Tag: Study Abroad

01/27/12

Andiamo! Dispatches from Abroad, Part 4

Safety – Your Safety

Safety seems to be a major cause of concern for students and parents alike when they consider study abroad. This fear seems to be misplaced, as the majority of study abroad programs take place in ‘safe’ parts of the world.  Moreover, CUNY does not offer study abroad programs for countries issued Travel Warnings by the U.S. Department of State as potentially unsafe (more information is located at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html). Moreover, worse-case scenarios won’t happen if you’re careful. These following tips should help you stay safe while overseas.

1) Online Research is your Friend
There are many resources online to help you figure out any safety hazards that you can face while overseas. The Department of State offers a great website on some “Dos and Don’ts” at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html. Plan before you depart the U.S. so as to be prepared for anything.

2) Don’t Forget your Visa
If you’re eager to explore a country outside the U.S., ensure to check whether the country requires a visa before traveling there! The visa application process should be relatively painless for U.S. citizens. However, if you are based outside the United States, you should consult your region’s local Consulate to inquire about the visa process.

3) When in Rome…
Remember to observe the cultural customs of the place(s) in which you plan to study or visit in order to avoid a potential faux pas (and the resulting consequences).

4) Don’t Bring (or Bring Back) Restricted Items
As you likely already know, TSA regulations presently restrict the possession of liquid items within a carry-on bag (http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm). You may also want to familiarize yourself with the other items that you cannot bring on your trip (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm). The Department of State also prevents the following items from entering the States: products made from sea turtles, ivory, furs from spotted cats or marine mammals, feathers and feather products from wild birds, most crocodile and caiman leathers, and most coral items.

5) Use Common Sense and be Constantly Alert
Yes, common sense does have a place on this list. As the Department of State recommends – “dress conservatively” to avoid the attention of thieves. Bring any medication you may need with you. Be wary of passport fraud and monetary scams. You are the key to preventing harm to yourself and others.

6) In Case of Emergencies – Have a Plan!
Chances are, you will not have an emergency while overseas. However, it should be a given that you should have the contact numbers of the police and emergency services within the country you are visiting as well as the phone numbers of family or friends you can count on in an emergency. You may also want to check out this webpage detailing more information on evacuations (http://www.state.gov/www/flo/paper10.html).

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In short, always research your site before you leave. Having a safe experience is paramount to having a great study abroad experience.

Tune in next time, when I will talk about surviving on a budget.  Ci vediamo più tardi!

Looking for a prior article in this series? Look no further:
Part I: My Summer in Venice
Part II: Financing Your Experience
Part III: The Big Five [Reasons for Studying Abroad]

01/20/12

Andiamo! Dispatches From Abroad, Part 3

The Big Five (Reasons for Studying Abroad)

There are many reasons why one would want to study abroad. Do any of the following reasons appeal to you?

1) Experience a New (or Different) Culture
Studying abroad through CUNY is an affordable option to see a new culture. In an ever changing world, having experience with other cultures is always a benefit. You may be surprised to see what you learn overseas about other cultures can apply in your daily life and future career.

2) Boost Language Skills
Studying overseas puts a student in a very unique situation to learn another language or perfect one that in which you already have some familiarity. While I was in Venice, the locals loved to converse with me in Italian. The experience propelled my understanding and proficiency in Italian in a very short amount of time.

3) Foster Leadership Skills
While overseas, you may experience situations that require you to be a bit more flexible or tolerant. After all, you will interact with people from a different country that may hold different values and belief systems than those you hold. It is in these situations where you will develop leadership skills. Not everyone is born with natural leadership skills, but fortunately, these skills can be learned and perfected. Why not develop your leadership skills overseas?

4) Progress towards Career Goals
Whether you hope to advance your academic or professional career, studying abroad is one way you can achieve such a goal. At CUNY, many colleges offer a number of study abroad programs. Today, there are over 50 wonderful programs to choose from – there are sure to be at least a few that cater to your specific goals and needs.

5) Nurture Personal Growth
If you have been stuck in one place for too long, you may have noticed that you are constantly limited to a repetitive range of choices. Your personal growth may be stunted as a result. Studying abroad will allow you to be more independent and responsible.

If one or more of the above reasons appeals to you – studying abroad is an opportunity you should definitely look into. Why not check out some of the links below to get started?

Baruch Study Abroad
CUNY Overseas Study Programs Directory
Baruch Study Abroad – Fact Sheet

Stay tuned next week, where I will discuss safety practices for studying overseas.

Did you miss one of the articles from this series? Check them out below:
Part I: My Study Abroad Experience in Venice
Part II: Financing Your Study Abroad Experience

A presto!