Going abroad is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life. It has the potential to change your life! To ensure that you have the best experience possible, there are many things that you should investigate before departing for your new home away from home.

 

What is the weather like? * What types of clothing should I pack? * How much money should I bring? * What are the cultural norms? * and the list goes on.

 

The better prepared you are, the more comfortable and pleasant your time abroad will be.  In addition to the usual preparation for going, students of color (i.e. someone who is of African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and/or Native American ancestry) must take into consideration how the people of your destination will perceive you while you are in their country. Being a student of color may have some negative impacts, but most likely will have a positive impact on your experience abroad. Seeing your home country’s views on race and ethnicity from a foreign perspective can be an eye-opening experience and can teach you a lot about yourself. Regardless of your ethnic or racial background, knowing the history of your host country will help you to better understand why your new neighbors think or behave a certain way.

 

Depending on your destination, you may have interactions with the local residents that may be somewhat uncomfortable. It could be from racial tensions against your specific racial/ethnic group, or it could be curiosity stemming from their minimal exposure to your racial/ethnic group. Before your departure, make sure you research the racial/ethnic, social/cultural and political climate of your destination, either from students who have previously visited that location, or from the credible library/online resources on that country. The information you find will help you to differentiate between innocent interest and blatant dislike, to ensure that you can act accordingly.

 

Keep in mind that when you go abroad, racial/ethnic classifications and usages in the United States may or are not similar to racial/ethnic classifications usages outside of the United States, all students from the United States may simply be ‘American.’ For individuals in other countries who do not have much experience interacting with Americans, they may assume that the images and portrayals of Americans that they see in the media are how all Americans really are. Make sure that you develop strategies in which you can positively address the false stereotypes that you may encounter.

 

Overall, experiences abroad are truly rewarding. The challenge of managing the cultural adjustments that you must make abroad will facilitate a heightened perspective, sensitivity and respect for global issues. Successfully learning to interrelate with people of other nations and cultures will prove to be a very valuable quality that will make you more competitive in applying for advanced degrees, internships and jobs.