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The Office for International
Study is committed to offering education abroad experiences to all Smith students
and recognizes that education abroad is not just a student focused experience but
rather a holistic, intercultural one. You are likely to encounter a significant range
of attitudes regarding diversity issues while abroad. Understanding how these perceptions
can influence your education abroad experience can go a long way toward better understanding
yourself and the new culture in which you'll be living.
You may find that a number of factors may influence
your experience abroad, including your nationality; religious, racial or ethnic heritage;
gender; sexual orientation; mobility; accessibility and disability; personality.
Attitudes toward women and minority groups vary greatly across cultures, as do experiences
in gender identity and sexual orientation. In some cultures you may experience being
in the minority (i.e. foreigner) or in the majority for the first time. How the "majority
culture" defines itself also differs around the world. No place is "monocultural" and
learning about difference by living and studying outside the U.S. can bring new insights
upon return.
Many students of color report that in the US they self-identify
as African American, Latin American, Asian American, etc, but abroad, they are simply
an American. Some students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds also report a
real range of experiences in treatment as a "foreigner." Some students
report feeling exhilarated by the freedom from the U.S. American-context of race
relations, to those who experienced different degrees of "naive" curiosity.
Some felt they met both familiar and new types of prejudice and had to learn new
coping strategies.
Students returning from abroad advise those who are
about to depart to prepare. While life abroad is often confusing and difficult to
deal with at times, education about the host culture and a willingness to embrace
the complexities and differences will open up unexpected doors and opportunities
for learning.
We encourage all students to ask questions, explore
resources, and remember that all cultures have complexities. Finding opportunities
to successfully live in another culture is extraordinary. The following links will
provide you with some information and resources in exploring different perspectives
on diversity issues abroad. |
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For ALL Students
Ability & Study
Abroad
Gender & Study
Abroad
Non-traditional
Students & Study
Abroad
Race/Ethnicity &
Study Abroad
Religion & Study
Abroad
Sexual
Orientation
& Identity & Study
Abroad
Special Diets & Study Abroad
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