistance available?
• Is a program available for less than 16 weeks?
• Is it possible to go with a friend?
• Is the site of the study abroad program safe?
• Can I e-mail parents and friends from the study abroad site?
• Does the study abroad site have an ATM to simplify finances?

Study abroad programs today are affordable by most students. Selecting a 4-week study abroad program in the summer is becoming more and more appealing, as the cost of the program is less than a 16-week program, and the benefits of a short-term study abroad program are nearly equal to longer ones.

What Is Life Like in Another Country?
It is difficult to describe day-to-day life is like in another country. Stereotypes of peoples, countries, and cultures are often misleading. Simply "knowing about" another culture is quite different from a real experience of living there. Every culture has distinct characteristics that distinguish it from other countries. Some cultural items are quite noticeable; others are so "hidden" that foreign visitors may not even be aware of them.

Citizens of another country are likely to have YOU stereotyped. Common "American" stereotypes contain some or all of the following characteristics:

• Outgoing and friendly
• Loud, rude and boastful
• Hard working
• Extravagant and wasteful
• Racially prejudiced
• Ignorant of their culture
• Always in a hurry
• Generous

While a stereotype may possess some grain of truth, common sense requires an allowance for individual differences. Whether the stereotype be towards you or someone else, try to recognize the stereotype for what it is.

Culture Shock
Culture shock is real. It entails going through an initial period of euphoria and excitement and being totally overwhelmed by the thrill of being immersed in a foreign environment. This emotion soon fades, and students are usually acutely aware of the fact that old habits and routines seem "out of synch" with the local culture. The comfort zone is in transition, and you are likely to feel as "an outsider." Unplanned events may suddenly be a crisis. Everyday problems may be an emergency, and you may find yourself feeling depressed. These are classic symptoms of culture shock, and most students in an international environment go through some phase of culture shock.

There is no uniform way of dealing with culture shock. Simply recognizing its existence is certainly an important first step. As long as you recognize the symptoms before they occur, you are well on your way to making a satisfying adjustment to another culture. IT is important to remember that falling victim to culture shock does not imply any emotional or psychological imbalance on your part. It is simply a "normal" passage that most students experience to differing degrees.

Expressing your emotions to friends and family members via e-mail may accelerate your adjustment. Simply identifying the cultural differences often causes the differences to be put in perspective. Communication with friends and family members is encouraged throughout your study abroad experiences.

Undergoing culture shock can be a real learning experience, and it is one that you should take advantage of. It is a way of sensitizing you to another culture that goes beyond the intellectual realm. It is a dosage of realism that can allow you to maximize your adjustment after a few short-term feelings of insecurity.

Before long, you will adjust to your adapted culture, and you will make friends and feel more secure. Your comfort zone, although altered, is again yours and much enriched!

Accelerating Acceptance
Social customs differ greatly from country to country. It is impossible to provide uniform guidelines to accelerate acceptance to every culture.

One of the best pieces of advice that can be given is to be yourself. Acceptance is usually accelerated by being friendly, courteous and honest. Always remember that you are a guest in someone else’s school, home and/or country. Behave as you would as a guest at home, and you are well on your way to acceptance.

It may be difficult in the first week or two of your study abroad experience to meet many local students. As you begin coursework and involve yourself in campus life, you will make many friends and those feelings of loneliness quickly vanish.

Allow yourself a good deal of time before exhibiting your humor. Humor may be easily misinterpreted or taken as an affront. US students are accustomed to "kidding" each other about a vast array of items. When in a foreign culture, there is no place for those "kidding" comments as you would so easily make to your US friends.

When you initially speak another language, you will probably feel quite self-conscious and rather timid. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated by a limited command of the language. When needing assistance, ask for help in a friendly manner, and the assistance will likely be immediately there. Be sensitive to the forms of address used in another culture, and do not try to translate US idiomatic expressions directly into other languages. The message is usually lost in translation, and you may be embarrassed at the response from your host family and new friends.

In some cultures, it is appropriate to make direct eye contact. In other cultures, it may be in appropriate, or it may be appropriate for males but not for females. Research the culture prior to departure to ensure that you abide by local customs.

Refrain from practicing a cheerful pat on the back or a warm hug. There may be significant implications from these types of communication that are inconsistent with the patterns used daily in the US.

Follow the pattern of the locals when adjusting to social space…the distance required for standing, sitting, conversing, and shaking hands. Emulate the pattern you see the locals using!

Be especially cautious when it comes to drinking. Observe local patterns and practices before indulging. Know the legal restrictions concerning alcohol prior to departure.

What should I avoid? It is best to avoid the traditional taboos…politics, religion, and the opposite sex. Allow the topics of conversation practiced by locals govern the topics appropriate for conversation. Always be aware that others are observing you, and you may leave a lasting impression of your family, your school, and your country by your behavior and communication patterns.

A Special Note to Women
Gender roles may be extremely different than they are in the US.

Some women are likely to experience "unusual" expectations in other cultures. The roles of men and women may be more clearly defined than they are in the US. Some men may be quite vocal in their "assessment" of US women. US women are likely to find such behavior offensive, when the locals are making an all-out attempt to be flattering and complimentary. Eye contact patterns may be more significant than they are in our native culture, and touching may convey messages that are unintended.

Racial Considerations
Study abroad students of a minority race or ethnic background are encouraged to study abroad. What constitutes minorities varies greatly from culture to culture. Often minority students find a study abroad to be a most rewarding experience, as they report more acceptance in the foreign culture than they may be in the US.

Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse culture shock involves adjustment to the US culture upon return from the study abroad program. Although short, the readjustment process is likely to be a surprise.

Expect a good deal of emotionalism upon your return to the US. The first few days will be filled with friends and family members inquiring about your experiences in another culture. As photos are shared, you will likely feel a certain "attachment" to that adopted culture. Your friends will be thousands of miles away from you. You have changed some of your perceptions and assumptions. Your old style of doing things have been altered, and you feel as if you are somehow a "new" person. These emotions are normal. This is what education is all about!

The readjustment period is fortunately quite short lived, and you will quickly adjust to your old patterns of doing things. Your e-mail is likely to be global in nature, as you send and receive messages friends met during your study abroad program. Electronic transmitted photos will be a routine experience to enhance the communication.

Increasing Security
Security is a real issue for study abroad students. The US State Department maintains an online directory of services for US citizens living abroad (http://travel.state.gov/acs.html) that should be used before and during the study abroad program.

Before departure…

• Checked luggage.
• Carry your passport and other documents with you while traveling to your destination.
• Never carry large amounts of cash. Stow cash in a money belt or a necklace pouch.
• Take only one debit card and one credit card. Leave account and replacement numbers with a trusted friend or family member.
• Leave a photocopy of your passport with a trusted friend or family member.
• Take medications with you. Keep medications in original containers.
• Pack a spare pair of contact lenses or eyeglasses.
• Photocopy your airline ticket for your family.
• Do not take valuable jewelry or family heirlooms with you.

Upon Arrival… 

• Locate a safe storage for all valuables
• Maintain a low profile upon arrival until you adjust to the local culture
• Avoid crowds, protests or other volatile situations
• Listen frequently to local news to monitor local conditions
• Avoid political unrest and demonstrations at all costs
• Do not open unexpected packages or gifts
• Report suspicious persons loitering around you to local authorities
• If you travel to other sites away from your study abroad site for more than a week, consider registering upon arrival at the nearest US consulate or embassy

Monitor the US State Department warnings for international travel. http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html or phone 202.647.4000 

• Do NOT assume what is legal in the US is legal in the foreign site
• Use financial institutions to exchange currency; avoid underground economies
• Do NOT use or traffic recreational drugs
• Avoid walking alone in restricted or poorly lit areas
• Do NOT sell your drivers license or social security card

Documentation
Passports
All travelers must have a passport to legally enter another country. The passport is your official identification and should be guarded at all times. Issued by the US Department of State http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html, US passports are valid for 10 years.

To apply for a passport,

• Have proof of citizenship (birth certificate or naturalization papers)
• Two identical passports (color, 2" square on white background)
• Proof of identity (drivers license) with signature and photograph
• $65 (not in cash) to pay passport fees

Visas
A visa is an official permission to visit another country. The visa is issued by the government of the foreign country, and will likely have a well-defined window of validation. Some countries require advance processing of visas.

Always investigate visa regulations of your study abroad site. The US State Department maintains a current directory of visa regulations http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html.

Required Immunizations
Because of specific health concerns and environmental conditions in various countries, carry your immunization with you upon entry to the foreign site. Your physician is an excellent source of recommended immunizations. The Brigham Young University website http://www.byu.edu/stlife/health/library/travel/ is also informative.

International Student Identity Card
Each BHC student participating in a study abroad program is required to obtain an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The card costs $18, and it is available from the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) online (www.ciee.org) or by phone at 1.888.COUNCIL.

The ISIC is good for some special privileges and discounts to students participating in study abroad program. The ISIC also provides minimum health insurance coverage. The ISIC is valid for one January-to-January calendar year. Applications are available in the BHC Study Abroad office.

Recommended Web Resources
A variety of online resources are available to students considering a study abroad program. Please browse through the following resources:

• Study Abroad Handbook http://www.studyabroad.com/handbook/handbook.html
• NAFSA Information for US Students Abroad http://www.nafsa.org/secussa/resources.html
• NAFSA Online Resources http://www.nafsa.org/secussa/edabroadlinks199.html
• Institute of International Education Study Abroad Resources http://iserver.iie.org/svcs/sar/sartype5.htm#US
• ICISP http://www.icisp.org/ICISP/