SPECIAL ISSUE

Would you pack anti-diarrheal medication for China? Should you ignore Facebook while in France? Do you know the exchange rate in Japan?

Students who have studied abroad before certainly would. They’re the resident experts on the topic, so I went straight to them for tips. These are their suggestions for other students who plan to go abroad.

Do:

• “Responsible planning is a must. For example, knowing if you need a visa, vaccines, learning about the exchange rate, and having a rough idea  of your trip and your goals before leaving will make your trip far more enjoyable.” —James Fichera, Japan, summer 2008
• “If you plan to travel to other countries [besides your main destination abroad], make sure you have visas or know where to get them.” —Dwayne Hannam, China, spring 2011 through fall 2011
• “Inform your bank that you will be studying abroad in advance, and inform them of any possible countries you might travel to while you are out of the country.  If not, they will block your card if you try to use it abroad.” —Dwayne Hannam, China, spring 2011 through fall 2011
• “Have some local currency before you enter the country you are going to because not all countries readily accept U.S. dollars. Have at least two days’ worth so that when you get there, getting a cab or eating food will not be a problem.” —Dwayne Hannam, China, spring 2011 through fall 2011
• “Stock up on medicine you might need. For China, it took me a week to get used to the food when I came here for the first time, so it was just frequent trips to the bathroom. Some people might not feel comfortable going to a local doctor, and it’s worse when there is a language barrier.” —Dwayne Hannam, China, spring 2011 through fall 2011
• “Meet [locals] because they’re going to show you a lot of things that you couldn’t find on your own. No visitor’s guide, no tourist map, nothing will really show you some intricate parts of whatever country you’re in.” —Trevor Raborn, England, summer 2007
• “Step outside of the comfort zone and make new friends, do things you normally wouldn’t, and share your culture with others.” —Luciano Araujo, France, summer 2010
• “Be uncomfortable in your surroundings, because from that you learn, it helps you grow. You have to step out of your comfort zone in order to grow, basically, when you study abroad.” —Shulu Potter, Costa Rica, fall 2008 through spring 2009
• “Travel to as many places as you can, especially in the country you’re studying in.” —Brandon Hall, Spain, spring 2010
• “Take full advantage of wherever you’re going and go explore. Meet locals too.” —Eva Cantillo, Spain, summer 2010
• “Gain as diverse of an experience as possible. Also, try to stay away from just sitting around, which can lead to depression and home sickness, and try to form bonds with the locals as much as possible.” —James Fichera, Japan, summer 2008
• “Try to talk in their language as much as possible.” — Brandon Hall, Spain, spring 2010

Don’t:

• “Do not waste space in your suitcase for things you can easily buy in the country.” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009
• “[Don’t] succumb to stereotypes. For example, the idea that all Japanese are short simply isn’t true. The oldest son of one of my host families was 6’1″.” —James Fichera, Japan, summer 2008
• “Don’t succumb to stereotypes, because you’re coming in as an outsider.” —Eva Cantillo, Spain, summer 2010
• “Do not go with a closed mind. I have seen, on too many occasions, Americans travel and expect host countries to cater to their needs. Not only is this disrespectful and unwelcomed in our own country, but it also brings to question, why study abroad if you expect the host country to be exactly the same as where you are from? Go with an open-mind and allow yourself to be humbled by the many differences you encounter.” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009
• “One should not seclude oneself in a room and stay on the Internet talking to friends back home on [Facebook] or other channels. Going out and exploring is what makes the experience memorable.” —Luciano Araujo, France, summer 2010
• “[Do] not get caught up in everything ‘touristy.’ Oftentimes, the things you remember most are those unplanned, off-the-beaten-path moments.” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009
• “If you’re in London, don’t dress up as Captain Morgan because I saw, coming back from the bar, this one guy dressed up as Captain Morgan — he had a huge bottle of rum and he had a sword — get taken down by eight different policemen walking back to my flat. So, don’t dress up in silly costumes while you’re on study abroad, which may cause more trouble than fun.” —Trevor Raborn, England, summer 2007
• “Don’t forget your camera!” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009

TOP TIP

Before I studied abroad, I spent many afternoons reading in the Boca Barnes & Noble cafe. I never bought anything besides what I ate and drank while there (travel books get dated quickly), but I read every book I could find about Peru and Ecuador — and took about a dozen pages of notes.

I wanted to learn as much as I could about the people and places I would visit before I got there. Apparently, I wasn’t alone.

Of all the advice I collected from other students, I heard this piece repeated by almost everyone for various reasons. So, if you think that the learning doesn’t start till you get abroad, realize that doing a little homework before you go will make your trip more enjoyable and quite possibly spare you some embarrassment.

• “Learn as much as they can about the language and culture and also get familiar with the activities, places and events of the city where one will be staying. It’s very easy today with the amount of information on the Internet.” —Luciano Araujo, France, summer 2010
• “Definitely research the culture, customs and language of the region you’re heading to before you leave, and be a constant student when there. If you express a genuine interest in the people you’ll be meeting, they will appreciate your efforts and be more likely to share their culture — and some great experiences — with you.” —Katie Carpenter, South Korea, fall 2009
• “Have a basic understanding of the culture and language of the foreign country. (I went abroad after one year of Japanese language and culture education.) However, what is more important is that students have a genuine and resolute desire to learn more about the country and its people.” —James Fichera, Japan, summer 2008
• “Do thorough research of the country you’ll be living in. You may not know the language, but you want to be as respectful as you can; this means respecting their culture and traditions.” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009
• “Do a little research before going to the country: things like the weather, food they eat, cultural do’s and don’ts. You don’t want to offend people or think people are offending you because you don’t know anything about their culture.” —Dwayne Hannam, China, spring 2011 through fall 2011
• “For those who do not want to stand out as Americans (which can often draw negative attention), research the kind of clothing people your age wear in that country.” —Cristine Busser, France, summer 2009

There’s more: This article is part of a special issue about study abroad. To read more articles from the issue, see the “Related Articles” box beneath the photos.