TABLE OF CONTENTS
Before You Go
Travel Documents 1
Getting There 2
What to Bring 2
Customs Regulations 4
Money Matters 4
Health & Insurance Abroad 5
Getting Information About
Your Host Country 8
UMBC Administrative Issues ..9
During Your Time Abroad
Cultural Adjustment 11
Academics Abroad 13
Getting Around 14
Keeping Connecting to Those
Back Home 14
Safety Issues Abroad 15
Student Rights & Responsibilities 20
Coming Home
Administrative Issues 23
Re-entry into the United States 23
Reverse Culture Shock 24
Handy Checklists
Before You Go 25
While Abroad 26
Before Heading Home 26
Important Contact Information ...27
As you have gone through the admission process for your study abroad program, you have received what seems like a ton of information – pamphlets, brochures, instructions for follow-up materials, applications, admissions materials and the like. Looking through your Pre-Departure Orientation folder, you may think that we in the field of international education like killing trees and have a strange fixation with color-coordinated photocopies. We do not. We give you this information in as coherent a format as possible because it is important.
Some of the information included here relates to UMBC policies for studying abroad – the transfer of your financial aid, registration for studying abroad, health insurance and so on. Other information focuses on the cultural aspects of studying abroad – cultural adjustment and culture shock. Finally, there is important information regarding your health and safety abroad.
Your program sponsor has also given you a lengthy information package with information about visas, banking overseas, accommodation information and so forth. They may also have included information that is repeated here in the Take Me With You Handbook. Please make sure to read through it all.
Now, you are probably saying to yourself, “When exactly do they expect me to have time to read through this stack?” The answer to that question is, of course, as soon as you can. Much of the information in your packages is time sensitive. Imagine your dismay when you find that the mandatory deadline for returning your housing registration to your program sponsor is a week after you get around to looking through your information. Imagine arriving in your host country after a long flight only to be turned back because you did not apply for the proper visa prior to your departure. Imagine having your only form of obtaining money swallowed by an ATM in your host country, leaving you with only $10 in cash in your pocket. All of the information you need to avoid these kinds of problems (and they have all happened) is in your pre-departure package.
In short, our motto regarding the information you find here and in the information your program sponsors give you is…
1. If it’s in your package, read it. It’s in there for a reason.
2. If you don’t understand it after you have read through the information given to you, ask.
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BEFORE YOU GO
You made it through the application process and were accepted into a study abroad program. Congratulations! That was the easy part. Before you step on the plane to your host country, there are plenty of things to prepare and arrange. In order to have a successful study abroad experience, read on.
Travel Documents
Passports
In order to leave and reenter the United States, students must have a signed, valid passport. Apply for your passport as soon as possible, at least several months in advance of your departure, at a U.S. Passport Agency or many U.S. Post Offices.
Passports issued to persons aged 16 or older are valid for 10 years. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned return to the United States.
Passport photos. You will need to provide two 2” x 2” passport photos taken within the past six months with your passport application. These photos can be purchased at UMBC commonvision on the third floor of the Commons.
Your study abroad program may also require a certain number of photos. It never hurts to have extras.
For more information on applying for or renewing a passport, visit travel.state.gov.
Traveling With Your Passport. Once you receive your passport, sign it and fill in the information on the inside cover. Your passport is not valid without your signature. You should never let anyone else use or alter your passport in any way.
Make several copies of your passport. Take one with you and carry it separately from your passport. Leave another copy with the person who is taking care of your business back home. Scan a copy and email it to yourself. You are also required to leave a copy with the UMBC Study Abroad Office. If your passport is lost or stolen, this photocopy can speed the replacement of your lost travel documents.
When traveling, be sure to keep your passport with you at all times. Never pack your passport in your luggage. It is often a good idea to use a money belt or other holder to keep your passport concealed, under your clothes. Once you arrive at your program site, find a safe location in which to keep your passport. Be sure to carry your passport on you when traveling outside your program city. Your passport is your official identity document and must be available to you at all times. Never send your passport back to the U.S. for any reason!
Should your passport become lost or stolen, notify the local authorities and the nearest American consulate immediately.
Visa
The majority of countries in the world require visitors to obtain a visa if they plan to undertake university studies. A visa grants you official permission to enter a country for a stated purpose and for a specified period of time. It is granted by the government of the country to which you will be traveling. It is often a stamp on a page in your passport.
The most common types of visas are tourist, student, and worker. Be sure you understand the type of visa you are receiving. Your visa may require you to
leave the country after a specified period of
time or maintain full-time student status, or it may deny you permission to work for money. If you violate the terms of the visa, you may be subject to legal action or deportation.
Visa requirements and application procedures vary by country. Country-specific information is available at travel.state.gov or on the website of the consulate or embassy of your host country.
You will need a valid passport in order to apply for your visa. The application process may take a number of days or weeks. Do not wait until the last minute!
Non-U.S. Citizens
Immigration and visa requirements differ depending on the citizenship of the person entering the country. Be sure to inquire about the necessary documents based on your country of citizenship well in advance of your departure. Non-U.S. citizens should contact their home country’s embassy for information regarding passports.
Students with U.S. immigration status. Before leaving the U.S. to study abroad, be sure to bring all of your visa documents (I-20 for F-1 status students) to UMBC’s International Education Services (IES) office to be reviewed by an international student advisor. It is important to verify that all of your papers are in order for your return to the United States. IES is located on the second floor of the Administration Building. Advisors are available during walk-in hours on Monday-Thursday from 10am-12pm or by appointment. To schedule an appointment outside of office hours, email Mrs. Massey <> or Mr. Williams <> with your availability.
Permanent residents (Green Card holders). If you are a permanent resident of the U.S. and plan to be away from the U.S. for more than six consecutive months, please consult with USCIS at least one month prior to your departure to ensure your permanent resident status. The local USCIS office is located in the Fallon Federal Building, 31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore.
Getting There
Purchasing a ticket for your study abroad experience can be an expensive procedure, but it does not have to be. You may see very inexpensive fares in the Sunday travel sections of the Washington Post or the New York Times. These fares may look great, but unfortunately you probably will not be able to take advantage of them. The overwhelming majority of students participating on study abroad programs need to purchase tickets that will keep them out of the country for at least 90 days – and these fares are usually for trips of a maximum of 30 days. Moreover, were you to go to a regular travel agency or an on-line travel service such as Expedia or Travelocity and ask for a quote for a ticket, you would probably be stunned at the amount you will be asked to pay. Sometimes these fare quotes are two to three times the amount advertised for shorter trips overseas.
There is a simple way to avoid paying too much for your international airfare. Go to a student travel agency. Why?
§ They offer cheaper fares with much more flexibility than regular travel agencies.
§ They sell tickets that allow you to change your return date for a nominal fee (between $25 to $50).
§ They give excellent travel advice from past participants who have been there.
§ They can supply information for travel within your host country or in the region where you will travel.
§ There are (usually) offices of that travel agency in your host country.
The largest student travel agency in the United States is STA Travel. They offer their services on line at www.sta-travel.com, over the phone at 800.781.4040, or in person. STA Travel has offices in the Washington metropolitan area and in major cities and college towns throughout the United States.
Another on-line student travel agency is www.studentuniverse.com, and it too offers competitive rates.
Both STA Travel and Student Universe require you to purchase an International Student Identity Card (frequently called an ISIC) in order for you to obtain these special fares. The ISIC card costs about $22 and qualifies you for discounts on travel, tours, accommodation and reduced or free admission to museums, theaters and cultural attractions.
What to Bring
Packing may be one of your biggest pre-departure ordeals, but it does not have to be. Remember, most items available here will be available in your host country, so pack only the essentials.
That being said, you can purchase certain items in the U.S. before departing because they will be either more expensive or unavailable abroad, depending on your destination. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, which will be further discussed in the Health and Insurance section of this booklet. If there are any specific cosmetics or hygiene items, including ethnically oriented products, that you use on a regular basis and simply cannot live without, bring a sufficient supply. Otherwise plan to buy the majority of your toiletry items upon arrival in your host country.
Wardrobe
Most students who have studied abroad admit to taking too many clothes with them. Here are some helpful tips when it comes to packing your wardrobe:
§ Choose a wardrobe that will fit in your luggage with room to spare. You will inevitably return home after your time abroad with more than you take with you. Begin by laying out everything that you think you will need. Now reduce that by at least one-third.
§ Bring clothes that are easy to mix-and-match, giving you a variety of outfits. It is probably better to bring more socks and underwear and a fewer amount of clothes.
§ The majority of your clothes should be casual but not grubby. Most people in the world dress up more than typical Americans. Dark, conservative colors will wear longer without laundering, and permanent press fabrics or knits will eliminate the need for ironing. Choose clothing items you can layer so that you can adapt to varying temperatures with the smallest amount of clothing.
§ Try to be sensitive to what is considered acceptable dress in your host country. At the same time, it is also nice to have one or two favorite things that, even if unusual by their standards, help you to feel your best.
§ Do not wear university logo attire unless you wish to be immediately recognized as an American!
§ Bring comfortable shoes – you will be doing plenty of walking! White sneakers will usually label you as an American. If you want to blend in, find some dark non-athletic shoes that can easily be broken in and worn for extensive periods of time on your feet as you trek through your host city.
Other Essentials
Students should also bring a battery-powered travel alarm clock. Electricity voltage and plug sizes vary around the world. You may want to purchase any necessary electrical appliances, such as a hairdryer, when you arrive in your host country, use battery-operated appliances when possible, or simply do without. Alternatively, you can buy plug adaptors and voltage converters for your existing appliances from a travel or hardware store before you leave. For a guide to worldwide voltage and electric and telephone plugs, check the World Electric Guide at www.kropla.com.
A good comprehensive bilingual dictionary is necessary if studying in a non-English speaking country. If you have no previous knowledge of the language, make an effort to learn a few key phrases before you go.
A journal is a wonderful way to document your experience overseas and will be treasured in years to come. You may also want to have some photos of your family and friends from back home – your new friends or host family will also want to see them.
Finally, a good travel guide will prove itself invaluable in helping you learn more about and explore your host city and country. See the Getting Information About Your Host Country section in this booklet for some recommended guides.
Luggage
Choosing the type of luggage you use is just as important as choosing the wardrobe you take with you. There are plenty of options out there, so figure out what your needs are and what is going to be the most comfortable to carry, especially when buying a backpack. Remember, you will be carrying your luggage through airports and train stations yourself, so the more manageable it is, the better.