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Tips for Travelers: How to Get the Most out of Your �� Experience

mmgrant — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 20:51:14 +0000

While writing this blog, I reached out to a fellow traveler, Jack Hubble, to ask what he remembered most about his experiences abroad, and some of his advice in this post as well.

Traveling to a different country can seem overwhelming, but it is one of the best experiences you can have! Whether you are a seasoned traveler or this is your first time travelling abroad, there are several things that you can do to get the most out of your study abroad experience.

When I was preparing for my first trip abroad, I didn’t know what to expect. I would be traveling to Ireland with a group of people I had never met, and it would be my first time outside the US. I had completed my pre-departure activities and had my bags packed, but still had no idea what would happen once I arrived.

Looking back on that trip now, I can’t believe that I was worried! I travelled all over the beautiful country of Ireland, met some amazing people, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Most of the things I was nervous about were never a problem, and I realized that I really enjoyed trying new things and getting outside of my comfort zone. After this first experience abroad, I caught the travel bug and have visited 7 countries in the three years since then. Each of my trips has exposed me to new ideas and taught me to take advantage of any opportunity I have to travel.

No matter where you go in the world, there are several things you can do to make the most out of your study abroad experience. Here is a list of ideas to keep in mind while you are preparing for your next adventure!

Keep a Journal/ Make a Blog

Lots of seasoned travelers recommend journaling or keeping a blog to help you remember and reflect on your travel experience. Creating a blog can help you share your experiences with family and friends, and it is something you can always look back on and enjoy. I have used both a journal and a blog when I travel, and although the blog took some time to create, I have enjoyed looking back at my pictures and experiences now that I am back home. There are several websites that allow you to create a blog for free, but if travel blogging is something that you want to pursue in the future it might be beneficial to pay for a professional blog. Check out these blogs created by CALS students about their travels abroad!
Experience the Culture

Take advantage of any opportunity you have to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are traveling in. If you have the opportunity to take a culture class while spending a semester abroad or visit local festivals and activities during your visit, take advantage of it. When I studied abroad in Spain for a semester, I took a “Spain Today” class that taught me about the different provinces of Spain, their history, and their customs. One of my favorite weekends during the semester was when I visited Seville and had the opportunity to tour the city and watch a flamenco show. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the city and participating in one of its oldest traditions.

“One thing I didn’t get a chance to do was go to a soccer game. Being in Thessaloniki, Greece, they had a soccer team and games, but I was busy when all my classmates went. Soccer is such a big part of the culture in Europe and if I go back I’ll make sure to attend a game.” Jack, senior at ISU
Interact with Locals

Some of my favorite memories from travelling occurred when I interacted with the locals and tried new things within the culture. Ask the locals where the best places to eat are and walk around lesser-known areas to experience the country's true culture. When I traveled to Argentina as a freshman, we stayed for a few days in a hotel in Buenos Aires. My friends and I made friends with one of the waiters in the hotel, and he suggested some different restaurants and areas to check out around the city. We were able to talk with him every day about what we had seen and experienced, and I was able to learn a lot about the city and culture from a personal perspective.
Don’t Live in a Hotel

If you have the opportunity to stay with a host family or live in an apartment with fellow travelers, take advantage of it! For short term trips, it is probably more reasonable to stay in a hotel, but don’t live in it. Get out and explore! Living with people from other cultures can be challenging, but it gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about yourself and the culture of the people you are living with. Living with a host family in Cáceres, Spain, was a great experience during my semester abroad. At first, there were some awkward moments as I integrated into their lives and they became accustomed to me. It would have been a lot easier for me to do my own thing and only hang out with fellow American students that understood English, but I chose to spend time with my host family and get to know them. By the end of my trip we talked every day during meals and even watched telenovelas together! To this day I still catch up with my host mom occasionally, and I hope to go back and visit her in the future. Living with a host family allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture than I ever would have if I stayed with other Americans.
Keep an Open Mind

Traveling to a different country exposes you to new ideas and puts you in situations that you might otherwise not experience. Every time I travel to a new country I learn something new about myself as well as my own culture in the US. While traveling to Argentina, I learned that life in the US is very fast paced and that Argentine people really value family time. For example, it is very common for Americans to pull up to a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts drive-thru to pick up a coffee on their way to work. In Argentina, drive-thrus are nonexistent and people always sit down to drink their coffee and socialize within the cafe. This experience made me realize that every culture illustrates their values differently, and helped me to reflect on what my own values are.

"The most impactful thing that I learned was to be thankful for the opportunities available in the country I live in. A lot of students that I met talked about how they all dreamed about seeing the United States someday. Many of them talked about trying to come for school or to do an internship.” -Jack, senior at ISU

Overall, make your experience meaningful to you. Try things that you are interested in and don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Take pictures and journal to help you remember your experiences, and try to learn something new everywhere you go!

-Marta

Marta and Jack are Student Travel Consultants in the CALS �� Office and are always available to meet and discuss their personal study abroad experiences! Email calsstudyabroad@iastate.edu to set-up a virtual meeting with a Student Travel Consultant.

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Marta Grant

Tips for Travelers: 5 Ways to Prepare for your �� Experience

mmgrant — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:20:24 +0000

So, you’ve decided you are going to study abroad and are counting down the days until your adventure. No matter what part of the world you are traveling to, you will experience new cultures and interact with new people, but what if you are unsure about your foreign language skills?

This was me about a year ago. I was preparing for a semester abroad in Spain, and hadn’t taken a Spanish class in about 6 months. I was nervous that my classmates would be better speakers than me and that I wouldn’t be able to communicate with my host family, but as soon as I arrived in Spain all those fears vanished. I realized that everyone there wanted me to learn Spanish and I had all the tools I needed to be successful.

Before I left the US, I tried to practice my Spanish in several different ways to make the transition to Spain easier. I made this list of ideas to help others be prepared to speak a foreign language abroad. Interacting with a host family, peers, and/or locals while abroad will greatly improve your language skills and make you a more confident, skilled speaker. So let’s get ready to talk!!

Take a Class or Two Before You Leave

If you have never studied a language before or it has been a few years since you last studied it, it might be a good idea to take a class or two to learn the basics and pick up some vocabulary. You will always want to know how to ask to find a bathroom, how to order food, and how to read numbers. Knowing some of these basic phrases will make you more confident in your navigation skills when you first arrive.

Before coming to college, I didn’t think I would end up majoring in Spanish. But after taking several classes at Iowa State University, I decided to study abroad for a semester and it just made sense to do a major. If you are unsure about completing a minor or a major, I recommend taking a few classes first to see if you are really interested, and then studying abroad to help you develop your language skills.
Download a Language Learning App

There are several free apps available to teach foreign languages, and each of them use different methods to teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Using a mobile app allows you to study anywhere and anytime, ultimately improving your language skills. I personally use Duolingo to practice my Spanish. I used this app a lot before traveling to Spain and I use it now to continue practicing at home.
Find a Language Partner

Find a native speaker or someone at a higher proficiency level than you and meet up for a conversation once a week. Although it can be intimidating to talk with a native speaker, it is a great way to practice. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because it is easy for someone to correct you in a conversation and you are more likely to learn from the mistake.

I joined a program through my university’s language department that pairs native speakers with language learners for bi-weekly conversations to practice language skills. My partner and I would meet for coffee or lunch and try to complete our whole conversation in Spanish. I learned a lot and at the same time made a new friend.
Research the Culture

Researching the culture and society of the country you are traveling to can give you a better understanding of what life will be like when you are there and give you opportunities to interact with the language. Whether that be visiting an authentic restaurant, local market, or museum, any opportunity to learn more about the culture will benefit you in the long run.

Before hopping on my plane to Spain, I did a lot of research about the city and region I would be traveling to. I didn’t know who my host family would be, but I was able to learn about the foods and history of the place where I would live. When I arrived, it was nice to recognize some of the buildings and locations so that I didn’t feel completely lost in a new place.
Immerse Yourself in the Language

Before you travel to a different country, it can be hard to escape the English language, but by using the resources you already have you can practice anywhere. Watch your favorite movie or tv show in the language you are trying to learn, or read a magazine or newspaper article from the country you are traveling to. Try to find a children’s book translated into the language you are studying, or change your phone’s language from English to the other languages. By practicing this language in parts of your life that you know really well, you will be able to learn new words and become more comfortable with the language before you are completely immersed in it.

One of the easiest ways to practice Spanish is to change the language of your phone or other electronic devices you use daily. I keep my phone in Spanish to help me learn new words and to practice the language daily. Although it is challenging, I can usually decipher all of the messages and have greatly improved my vocabulary.

This list is just a few ideas to get you started on your language learning journey. Learning a language takes time and practice, but studying abroad is the best way to learn about a different culture and practice your skills. Keep an eye out for our next blog post about getting the most out of your study abroad experience!

Adiós for now! -Marta

_{Marta participated in the Semester in Caceres program through the Iowa State University �� Center.}

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Tips

sfine — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:03:00 +0000

Cash Advances may appear as a charge on your U-bill. Currently, late fee charges will not be accrued. However, this policy may change in the future. If late fee charges occur, they are the responsibility of the traveler.

U-bill charges that have posted and can be paid via personal Access+ accounts; consequently, Global Programs cannot process personal checks to reimburse unspent cash advance funds.

Cash advances obtained using a T&H card via an ATM machine need to be fully accounted for using receipts documenting how the cash was spent. The ATM receipt should be obtained to document the ATM activity and any fees incurred to obtain cash.

Keep a digital copy of all receipts (pdf or jpg)

ISU Accounting requires an accurate description of all expenditures in English. A handwritten notation in English on the actual receipt is acceptable.

If a currency exchange rate is not provided, an on-line conversion site (i.e., OandA) will be used. All receipts submitted to ISU Accounting must reflect the expense amount in U.S. Dollars. A handwritten notation in English on the actual receipt is acceptable.

If a vendor cannot provide a receipt, a generic receipt receipt form may be filled out and signed by the vendor.

In the event that a receipt is lost or unavailable, a Certificate of Missing Receipt form can be completed and submitted.

ISU Accounting strongly discourages faculty/staff from reimbursing each other for travel expenses from personal funds, travel advance funds or cash obtained via an ATM using a T&H card. The majority of program directors are ISU employees and all program directors should submit their expenses individually.

It is extremely helpful to have an accounting summary (example1, example2) of all trip expenses in chronological order including digital receipts, a detailed description of the expense, name of payee, purpose of expense, and what type of payment was used (cash, T&H card, etc.) If individuals other than program directors and students were included in the expense, ISU Accounting requires those names and their official involvement with the travel course.

Note: Every international travel reimbursement is audited by ISU Accounting. If there are questions regarding your reimbursement, ISU Accounting will contact program directors directly.

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Expense Log Example.pdf

Receipt template.pdf

expense_log_journal_with_receipts.pdf

cert_missing_receipt_2019.pdf

Tips for Faculty

adminn — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:47:30 +0000

Creating a Faculty-Led Travel Course 101

If you are considering creating a course abroad for the first time, we recommend you contact the CALS �� office. We can set a meeting time to discuss the dynamics of your course and the kind of services you are interested in, as well as program timeframes, details and make some lists of next steps. It would be important to have an idea of what you want students to learn and how you want them to learn it, then we can discuss how to make that happen in another country. Contact Jodi Cornell.

One of our former experienced faculty leaders, Warren Dolphin, biology, created the timeline and tips you will find below. It is a step by step guide for developing a faculty-led travel course.

9 to 12 months in advance of trip

A. Program Vision & Curricular Issues

How will students receive credit for the international experience?

Create a list of academic outcomes for the experience and adjust the goals of trip to achieve the outcomes
If a course is approved by University Curriculum Committee, it will satisfy the International Perspectives requirement for graduation, adding an incentive for students to take the class. Note: A 3 credit course would be the minimum to satisfy the IP requirement
Decide the number of credits to be granted (1 credit per week of travel is a reasonable standard), can combine pre-departure course contact hours and field trip contact hours. A 3 credit course is the norm.
If approved by the departmental curriculum committee as counting in major, then it satisfies other requirements and adds another incentive
Establish prerequisites that limit site-seers but which are not too limiting

Develop a rough syllabus for a pre-trip seminar or course

Academic background topics so students can appreciate goals of travel
Possible basic language instruction if applicable
Information on what to take, how to pack, and how to act
Consider using guest lecturers on campus who can add expertise to student preparation, including the ISU travel nurse

Identify resources on campus

College �� Office
�� Center
Faculty Partners (co-leaders, who know the host country)
Experienced Program Directors
Service Providers

Identify resources overseas

Faculty Partners
Former Graduate Students/Colleagues
Host Institution
Service Providers

B. Translating Concepts to Reality

Begin organizing logistics.

You are a general contractor making all arrangements for travel, hotels, buses, etc.
Contract with a commercial travel agent to provide basics of travel and living and you fill in with more specific instructional activities
Use contacts at universities or agencies in country and have them set up the entire experience with your input on academic content
CALS faculty should schedule an appointment with the CALS �� office, 294-1851 or jcornell@iastate.edu, 0018 Curtiss Hall, to learn more about the services provided. Non-CALS faculty should check with their own college international office or study abroad office.
Revisit outcomes of the course and consider the kinds of activities and/or visits that will achieve those outcomes

Tips:

Look at a map of a country or region to be visited and decide on a travel route (with alternatives) to and through the region, specifying key locations and people to be visited
Decide on approximate itinerary-- inclusive of dates, cities and events to be visited; anticipated activities and sites to give students a sense of what the trip is about. Try to set some concrete goals for each day, e.g. travel from xxx to xxx; or "to see the interior aspect of a rain forest and to investigate the concept of canopy biology"
Lay out a tentative itinerary with one third day resolution; do this for morning and afternoon and evening. Set up instructional goals and list in the itinerary. Look at the itinerary and determine what is needed to accomplish goals, e.g. bus from xxx to xxx, guide in forest, and return transport. Pay attention to how you will feed, bed, instruct and transport group during each day. Group meals are nice in some remote locations or when itinerary requires it, other times students can get meals on their own so that they have a chance to mingle in the culture. If the duration of your trip allows, try to balance program time with free time students will have on their own. That way they are more receptive to group activities that follow.
- Sample Itinerary 1
- Sample Itinerary 2
Use the EAC Program Planning & Approval Form’s budget form to help determine the program fee. It is better to estimate high costs at this point rather than low.
- Planning & Approval Form (Faculty must contact Jodi Cornell before starting a proposal)
Do a risk assessment on each phase of trip and review activities for potential liabilities taking steps to minimize. Use licensed carriers where possible. Add these risks to the risk section of the Program Planning Form

Then:

Meet with the CALS �� Office to discuss:

Contents of application form that the students will complete which will assist you in the selection process
Setting up an account to receive student payments
Assistance in completing the Program Planning & Approval Form
Help in advertising
Information on insurance
Work out how bills will be paid from trip account

Dates for required submission of proposals are about 9 months in advance of the course traveling abroad. Check the Education Abroad Committee website. This makes your trip an approved ISU course offering. Seek funding from your department and college to defray some of the course costs. Some programs have received funding from organizations affiliated with the scope of the course.

6 to 9 months in advance -Forming the Group

Recruiting:

Work with the CALS �� office to prepare a one-page flyer with a program description, estimated costs, time of informational meeting for students to attend and your email address.
Go to appropriate classes to advertise the course
Send a short announcement of the program to departmental colleagues and to appropriate departmental/program communication specialists and post it on appropriate websites. Audience is not only students who will take trip but should be parents as well who will have questions about the course.
All courses will have an electronic brochure created for them as part of the application, the CALS �� office will create this for all CALS programs. It is possible to set up a “virtual” trip by creating a list of links to hotels, museums, cities to be visited. Please share this information with the CALS �� office so we can refer students.
All advertising materials should have your email address on it with a note to contact you immediately so that students can be put on an email list for further contact information. As list grows, send periodic announcements to keep students interested. Schedule at least two information sessions on different days of the week, late in day to give trip overview and answer questions. Include the website of your electronic brochure through ISUAbroad so students know where to apply.

Student Selection:

Once you have completed the selection of applicants, send a letter of notification of acceptance including information about getting a passport and when you may contact them again with the orientation class meeting date, time, and place.
Students are registered for pre-departure course by the CALS �� office after they are accepted and committed to the program.

3 to 6 months in advance - Administrative Issues

If needed, talk to your Department Chair and College about a summer salary for you (if applicable) and other co-leader covering period of trip and some time before and after when you will be doing paper-work related to trip
Contact service providers (hotels, buses, airlines, guide services, etc.) and get firm estimates of costs with amount due to make reservation and date of full payment. Investigate refund policy and latest cancellation dates. Inform students about refund policies and that late cancellations may well forfeit earlier deposits. Always ask about free of charge policy because many hotels will give a free room of leaders if group size is 20. This also applies to airline tickets. The CALS �� office can get airline quotes for you. Update budget form with latest prices.
You may need to make deposits at this time. Advance payments can be made with credit cards (University T&H Cards), wire transfers, or checks. The CALS �� office can assist you with all these things. Additional information on pre-payments can be founds, /pre-payments.
To determine exact cost of trip, sum up group expenses to get a total budget. Subtract from total any funds that you have raised on campus such as group leader grants. Divide remainder by number of students paying to arrive at per student cost (this can be done using the budget form). This is the program fee and will be added to the students’ U Bills the semester of travel. Program fees are billed through the CALS ��. CALS �� will confirm fee amounts with you by accounts receivables deadlines (Fall billing due – first week of July; Spring billing due – first week of December; and Summer billing due – first week of April). When students pay their bills, money is automatically routed to your study abroad account. In addition to program fee, there are also tuition/fees (for summer programs that will be charged to students' Ubills too), and out-of-pocket expenditures.
Consider how you want to evaluate the trip. If you need a baseline, consider doing some pre-trip evaluation during the orientation. If you are interested in using the post-trip evaluation developed by the CALS �� office, please contact Visha Arumugam.

4 to 5 months in advance - Pre-departure Orientation

At a minimum, the pre-departure orientation must cover health, safety and risk issues. The CALS �� Office can assist with this preparation. General travel tips, money issues, local language and cultural preparation are important as well. Technical background will help students develop a context for what they will experience and learn on the trip. You can do this alone or invite in guest speakers. The seminar allows the group to get to know each other and allows you to set the tone for the trip, i.e. it is a course, not a vacation.
Previous leaders have built in student ownership by having students complete assignments on trip locations, flora, fauna, geology, weather, politics, economics, and general tourist information. Have the students send links to you and insert in a trip web page or Facebook page that you develop. Some groups have had student “reporters” that take responsibility for weather reports, current events and interesting news from the host country.
For example, Warren Dolphin, former international field trips in Biology program director, had students prepare a 10-page research paper with 10 references on some topic that relates to trip. These are called 10 X 10 papers. He suggested topics but was open to students proposing one. One-page outline was due in third week, 6-page outline in 6 week and paper is due about tenth week. Papers are read and commented on and returned to students before end of seminar. Students prepare a 20 to 30 minute talk on based on their paper. Talks are delivered on-site in country to group (sometimes with outsiders listening in) at a location that is appropriate to topic chosen, e.g. those choosing a Great Barrier Reef topic deliver their talks on the fore deck of the dive boat during a rest period between dives.
Share with students your concerns about the trip and have them participate in developing a sensible code of conduct for the trip. Responsibility should be on the students and not always on the leader. Be sure to address expectations around alcohol and disruptive behavior.
Layout a detailed itinerary with objectives, logistical information and day-to-day activities. Include phone, emails or links of locations where appropriate. This list can be shared with parents, etc. before you go on trip.
Arrange extracurricular meetings so that group members can get to know one another. Have a student social committee to plan some games. Use it as an opportunity to share travel tips: packing, communication options, gear to bring, extending trip afterward, etc.
As trip dates get closer watch currency exchange rates.
If visas are needed for the country visiting, begin paperwork process for this. One service we have used successfully in the past is Perry Visa International, http://www.perryvisa.com if you need a service. The CALS �� office can assist with this as well.

1 to 2 months in advance

Using the information in the application forms the CALS �� office will prepare an emergency packet of information: Emergency contact information for all students (part of application form); Medical information for all students (part of application form); copy of passport/visa of all participants (can help with replacement if lost).
Purchase or collect gifts for hosts
Attend program director training. To register, contact Shelley Taylor.
- CALS �� will assist you in applying for an Event Card (Purchasing card) to use during your program.
- Decide how much cash you will need (university cash advance before trip, or ATM withdrawal in-country).
- Finalize any advance payments, take receipts or confirmation with you
Consider what your financial needs will be on the trip
Submit final itinerary and contact information to the CALS �� office

During Travel

During trips, keep students informed of each day’s activities and the goals of those activities through daily morning briefings
Consider reflection activities throughout the trip to maximize learning
Keep excellent records on expenditures (keep all receipts, and take blank receipts as well). Additional information can be found, /keep-your-trip-expenses-organized.
Encourage students to post program experiences on social media using #CALSGlobal
Keep excellent records of incidences, review emergency procedures and student conduct policies.

Emergencies:

In the event of an emergency situation, it is the first responsibility of the Program Director to provide for the immediate safety and security of all participants.
In the event of an emergency situation, it is the second responsibility of the Program Director to immediately contact ISU via the ISU Global Emergency number which is 515-294-7700 or CALS �� personnel.

0 to 2 months post trip - Wrapping it up

Submit receipts to appropriate Account Specialist and reconciliation upon return. More information can be found, /post-trip-getting-your-money-back.
Post photos and comments on appropriate websites or social media sites. Helps to bring closure for group and sets up advertising for next group
Submit a narrative report that summarizes the trip activities and suggests any changes that you might make for next time. If unexpected risks were encountered describe with suggestions for future minimizations. Be sure to evaluate educational value as well as travel arrangements.
Organize a reunion picnic to share photos and stories when convenient

Tags:

�������� - tips

Tips for Travelers: How to Get the Most out of Your �������� Experience

Tips for Travelers: 5 Ways to Prepare for your �������� Experience

Tips

Tips for Faculty

Creating a Faculty-Led Travel Course 101

9 to 12 months in advance of trip

A. Program Vision & Curricular Issues

B. Translating Concepts to Reality

6 to 9 months in advance -Forming the Group

3 to 6 months in advance - Administrative Issues

4 to 5 months in advance - Pre-departure Orientation

1 to 2 months in advance

During Travel

0 to 2 months post trip - Wrapping it up

�� - tips

Tips for Travelers: How to Get the Most out of Your �� Experience

Tips for Travelers: 5 Ways to Prepare for your �� Experience