Planning for Life Abroad

Discuss with your prescribing physician and family how you will obtain prescription medications while abroad, well in advance of your departure; in some cases there may be limitations on the amount of medications that you may receive before you go or on their availability abroad. Ask your physician to prescribe a supply of medication that will last the length of your stay, or make arrangements to purchase your medications abroad or have them sent to you. Carry a copy of your prescription and keep medications in the labeled containers in which they were dispensed.

If you have asthma, diabetes, allergies or other chronic conditions, learn the vocabulary to describe your condition in the host country language and carry a written explanation in that language in case you are unable to communicate in an emergency. Plan to wear your medical bracelet if you own one. Smith College recommends that you share your medical information with your overseas contact and ask for a copy of your program's in-country communicable diseases risk reduction and prevention plan prior to departure.

Going abroad and venturing out of your comfort zone is normally stressful, so you should plan to use typical stress reduction strategies such as exercise and relaxation to cope with all the changes you will encounter in your new host country. If you are currently seeing a therapist, discuss how you will continue your mental health care while you are abroad, and inquire with your program about counseling services that may be available to you abroad.

Learn about the regional diet, eating habits and meal schedule for your destination, as these are an integral part of the culture, and learn to explain your dietary restrictions in a culturally appropriate way. Be informed about food and water precautions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization offer information about regional and country health risks and disease outbreaks, with recommendations for immunizations. Study abroad program providers also provide students with health advice. After researching the requirements and recommendations for your specific destination, discuss your choices with your physician, planning well in advance, since some immunizations are administered over a period of several months. Carry your certificate of immunizations with your passport when you enter the country and when you return to the U.S. The CDC International Travelers' Hotline is 404-332-4559.

All students returning to Smith College from areas of the world where MDR/XDR Tuberculosis (TB) is a threat are required to have a TB test by Smith College Health Services. Read the Smith College TB Policy. Before traveling to a country where TB is present, read the information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you have symptoms (feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats) or if you think you have been exposed to someone with TB, you should contact your program provider, doctor or local health department about getting a TB skin or blood test.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of study abroad is the opportunity to discover another culture and, thanks to that process, to understand oneself better. It is important to be aware of the cultural differences about disability and accommodations in order to have a successful and safe experience abroad.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

Begin now by doing the following:

• Disclose your disability needs to program staff early so appropriate arrangements can be made in advance.
• Remember that other cultures may provide disability access in a different way—learn about what types of accommodation are typically provided in your host country and be flexible and open to different ways of accommodating your disability.
• Find out as much as you can about your host culture and how they view disability by reading, talking to other students and attending predeparture orientation sessions. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for the interaction between your disability and the new environment.
• Think about how you will answer questions about your disability in the language of your host country—look up key vocabulary words ahead of time.

As a Smith student you may already be accustomed to addressing gender issues with an open mind. Our challenge to you is to now examine the differing patterns of gender roles and expectations in the spirit of intercultural learning.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. For example, how is sexual harassment defined and responded to in the host culture? What added safety precautions must you follow while abroad? We strongly encourage you to discuss these and similar topics with your education abroad adviser prior to departure.

As a nontraditional student you are faced with unique challenges when it comes to study abroad. You may not be able to leave for a semester-long program, you may need to make arrangements for other family members, etc. The resources listed here will inspire you to consider study abroad and help you to prepare once you've decided to apply.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

Begin researching now by looking at the resources below; exploring Smith College program offerings; talking with the staff in the Office for International Study and program alumnae; and continuing to learn while you are abroad by talking with your new friends.

It is important to recognize how cultural differences impact perceptions of race and ethnicity.

Many students of color report that in the U.S. they self-identify with their race, but abroad they are recognized as simply 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 American context of race relations, while others report experiencing new types of prejudice and having to learn new coping strategies.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living.

Though there may be commitment to religious diversity and freedom in the United States, this may not be the case in the country where you'll be living and studying. While abroad, you will likely have encounters that challenge your notions of spirituality.

Take the opportunity to understand the social and historical views of religious acceptance and tolerance within your host country. In doing so, you may also question your own values and beliefs and arrive at a better understanding of yourself.

Being familiar with the world's religions and how religious diversity is defined and understood across cultures will help you have a rewarding and safe international experience.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

Begin researching now by looking at the resources below, talking with international students and program alumni on campus. While abroad, talk with your new friends, host family, conversation partner, teachers and others who are interested in discussing religion, faith, spirituality and the ways these issues are understood.

Being knowledgeable about sexual identity and how the cultural, legal and social issues regarding sexual identity vary from place to place will better enable you to have a safe and rewarding international experience. Learning as much as you can about how these issues are addressed in the host country will better enable you to have a safe and rewarding international experience.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

Begin researching now by looking at the resources below, talking with a study abroad adviser and program alumnae, and continue while you are abroad by talking with your new friends.

If you have special eating habits, are committed to a particular way of eating (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, kosher, macrobiotic) or have health issues or food allergies that result in a special diet, you will need to research your study abroad destination carefully before assuming that the food you need will be available.

In many areas of the world certain special diets, such as vegetarian, are not common and in some cases, not eating food that has been prepared for you, even if for dietary reasons, is considered rude.

If, for cultural, religious or personal reasons you do not eat certain types of food you should contact your study abroad program administrator to see whether or not your dietary needs can be accommodated.

Making friends with those who have grown up in a different culture is one of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad. You can alleviate potential misunderstandings by learning in advance as much as you can about the culture where you'll be living. Please feel at ease to discuss your questions and concerns about this or any other issue with any of the Office for International Study staff members.

How to Prepare

Learn what is and isn't available that so you can experience the food of the culture you're living in while at the same time having your dietary needs met. Being flexible, whenever possible, about what you eat will make your study abroad experience easier and more enriching.

If you're looking to discuss any of these factors and how they might impact your experience abroad, please get in touch with one of us. You can even contact us as you're navigating issues while on your program.

• Lisa Johnson - Associate Dean for International Study
• Angelo Pisano - Study Abroad Coordinator
• Toby Davis - OEI Liaison for Study Abroad