Overseas Connection: Bridging Villanova and the World
The Overseas Connection is produced three times a semester to unite Wildcats who are studying around the world. The newsletter provides a variety of information from important deadlines on campus, to tips for dealing with culture shock, to events happening around the globe. If you are abroad right now, this newsletters aims to keep you connected to the Villanova community, even though you are many miles from home.
Once you arrive overseas and begin classes, the OIS requires
that you confirm your course schedule with your advisor in this
office. Please do this by sending your advisor an email that lists
each course you are currently enrolled in. If one of these courses
does not match those listed on your Prior Approval Form, you will
need to have that course approved by the proper Villanova Department.
Your advisor will assist you in determining which department is
appropriate. Remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that
all of your coursework is properly approved. Please do not wait
until the end of the semester to inquire after new course approvals,
or you will run the risk of not receiving credit for your work abroad.
After settling in to your new home, please forward your address and contact
information to your advisor in this office. Hopefully, we will never need
to use this information; however we would like to keep it on file in case
of emergency.
Worldwide Caution from the U.S. Department
of State
December 12, 2005
This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat
of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas.
This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated August 2, 2005 and expires on
June 12, 2006.
The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat
of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S.
citizens and interests overseas. Ongoing events in Iraq have resulted in
demonstrations and associated violence in several countries. Americans are
reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.
Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations
continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions,
including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These attacks may employ
a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings
and bombings.
Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons,
and target both official and private interests. The hotel bombings in Jordan
in early November illustrate how terrorists exploit vulnerabilities associated
with soft targets. Additional examples of such targets include residential
areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools,
public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including
during holidays.
In the wake of the July 2005 London bombings and the March 2004 train
attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists
to attack public transportation systems. In addition, extremists may also
select aviation and maritime services as possible targets. U.S. citizens
are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware
of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal
security. For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad”
found at http://travel.state.gov.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of
alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public
services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies
and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S.
citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain
contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security
threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information
through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet
at http://travel.state.gov. In addition
to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or
outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
U.S. Senate Resolution Designates 2006 as
Year of Study Abroad
On November 10, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating
2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad.” The resolution, introduced by Senator
Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), encourages
initiatives to promote and expand study abroad opportunities. The resolution
was also co-sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.),
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Thad
Cochran (R-Miss.).
The resolution:
Designates 2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad”.
Encourages secondary schools, higher education institutions, businesses,
and government programs to promote and expand study abroad opportunities.
Encourages Americans to:
Support initiatives to promote and expand study abroad opportunities.
Observe the “Year of Study Abroad with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and other activities.
The text of the resolution (S.Res.308) is available through
http://thomas.loc.gov by using the keyword
search “Year of Study Abroad.”
Important Characteristics for a Successful
Semester Overseas
Open Mindedness... The ability to keep your opinions flexible and
receptive to new thoughts and ideas is extremely important.
Sense of Humor... In another culture, there are many things which
may lead you to weep, get angry, be annoyed, embarrassed, or discouraged.
The ability to laugh things off will help guard against despair.
Ability to Cope with Failure... This is critical because everyone
fails at something overseas. Those students willing to go overseas for
study are often those who have been the most successful in their home
environments and have rarely experienced failure. It is important for
you to develop ways of coping with failure.
Communicativeness... The ability and willingness to communicate
your feelings and thoughts to others, verbally and non-verbally, is
an important skill for successful intercultural communication.
Flexibility and Adaptability... The ability to respond to or tolerate
the ambiguity of new situations is essential. Keep options open and
judgmental behavior to a minimum.
Curiosity... Demonstrate a desire to know about other people, places,
ideas, etc. You will need to learn many things to adapt to a new culture.
Positive and Realistic Expectations... Think positively yet keep
you expectations realistic. Everything won't be as you anticipate and
some days, you will encounter difficulties. Keep things in perspective.
Tolerance for Differences and Ambiguities... Cultivate sympathetic
understanding for beliefs and practices differing from you own.
Positive Regard for Others... Expressing warmth, empathy, respect,
and positive regard for other helps to foster intercultural relationships.
A Strong Sense of Self... A clear, secure feeling about yourself
results in good relations with others. People with a strong sense of
themselves are able to stand up for what they believe in without being
overbearing and don't cling to beliefs regardless of new information,
perspectives, or understandings they may encounter.
Hopefully, by now you are getting settled in to your host culture,
fully involved in your courses, and beginning to appreciate the
many cultural nuances that distinguish your host culture from the
United States. By extension, this may be the point in the semester
when you suffer most from culture shock. The initial euphoria of
a new place is wearing off; those same nuances that were once ‘quaint’
are now annoying; and you’re feeling that some things really are
just quantitatively better at home.
Culture shock is very real and very poignant. In the words of one author,
it is ‘virtually inevitable in some degree, and there are no magic charms
to escape it altogether.’ From my own experience in the UK, I remember going
very quickly from ‘What small refrigerators! How economical and resourceful!’
to ‘What does it take to get some ice around here?’ Remember, though, that
there are some steps that you can take to minimize culture shock’s impact
so that you are getting the most out of your time overseas. These steps
were discussed at the Pre-departure Orientation, but I want to highlight
a few:
It’s not just you: everyone who goes overseas (regardless of their
home culture or host country) suffers from culture shock.
Look for logical reasons behind those things that you find strange
or annoying. In my example, the conservancy efforts required during
the Second World War and the (comparatively) high costs associated with
energy consumption meant that big refrigerators weren’t necessary. These
reasons become an opportunity to learn something about your host country
that you did not know before: in my situation, a chance to learn how
World War II had an impact on every person living in the UK.
One of the best antidotes to culture shock? A healthy sense of humor.
Be ready to laugh at yourself, and share your experiences with new friends
or your host family. Perhaps if I had a smaller fridge perhaps my waistline
would not have expanded as it did after leaving the UK.
Find other Americans that have been in the host country longer than
you have, people that have suffered from culture shock and emerged on
the other side. Don’t associate exclusively with other US students that
seem to be in a constant state of culture shock, always mocking and
downgrading the host culture. This negativity becomes self-perpetuating.
Most importantly, don’t sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Keep
busy. Get out and explore the local environs, not traveling to far-off
locales only on weekends. Have dinner or coffee in establishments that
attract ‘locals,’ not hordes of visiting Americans. Make the extra effort
to make friends from the host country.
As we mentioned repeatedly in your counseling sessions and at the Pre-Departure
Orientation, this experience is one of learning, but not just classroom
learning. We wish you all the best as you continue to learn about your host
country.
Lance Kenney
Director of International Studies
Fall Registration 2006 Information
You are finally settling into your host culture, but it is time to start
thinking about returning to Villanova. Check out the information below to
ensure that your return to campus is a smooth transition.
If you have not done so already, please check with your study abroad
advisor before registering for Fall 2006 courses, to make sure that your
current study abroad courses are all properly approved. This means that
your current courses are either listed on your Prior Approval Form, or you
have received an email approval to take the specific courses.
Students overseas are expected to register for Fall 2006 courses through
normal registration procedures during the normal registration period.
Registration times for Fall 2006 will begin on Wednesday, March 22, 2006.
You can find your registration time by logging into your Novasis account.
All registration times will be in Eastern Standard Time so please note the
time difference. Due to the differences in time zones and limited access
to the internet at assigned registration times, some students choose to
have a friend or parent register for them. Please be sure to send all pertinent
information (course selection, advisor code and Novasis PIN, etc) to this
person well in advance of your assigned registration time.
To obtain your Advisor Approval Code and advising assistance, please
contact your academic advisor. (Your study abroad advisor does not have
access to your registration pin)
Please note that a 12 credit study abroad (VAB) placeholder course is
currently listed on your academic audit. This "stand-in" course simply keeps
you registered as a full-time student while you are abroad. When the Office
of International Studies receives your transcript from your semester overseas,
the VAB course will be removed and the courses you complete with a grade
equivalent to a ‘C’ or higher will be added to your transcript.
Please contact the Office of International Studies if you have any questions
regarding these procedures.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have on or off campus housing
when you return to Villanova.
Little Reminders by Marissa Lucy
It was not an easy task unpacking after I returned home from Sydney.
Emptying out my luggage was a difficult job itself, but having to put away
the memories of a lifetime was the hardest. In particular, as I cleaned
out my wallet, I found bus tickets, bank receipts, café receipts, coffee
cards, train tickets, movie stubs and a couple of dollars along with some
spare change. Some people, most people, may find these little pieces of
paper to have no meaning; just useless. They may be unconsciously thrown
away, never to be seen again. Oddly enough, I found myself unable to throw
these things away. They are still sitting on my dresser, carefully scattered
as if they are ready to be used at any moment; just as they were in Australia.
To me, for some bizarre reason, these receipts signify more than just ink
on paper. They signify the chances I took, the roads I got lost on, the
laughs I shared with friends, the crazy conversations at the café, the early
mornings on the train, and the pure feeling of living on my own. They signify
the freedom I felt with myself and the world.
There is no easy way to put into words the experiences or feelings you
endure while studying abroad. You are living, studying and working in a
foreign land. Many things are different from The States, leaving you feeling
isolated and uneasy when first arriving. Smells, colors, sounds, people,
animals, plants, cars, money, signs . . . all are different. Even in Australia,
an extremely amiable country where its motto is literally, “No worries;”
I initially felt alienated from the culture. But as time passed, I became
more aware of my surroundings and became more comfortable with these differences.
It seemed that as soon as I got used to looking the opposite way when crossing
the street or discovered where I could find a place that actually sold large
cups of coffee, I was on my way to discovering more about myself and Australia.
Although, there were countless experiences that shaped the way I coped
with living in Australia, it seemed that the little everyday tasks like
learning how to get around in a large international city or how to grocery
shop, were the things that truly set me free. Don’t get me wrong, I truly
had the some of the best times of my life experiencing moments other than
riding a bus down Broad Street; skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef, camping
in the Outback, hiking barefoot through some of the oldest rainforests in
the world, surfing some of the best surf spots in the world, snorkeling
with wild sea turtles, and countless other experiences surely top my list.
These moments are my own. They will never fade from my heart. But the events
that made me understand the culture or understand the way Australia worked
had more to do than the touristy attractions I traveled to. Learning to
budget my own money, knowing that I did not have to tip the bartender or
cab driver, or figuring out that you sat yourself at restaurants were the
little experiences that I will never forget. They may seem like small things
to overcome, but understanding these little tasks in a different culture
can be overwhelming. When you actually comprehend how it all works, you
feel a great sense of accomplishment.
When you are abroad, something in you changes. It is not something easily
explained. There are no perfect words to convey exactly how you change,
but you yourself can feel it. You suddenly realize that the state of mind
you had before you left to study abroad is completely different than the
state of mind you have when returning home from abroad. Suddenly you miss
the weird birds or the small cups of coffee, or a strange kind of food.
All you want is to have them in your life again. This is why, when I was
going through my wallet, I couldn’t find it in me to throw out those receipts.
They mean more than simple money transactions, they signify what I had to
personally overcome to find myself in a unique culture.
Marissa Lucy studied abroad in Sydney, Australia with Boston University
in Fall 2005. She is currently a work study in the Office of International
Studies.
Welcome to your final issue of the
Overseas Connection!
One of the most recurring questions we get from study abroad
alumni is "how can I go back?" Perhaps even now, as you are (in
most cases) approaching the end of your time overseas, you are wondering
what opportunities exist to return to your host country after graduation.
A number of resources exist to help you with these questions.
The following list is not comprehensive, but is meant to assist
with your research.
Office of International Studies (OIS) website. On the OIS Student
webpage click on the link found on the left side of the page for
"returned study abroad students." A variety of web pages are referenced,
ones that list opportunities for internships and obtaining work
permits. Look particularly at the websites for the University of
Minnesota and Michigan State University.
Career Services. The OIS is charged with working with undergraduates
only. For all questions related to ‘life after graduation,’ the
Office of Career Services
may be your most valuable resource. Career Services is best equipped to
advise on working overseas, internships possibilities with employers that
may have international offices, even the Peace Corps. Career Services can
be found in Corr Hall.
Campus Ministry. Many students elect to take a year ‘off’ after
graduation, choosing to spend a year participating in a service learning
program before returning to graduate school or seeking fulltime employment.
These volunteer opportunities exist all over the globe, particularly in
developing nations. Campus Ministry is best able to advise on these opportunities,
especially as the goal of these programs intersects with the Augustinian
mission of Villanova University.
Graduate school. Contemplating a Master’s degree? Pursuing your
postgraduate degree in your host country remains one of the best ways to
return, permitting further immersion while advancing your career goals.
Speak with your academic adviser to learn which universities (internationally)
maintain research and academic strengths in your discipline. If you'd like
to search on your own, check out
http://international.gradschools.com/
Pursue a career in international education. Every employee in the OIS
is a convert: after having a life-changing study abroad experience, each
of us entered the field of international education to motivate others to
have a similar experience. If you could see yourself becoming a similar
kind of missionary, check out the website for the professional organization
for international educators:
www.nafsa.org. Entry-level job opportunities
exist in diverse areas, including foreign student advising, teaching English
as a second language, and community outreach. If you’re interested in study
abroad specifically, entry-level jobs often open up at study abroad program
providers as these are seen as entrées to the field. For study abroad-specific
jobs, look at the section within NAFSA that deals with overseas education,
SECUSSA. And it never hurts to look at the
‘international’ section of the of the jobs section of the Chronicle of Higher
Education.
Best wishes for the remainder of your semester!
Lance Kenney
Director of International Studies
Tell us what you think!
In order to better advise future students, we ask that you take a couple of moments to fill out the following Online Survey. This survey will only be used by our staff to review the quality and effectiveness of the programs we send our students on and to direct potential study abroad students to good programs. Please be as thoughtful and honest as possible!
You will need your Villanova login to open the survey, but you will not be contacted again unless you specifically provide your email information for prospective student queries!
Transcripts
Before you put your semester behind you, make sure that your program or university will send your transcripts to our office. (address on the left) Since we process your grades for academic credit, your transcript must arrive in our office first before it will appear on your Villanova account. Remember that if you have an outstanding balance with your program or university, they will not release your transcript until the bill is paid. Please be sure to settle all accounts so as not to delay your overseas credits from being applied towards your Villanova graduation.
Mentally Prepare to Re-enter
Reflect on your feelings about your study abroad experience and your return
Recognize the signs of reverse culture shock, and if you have them, take steps to re-acclimate yourself to your home surroundings
Approach your re-entry experience with the same open-mindedness and creativity you used while abroad
Set up everything to make sure your home campus is ready for your return
Tell employers all about your international skills and development
Practical Considerations
Practical considerations
confirm your housing situation for your return to campus
Check that your financial aid status has not changed
Follow up on your credit transfers
Ensure that you are on track with requirements for graduation
See a physician for a check-up, especially if you spent time in a developing country
The above suggestions where taken from: Return: Readying to re-enter, reinvented, created by CIEE as part of their Knowledge series.
Share Your Experience
The OIS staff is always happy to hear of your adventures overseas. If you'd like to share your story, please contact us! There are many ways you can help spread the excitement about studying abroad.
There are other outlets for telling your story too.
Glimpse Abroad awards prizes for the most interesting contributions. Even if you are not a great writer, it may help ease that return culture shock to read the stories of fellow travelers.
