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Adapting to another culture may be frustrating at times, but there are people at your host university and at LASPAU who are able to help. Temporary problems should not discourage you. A growing familiarity with the new culture and with the resources available to you will greatly increase your enjoyment of your surroundings. You can read more about the process of cross-cultural adjustment by downloading this document in PDF format. Culture and Education Read as much as possible about your host country. Learning about a nation's culture, customs, people, language, history, and recent political developments will make your adjustment easier. Libraries, bookstores and tourist bureaus are good resources for this information, as is the embassy or consulate of the host country. One of the best ways to learn about another country is to get advice from citizens of your home country who have already lived there. Bicultural organizations and international clubs may also provide information on living in your host country. The embassy or consulate of your host country may be able to assist you in finding these organizations. The Center for Global Education website provides a formal description of the higher education system in many countries worldwide. The Lonely Planet website also provides useful information on the history, culture, cost of living, and climate of your host country. Immigration It is critical that you obtain the appropriate immigration documents for yourself and your family prior to entering your host country. Contact the appropriate government agency in your home country for information on immigration regulations and documents required before traveling to your host country. Please pay particular attention to the visa requirements of your host country. While most governments require foreigners to have an appropriate visa to reside in their country, some allow foreign nationals to reside in their country without a visa for specific periods of time. Depending on your home country and your host country, a visa may not be necessary. The embassy or nearest consulate of your host country can let you know if a visa is necessary, and if so, advise you of the visa application procedure. Health Care If included in your contract, LASPAU will automatically enroll you in the Virginia Surety insurance plan once you become a LASPAU-administered grantee, unless you inform us that you have alternative coverage. The Virginia Surety insurance plan, provided at no cost to you, is only for you and does not include any of your dependents. Please click here for more information on the Virginia Surety insurance plan, as well as on how to obtain coverage for your dependents. Employment If you or your dependents would like to work while in your host country, you must be certain that both your program sponsor and your host country's government will allow you do so:
Local newspapers, websites such as craislist.org or expatriates.com, and your host university's international office can serve as excellent resources when searching for off-campus or on-campus housing. Make sure your mailbox at your home,
dormitory, or residence hall indicates your full name (first and all surnames),
since postal carriers in your host country may not be accustomed to multiple
surnames.
When preparing to leave, you will probably find that you need to send some of your belongings home using an international shipping service. Check with the international student office at your host institution to see if they have any information about reliable shipping companies. Links International
Yellow Pages, a site containing links to yellow pages directories in many
countries worldwide. Please note that the external websites listed above are not maintained by LASPAU and LASPAU is not responsible for any of their contents. Please let us know if you find other online resources that might be helpful to international students in your host country. Portions of the "Culture and Education" section of this page were
adapted from "Tips
for Americans Residing Abroad," maintained by the U.S. Department of
State Bureau of Consular Affairs. |
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Last revised: May 29, 2007  Copyright © LASPAU: Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas |
Whether or not this is your first time away from your country, you are probably thinking about the different aspects of living in a new culture. Most grantees find that they must make some adjustments, since many things are new or unfamiliar. The process you will go through may be difficult, but it is also exciting and contributes to your personal enrichment and understanding of other ways of life. 
