Program of the Month:

VISAGE: Vanderbilt Initiative for

Scholarship and Global Engagement

Application Deadlines:

VISAGE program - November 1,2007

Maymester 2008 - December 3, 2007

Summer 2008 - December 3, 2007

Fall 2008 - February 27, 2008

Spring 2009 - September , 2007

Engineering Info Fair

Wednesday, October 17th

5:00 p.m. @ Stevenson Center

Rm 5326

Re-entry Month: International Opportunities Session

Wednesday, October 24th

5:00 p.m. @ SLC Ballroom C

Meet a Peer Advisor

See the Peer Advisor page for times and locations

pre-departure - academics - course evaluations - culture shock - submit a photo or journal entry

pre - departure

All students studying abroad are required to attend pre-departure orientation(s) to prepare them for the journey ahead! On this page you’ll find information common to all study abroad destinations. Program-specific orientation sessions will give you greater detail.

Pre-Departure Manual distributed to all students (LINK)

Before you depart, consider the following:

Research Your Country

Weather

Politics

Cultural issues and differences

Religion

Attitudes toward women

Read the Consular Information Sheets & CDC info

Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws!

Packing

Don’t plan to have things sent to you as packages often get stuck in customs and you have to pay large fees to get them out

Luggage

Suitcases: most airlines limit you to 2 bags

Carry on bag: probably the most important thing to consider. A 3- day backpack is a great idea for traveling. These can be purchased at sporting goods stores such as REI.

IMPORTANT: check with your airline for its regulations and restrictions concerning weight, quantity, and dimensions of baggage. If you exceed your airline’s limit, you will have to pay extra fees or simply may not be permitted to exceed the weight limit.

First Aid Kit

Consider bringing a few band-aids, Tylenol/ibuprofen, Ace bandage, Neosporin, mole skin (for blisters)

What to Bring

Layers – consider season, climate, average temperatures

Accessories to spruce up a sparse wardrobe

Deodorant/Antiperspirant

Women’s hygiene products if you prefer a specific brand

Adapter that fits the needs of your country, voltage converter

Newer laptop computers usually have converters built-in; check the listings on your computer power cord

Guidebook

Let’s Go offers great advice for a student budget

Lonely Planet is another popular and reputable brand for student travelers

Digital Camera

Buy a large memory card before you leave to cut down on the memory space require on your laptop; sometimes it is difficult and expensive to burn your pictures on a CD

Bring burnable CDs that you purchase in the USA to store extra photos since these are expensive to buy abroad

What NOT to Bring

Large quantities of shampoo and conditioner (travel size for the first few days will suffice, many of the same brands are readily available overseas and this will significantly lighten your load)

2 suitcases packed completely full: you need to save some room for the souvenirs you will purchase while abroad! Shipping gifts back to the USA is very expensive thus it is advisable to save room in your suitcases for things purchased while studying abroad.

Hair dryers, flat irons, etc. – items with heating elements do not work well with voltage converters and usually can be easily purchased overseas

What to Leave Behind with your Family

Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends at home, so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Make copies of ID cards, credit & debit cards for easy reference in case they are lost or stolen.

Medications and Health

Bring enough medication with you for the entire semester (medications cannot be sent through the mail)

Check whether or not they are controlled substances in your study abroad country

Bring all prescription medicines along with your original prescriptions

Long term health care needs such as physical therapy or counseling can often be met overseas with planning. Please notify our office your study abroad provider with questions.

Consider getting a physical or check up before you go – the Vanderbilt Travel Health Clinic is a great resource

Money

Use ATMs. Traveler’s checks are often not accepted abroad, are difficult to cash, and subject to poor exchange rates. You may want to bring a few to keep as emergency money.

Withdraw large sums of money from the ATM to avoid multiple international withdrawal fees. However, make sure to leave most of your cash in your room to minimize the risk of losing money.

Credit cards

Make photocopies

Notify the companies before you go that you will be abroad

Cash is used more widely abroad; don’t overly rely on credit cards. For example, restaurants are not as likely to offer separate checks when dining in a group and cash will be important.

Budget

Research the exchange rate

Best rate through using your ATM or credit card

Have realistic expectations about how much you are willing or able to spend on additional travel and souvenirs

Student discounts are widely available – rail passes, public transportation, etc.

Consider setting a weekly budget from mid-week to mid-week, this will allow you time to “recover” from a big travel weekend.

Important Documents

Passport

Make a photocopy of this and carry that with you

Never carry your passport with you while abroad unless you are traveling outside of the country.

Keep it stored in a safe place in your room. This is by far the most valuable document you will possess while abroad. If your purse or bag was stolen, it is easier to cancel a credit card than to replace a passport!

Leave a photocopy with someone at home

Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure

Fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

Make photocopies of any tickets or travel documents, credit cards and debit cards, and IDs; take one set with you and leave another at home

Street Smarts

In Public:

Be wary of how you hold your purse or handbag. Keep it in front of you and make sure that your purse of bag is fully zipped.

Be wary of where you keep your wallet – a back pocket is exactly where thieves expect it to be.

Avoid wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry. Do not become an easy target for thieves!

When overseas, avoid demonstrations and other situations that may become unruly or where anti-American sentiments may be expressed

Out and About:

Avoid placing your purse or bag on the back of your chair or at your feet while in a public place. These are easy targets for robberies.

Take extra caution while using internet cafes. Since these places are frequented by Americans, robbery is also common.

Tell a friend what your plans are, let people know when they should expect you back

Traveling

Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas or on any forms of public transportation.

Keep a close eye on luggage while on a train, especially overnight trips. Try to keep your bag with you at all times (even in bed!)

Locks for zippers can be a good deterrent

Independent Traveling

Eurail

Passes can be bought for various combinations of countries and amounts of time to travel.

Purchase the pass in the USA—it is almost impossible to find Eurail outlets in Europe since they are for non-European citizens!

These are usually only economical if you are travel for large blocks of time (2 weeks or more) and crossing great expanses of territory.

Most national train companies offer youth rail discounts which make travel within the country cheaper without a Eurail.

International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Optional form of student identification can be purchased at Vanderbilt (see ISIC information page)

This card is less widely accepted for discounts than it once was, consider if you will be receiving other means of student ID through your program.

Low cost airlines

Examples: RyanAir, EasyJet

The low fares on these airlines are actually legitimate! Generally, it is more convenient and just as cheap to fly to different countries as opposed to taking a long train ride. Take note that many times, the fees and taxes actually surpass the cost of the plane ride itself!

Notify someone of your basic itinerary, including when you expect to return, before you go.

Hostels

Book your hostel stay online:

www.hostelworld.com or www.hostels.com

Fun, cheap, generally clean, make a reservation before you go!

Secure your luggage by locking zippers or renting a locker

Keeping in Touch – Internet & Phones

Computers & Internet

Internet cafes are very common in the major cities. Generally, a pass can be purchased for a certain quantity of hours that makes using the computer and internet relatively inexpensive.

Bringing your own laptop

While a laptop is by no means required to study abroad, many students find that bringing their own laptop is a great convenience. There are several advantages to having a laptop while abroad. First of all, you do not need to spend the money at an internet café to word process your papers for school. Second, it is a great way to upload and store your digital pictures without having to worry about storing them on an internet site or deleting them from your memory card. It is not advisable to purchase a brand new laptop directly before studying abroad, but bringing a slightly older model is a great idea.

Email access at school/program

Varies: Wi-Fi, some with limited hours

Internet cafes

Phones

Cell Phones

Most students will want to purchase a cell phone when they arrive in their host country to use for communication while abroad (cell phones are provided on IFSA-Butler programs)

Generally available for purchase with pay-as-you go; cell phone plans as we are accustomed to in the USA are not very common

Usually, incoming calls on your cell phone are free to you. Many parents can call their telephone company and purchase an international calling plan for a small additional fee to easily call your cell phone directly from your family’s home land line

Text messaging is a much cheaper alternative than calling another cell phone in order to quickly communicate with your friends in your host country

Your cell phone will most likely work when you travel outside your host country, but you may face limited service and increased roaming charges

It is possible to purchase an international SIM card so your American cell phone will work abroad. Contact your cell phone carrier for more information. It is still likely to be very expensive.

Fixed Lines

Long distance calls are cheaper over a fixed line

Host families may not be amenable to you using their phone

Calling centers (generally in the same building as internet cafés) generally offer land lines at low rates which you can use to place international calls.

Pay phones work for incoming and outgoing calls and are much more prevalent in foreign countries

Calling cards purchased abroad offer cheaper rates for calling internationally

Parents may consider subscribing to an international calling plan for reduced rates

Internet Phones

Skype: an online service that lets you connect and talk to another person on Skype for free! All you need is an internet connection and a headset consisting of headphones and a microphone to talk to anyone in the world!

Communicating in the Native Language

It’s helpful and courteous to know a few words and phrases in the language of the country you are in. Consider learning the following :

Please

Thank you

Do you speak English?

I don’t speak ________ (language of the country you are in)

Remember to learn these for countries to which you travel independently!

Most guidebooks include basic phrases in various languages.

Academic Credit

Direct credit

All Vanderbilt approved programs that are administered through the SAPO will receive direct, graded credit that will appear on your transcript

Course evaluation

Courses taken abroad must have a valid evaluation on file

Begin this process before you leave campus to study abroad

Consult “Course Evaluation Instructions” for more details

Grades and Transcript processing

It will take longer than usual for your semester grades to be reported from abroad. Be patient but recognize that you may not have your grades from study abroad until half way through the next semester when you return.

On-Campus Housing

The Global Education Office will inform Housing that you are studying abroad in the next term.

Do not participate in the housing lottery if you are planning to study abroad in the fall.

You will be contacted by the Housing Office via your @vanderbilt.edu email address about securing on-campus housing for the semester you return to campus

Vandy Card

You must log into your Vandy Card online account and deselect any meals plans or Commodore Cash

Deadlines to deselect will be available at the General Pre-Departure meeting and from the Card Office

If you do not deselect by the deadline, you will be charged accordingly

Billing & Financial Aid

Study abroad tuition and fees

Students on Global Education Office Programs pay Vanderbilt tuition, a Study Abroad Fee, and an Activity fee

All fees are billed through Vanderbilt Student Accounts to the same address and at the same time as if you were studying in Nashville

Financial aid applies (including HOPE scholarships) to Global Education Office Programs during the academic school year. Consult with your financial aid officer to ensure transition of funds.

Payment plans may need to be adjusted – check with Tuition Management Systems before billing occurs

Career Development

Consider scholarship & research opportunities before and while abroad, i.e. the Fulbright Scholarship requires you to make contacts with a university abroad that is willing to sponsor your research

Make contacts

Think about marketable skills

Foreign language abilities

Universal cross-cultural skills

Field Studies

Resources

HEALTH

Vanderbilt Student Health Center (615)322-2427

www.vanderbilt.edu/student_health

Call to schedule a 30 minute appointment at least four weeks before your departure date.

Vanderbilt Travel Health Clinic need phone number

http://www.vanderbilttravelclinic.com/