University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Office of International Education (OIE) WEB GUIDE

Seminar on Globalization: Africa's Experience in Kenya


Location: Egerton University - Njoro, Kenya
Dates: departing between Jan 5-7 and returning between Jan 20-22, 2014
Courses: Hum Srvs 325, 411, 420, 421, Liberal Studies 331, Ed Leadership 719
Accommodation: ARC conference center on campus
Program Model: Faculty-led
Contact: Dr. Alfred Kisubi, Nursing Education 509, 424-7236

This interdisciplinary study abroad seminar is designed to study the socio-cultural, economic, historical and geo-political implications of globalization in an African country. There is heavy emphasis upon concepts, issues, and trends in globalization. An analysis of the impact of globalization on the people and all social institutions of an African Country is an important part of the seminar. The core of the seminar is a lecture series given by experts in the fields of history, politics, geography, economics, development philosophies, social anthropology, and the arts and humanities. Lecturers are drawn from Egerton University (EU) Nakuru School District as well as from among practitioners in the many fields of development, including non-governmental and private voluntary organizations working and conducting research in the country. 

Educational excursions to local historical, cultural, and development sites complement students’ 90 hours of class work. Sites to be visited may include some of the following: Primary and Secondary Schools at Christ the King Academy to practice Kiswahili, The HIV/AIDS Project, Street Children Program in the Nakuru Catholic Diocese, Lake Nakuru National Parks, Menengai Crater, the Nakuru Catholic Diocesan Peer Counseling, Water and health clinic programs, Lake Bogoria and Baringo hot springs and other tourist attractions. 

Two weeks of Seminar are broken into modules in which students concentrate on their studies in some of the following areas: Development in Practice, Health Care, Education and Human Services, Information Technology, Culture and Environment, Trade and Investment, International Business, Agriculture and Food Security, Politics and Democracy, International Finance and Commerce all in terms of the effects of globalization on Kenya. The first of these weeks is spent working with leading scholars at EU and touring sites in the Rift Valley area. The second week is spent working with leading scholars at BU and at selected field study sites around Nakuru and Njoro towns. These modules enable students to increase their range of in-country contacts, deepen their understanding of globalization and development issues, and have further access to scholars and campus life.

Academic Coursework

airplanePointer Course Information

Choose One

Human Services 325 - Internship (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Human Services 203, Human Services 310, a third Human Services core course (either 320, 335, or 340) for a total of 9 units, and Admission I.

Human Services 411 - Laboratory in Human Services Program Planning (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Human Services 320 and 340 and 360.

Human Services 420 - Field Experiences in Human Services (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Human Services 410 and Admission II. Signed Human Services Internship Application Form must be submitted.

Liberal Studies  331- Study Tour (3 credits)
Prerequisite: none

Human Services 421 - Advanced Internship (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Completion of Human Services 440.

Educational Leadership 719- Issues in Professional Leadership (1-3 credits)
May be repeated under different topics, but only 3 credits may be applied toward a degree.

Optional Course

International Studies 333    1 unit (cr.)
Study Tour
Prerequisites: none; syllabus

If you request enrollment in this course on the study abroad application, you will be automatically enrolled and will not be contacted about the coursework involved. Assignments for this course must be done independently. Contact the Office of International Education with questions.

Full Estimated Cost of Participation

The "Full Estimated Cost of Participation" includes your Program Fee (the amount due directly to UW Oshkosh), your airfare and other expenses related to your participation on this program.

Full Estimated Cost of Participation: $5,840 in January 2013; TBA for January 2014

As part of the application process for this program, you are required to review, sign and submit the "Full Estimated Cost of Participation" worksheet for your program. The worksheet includes all of the cost details for your program and is linked from STEP III of the "Apply" section of this guide.   

Accommodation & Meals

airplanePointerAccommodation

Check the link for your accommodation for amenities, room size and location. Rooms can be extremely small. It isn't unusual to have very little space around the bed, shorter beds, only a few inches for a closet pole, tight showers and/or buildings directly outside your window.

Marble Arch Hotel (1st and/or Final night in Nairobi; or similar)
Address: Lagos Road, off Tom Mboya Street, P.O Box 12224 - 00400, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel: 011-254-020-240940, 245656, 245623; Fax: 011-254-020-245724; Email: info@marblearchhotel.co.ke

A.R.C. Hotel (Egerton University); Students have single rooms with private bathrooms and warm-water showers in the A.R.C. hotel on the Egerton Campus. Rooms are equipped with bedding, towels, soap, shampoo and a mosquito net over the bed. Rooms are a one-minute walk from the A.R.C. dining facility where freshly-cooked meals are served three times per day. Tel: 011-254-51-62431 or 011-254-720-468472.

airplanePointerMeals

Review the estimate for the amount of money you should bring to cover meals in the Full Cost of Participation worksheet. It is not reasonable to think that you can save money by spending less than the food estimate provided by the OIE! This estimate is meant to be the BARE MINIMUM in relation to your particular destination!

Eligibility

Undergraduate students must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 and be in good standing, have a clean disciplinary record, and meet course prerequisites. Undergraduates who do not meet these requirements should contact the program leader. In some cases, the eligibility requirements can be waived.

Graduate Students must be in full standing, have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0, have a clean disciplinary record, and meet course prerequisites.

Participants With Disabilities

If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation, it is best to consult with disability services on the UW Oshkosh campus at least a few weeks prior to the study abroad application deadline. If this isn’t possible, consult with disability services as far in advance as possible or by the study abroad application deadline. If you are a student on another campus, please consult your own disability services office first and then ask that office to contact the UW Oshkosh disability services office at (920) 424-3100.

 

Orientation & Pre-/Post-travel Class Dates

Inability or failure to attend may affect your participation, course grades and ability to receive and use financial aid.

airplanePointerMandatory Orientation

airplanePointerPre-travel Classes & Program-specific Orientation Dates

Application Process

airplanePointerBefore You Apply
 

  1. Write the Study Abroad Orientation dates in your calendar.
    All participants must attend from beginning to end. Inability or failure to attend orientations may affect your participation. Approximately 95% of our participants bring one or more family members, though family participation is optional.
  2. Write all payment deadlines in your calendar.
    If you aren't the person who will be making payments, share this information with the person who will be.
  3. Understand how seats are assigned on study abroad programs.
  1. Write all pre-/post-travel class dates in your calendar. Missing a session may make you ineligible for program participation.

airplanePointerSecuring Your Place on a Study Abroad Program

Seats are assigned in the order in which qualified applicants have completed STEPS I & II of the application process, provided STEP III has also been completed by the STEP III application deadline.

This means that you may be conditionally admitted following completion of steps I & II, but NOT receive a seat if you then fail to complete STEP III on time.

If you are on the waiting list, you may receive a seat if applicants who have been conditionally admitted have not completed STEP III by the deadline.

After the deadline, seats are assigned in the order in which qualified applicants have completed all three steps.

airplanePointerApplication Deadlines

Winter Interim Programs

STEPS I & II: 1st Friday in October by 12:00 pm.

STEP III: 2nd Friday in October by 12:00 pm.

STEP IV (post-application deadline): by the 1st Friday in November by 12:00 pm.

airplanePointerApplication STEPs & Application Checklist

Complete the three steps below in order, or work on all three steps simultaneously. Check off items as you SUBMIT them to the Office of International Education.
   

Step I
Complete the on-line study abroad/away application.
   
Step II
Print the application packet and sign where appropriate.
   
Pay the UW Oshkosh application fee
($100 for in-state residents and $200 for out-of-state residents) per the instructions in the application packet and turn in your receipt to the OIE. If you have mailed the application fee to the Cashier's Office, notify the OIE so that OIE staff can contact the Cashier's Office for confirmation.
   
Print an unofficial copy of your university transcript

Highlight course prerequisites (if applicable) and final GPA.

To print your transcripts, EITHER copy and paste your transcript from TitanWeb into Word and print OR follow these instructions:

1) Open your transcript in TitanWeb using Internet Explorer.
2) Highlight all of the information in your transcript.
3) Go to "print preview"
4) Click on "as selected on screen"
5) Change the orientation to "landscape"
6) Print
   
Credit Overload Form
Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you will exceed the maximum credit limit for the semester.
   
Special Student Form for Undergraduate Admissions
Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you are not a student at UW Oshkosh OR if you are not a student at all.
   
Graduate Registration Form and Graduate Special/Non-Degree Information Form
Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you are not in a Graduate program at UW Oshkosh and want to earn graduate level credit, or if you are in a Graduate program at UW Oshkosh and want to earn undergraduate level credit.
   
Submit the Disciplinary Clearance Form
 Complete ONLY IF you are a student at a university or college OTHER THAN UW Oshkosh. Submit this form to the appropriate office on your HOME campus; request that the office on your HOME campus submit the form directly to the UW Oshkosh OIE by the deadline for this step of the application process.
   


Program-specific Application Materials/Requirements:

Waiver form
   
Human Services Internship Application Form
Complete and submit a SIGNED COPY to the OIE ONLY IF you are eligible to take HUMAN SV 325 or HUMAN SV 420 through this program. You can access this form from the Human Services Leadership

   
Step III
Review, sign and submit the Full Cost of Participation worksheet.
* not yet available for 2014
   
Edit the "medical" and "medical III" sections of your on-line study abroad application to ensure that every question is complete. Each and every question must be answered, even if the answer is obviously "none" or "n/a"!
   
Provide proof of passport
Complete only if you will travel outside the U.S.

If you already have a passport, edit the "passport" section of your on-line study abroad application to include all requested passport details.

If you do not already have a passport, apply for one and submit a copy of your receipt to the OIE showing that you have applied.

Click here for passport forms and instructions.
 
Edit the "passport" section of your on-line study abroad application to include your full name.

If you are traveling OUTSIDE the U.S., enter your full name EXACTLY as it appears on your passport or on your passport application.  DO NOT GUESS! 

If you are traveling WITHIN the U.S. (including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), enter your name EXACTLY as it appears on your driver’s license.  DO NOT GUESS! 

Your name will be printed on your airline ticket exactly as you enter it.  If the name on your airline ticket does not match the name on your identification, you will be charged a correction fee or may not be allowed through airport security.
   
Program-specific Application Materials/Requirements:

Two passport-size photos
These photos must be full face (showing both ears). Print your name CLEARLY on the back of each photo. These will be submitted with the visa application.

Step IV (post-application deadline)

Passport
You must turn in a signed passport valid for 6 months from the date of arrival in the foreign country. It must have at least THREE blank visa pages (in addition to the notes pages). Your passport will be sent to the Consulate, along with your visa application, to apply for a visa.
   
International Inoculation Certificate against Yellow Fever
Turn a PHOTOCOPY of this in to the OIE. You MUST carry your ORIGINAL certificate with you when you travel. Border officials in Kenya have the right to ask for proof of inoculation and to deny anyone who doesn't show proof from entering into Kenya. List of Authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine centers.
   
Visa Application for Kenya (click on the "continue" button at the bottom of the visa application page)

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country into a passport that makes it possible for the bearer to visit that foreign country. U.S. Citizens require a visa to travel to Kenya.

You'll need the following information to complete the visa application. You may be redirected to another page repeatedly while inputting information. Simply hit the "back" button on your browser each time; you should be returned to your application without loss of data.
   
 
Type of Visa Single
Date of Birth Be sure to give the dates in this order:
dd/mm/yyyy
Profession/Occupation Student
Nationality if you are a U.S. citizen, choose: United States
Street Address This is your HOME address
Passport Number In the upper right-hand corner of your passport.
Passport Place of Issue If you are a U.S. citizen, the answer is listed under the title "authority" on your passport
Passport Issuing Authority Same as "place of issue"
Reason for Entry To visit Egerton University in Njoro for a two-week customized program on Education in Kenya.
Proposed Date of Entry TBD
Prosed Date of Departure TBD
Full Names and Addresses of Friends, Firms or Relatives to be visited in Kenya, if any: Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, NJORO, Kenya
Telephone 011-254-376-2397
Cell phone 011-254-722-769-765
Will you be returning to your Country of Residence/Domicile? Yes
Submit You may need to submit multiple times (each time filling in the security code) before the application is sent. You will be directed to a confirmation page when the application is submitted.

 

Application Status

Log in to your on-line study abroad/away application to see the status of your application; this is explained in the the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Use the "application status" tab on your on-line application to check for missing application materials. Because our on-line application system is unable to generate application materials lists which are specific to each individual study abroad program, missing "program-specific" materials aren't outlined on the system. Use the check boxes above to keep track of forms you've completed and then to track forms you've submitted to the OIE.

Communicating with the OIE

airplanePointer"Add Comment" vs. UW Oshkosh email

Prior to completing a study abroad application, OIE staff will correspond with you via your UW Oshkosh email account.

After completing the first step of the study abroad application process, which is done on line, you'll mainly communicate with the OIE via this same application. This allows all staff in the OIE to review questions or issues even when the primary staff member working with you is out of the office.

To ask or respond to a question, log in to your application and click on "Add Comment". Comments are emailed to you and to oie@uwosh.edu and are saved in the application "history".

Communication to groups will be via UW Oshkosh email.

To avoid having our messages to you end up in the cyber trash, if you do not have a UW Oshkosh email address you must use your work or university email address. The OIE will not accept hotmail or yahoo addresses under any circumstances.

airplanePointerI've never used my UW Oshkosh email address before. How do I do this?

See http://www.uwosh.edu/titanapps for instructions. For help, call (920) 424-3020.

Withdrawal & Program Cancellation

airplaneBulletPointProgram Withdrawal

You are subject to the withdrawal and refund policy which you signed (or will sign) when you applied to a UW Oshkosh-sponsored study abroad program. Because this is a financial contract between you and the university, it is in your best interest to read this if you haven't already!

If at any time in this process you decide to withdraw, you must formally request to withdraw following the OIE Withdrawal Process.

airplaneBulletPointProgram Cancellation by UW Oshkosh

If a program is cancelled by UW Oshkosh, you will receive a full refund.

Paying Your Program Fee

airplaneBulletPointFinancial Aid

Using financial aid to cover some or all of your costs? See our detailed financial aid information.

airplanePointerPayment Deadlines

Fall Interim Programs

...more on payment deadlines

airplanePointerFirst Program Fee Payment

Your emailed study abroad acceptance letter (the one that says that you have been officially accepted to participate) includes a link to a statement for your first payment. This statement will not be sent to you in any other way. No one else will receive this statement or a copy of your bill; no further reminders will be sent. It is your responsibility to make payments according to the payment deadlines; you will need to forward your statement to the person who pays your bills if you are not that person!!!

The initial Program Fee Statement is also provided here. You can use this copy or the copy included in your acceptance letter (they are identical) when paying your fees.

airplanebulletpointSecond Program Fee Payment

You will receive a link to a statement for your second payment VIA EMAIL from the Office of International Education just prior to the second payment deadline. Some programs have been advertised using a range of fees; if this is the case, you must plan to cover fees at the top end of the range until you receive your second statement. This statement will indicate whether there have been cost savings due to increased participant numbers, exchange rates, etc. and, therefore, a reduced program fee.

airplanebulletpointTuition Payment

If your program includes a required tuition payment IN ADDITION TO YOUR PROGRAM FEE, this will be clearly indicated on the Full Cost of Participation Worksheet linked within the "Apply" section of this guide.

For interim programs, follow the program fee payment deadlines ($1,000 total due by the first deadline date, the remaining tuition and program fee due by the final deadline date).

For semester & summer programs, tuition will be billed by Student Accounts just before the term at UW Oshkosh begins, just as it normally is. It is your responsibility to make payments according to the normal university tuition payment deadlines.

airplanebulletpointPayment by Cash or Check

All payments by cash or check must be accompanied by a copy of your program fee statement. Make checks payable to “The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh” and write “Study Abroad” in the memo section. Pay fees at the Cashier's Office on the second floor of Dempsey Hall or mail your check to: Cashier's Office, UW Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901. Cashier office hours: Mon – Fri 8:30-4:00 (8:30-3:00 the day after Thanksgiving).

airplanebulletpointPayment by Credit Card or E-check

Payment by MasterCard or American Express carries a 2.5% convenience fee and can be made through TitanWeb http://www.uwosh.edu/tw/. E-checks carry a fee of $0.50 per transaction.

airplanebulletpointPayment by Financial Aid, Grant, Scholarship or External Loan

Submit the "Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad" form to Student Accounts by the first payment deadline. Students who plan to to cover some costs on their own and remaining costs using financial aid, grants or scholarships must pay costs not covered by aid/loans/scholarships, up to $1,000, by the first payment deadline.

For UW Oshkosh students, financial aid will automatically be applied toward study abroad-related fees on your student account. If you are a student elsewhere, you may need to pick up your change check from your home campus, cash the check, and send payment to UW Oshkosh.

Once your "Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad" form has been submitted, a "positive service indicator" will appear on your record indicating that financial aid will be paying your study abroad program fees.  This should not prevent you from doing anything except printing transcripts.

Scholarships

Scholarships offered through UW Oshkosh and outside organizations. 

 

 

Flight & Program Schedule

airplanebulletpointOshkosh - Departure

Mode of transportation: school bus

Meeting Date & Time: TBA

Departure Time: TBA

Departure Location: Parking Lot 30 (corner of Wisconsin and Pearl)

airplanePointerFrom Oshkosh to the Airport

If the "mode of transportation" to the airport for your program is "bus", there is a bus scheduled to take participants from Oshkosh to the airport.

If there is a bus, and if you plan to ride the bus...
your on-line study abroad application must show "I will take the group bus from Oshkosh to the airport" on the transportation tab. You may request a pickup or end-of-program drop-off in Milwaukee by emailing reinkem@uwosh.edu. If you don't make this request in advance, the bus will not stop in Milwaukee. Check your on-line application if you aren't sure what you indicated when you first applied; if the information is incorrect, edit your information AT LEAST two business days prior to your departure.

If there is a bus, and if you do not plan to ride the bus...
your on-line study abroad application must show "I will arrange for my own transportation from Oshkosh to the airport" on the transportation tab. It is then your responsibility to arrange for transportation between your residence and the airport and to arrange to meet the group at the airport. Check your on-line application if you aren't sure what you indicated when you first applied; if the information is incorrect, edit your information AT LEAST two business days prior to your departure.

Park in UW Oshkosh Lot 30 with a Valid UW Oshkosh Parking Permit

If you have a valid UW Oshkosh commuter parking permit (look for the “S” on your permit) AND will be away for one month or less over summer break or interim, you may park in university parking lot 30 (located behind Gruenhagen Conference Center), for the duration of your study abroad program.  You must use one of the stalls that is furthest from the parking lot entrance.  Check the expiration date on your parking permit to be sure that it is valid for the duration of your program. 

Students with “evening parking permits” (also called a night permit) may not leave cars parked in this lot for the duration of their program.

If you don't have a valid permit, you may purchase a temporary permit from Parking Services ((920) 424-4455) in the lower level of Blackhawk.

airplanebulletpointFlight - Departure

TBA

airplanebulletpointProgram Schedule

Tentative program itinerary for reference only - this itinerary will change!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on campus except where noted.

January 7, 2014

Arrive Nairobi.

Morning Tour of Nairobi

Travel to Egerton University

January 8, 2014

Morning: Visit to Menengai Creator

Afternoon: 1. Introduction to Seminar on Glabalization; 2. Kenyan History and Culture

January 9, 2014

Morning: Visit to Menengai Creator

Afternoon: 1. Introduction to Seminar on Globalization; 2. Kenyan History and Culture

January 10, 2014

Morning: Visit to Lake Nakuru Part to see flamingoes, lions, rhinos, etc

Afternoon: 1. Introduction to Kiswahili; 2. Ethnic and sociological issues in Kenyan 

January 11, 2014

Travel to Maasai Mara Game Reserve

January 12, 2014

Tour to Maasai Mara Game Reserve

January  13, 2014

Travel back to Egerton University

January 14, 2014

Morning:  Rest

Afternoon: Visit Lord Egerton Castle

January 15, 2014

Morning: Visit the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru (Peer counseling and water programmes, and CDN Health Clinic)

Afternoon: 1.Introduction to Political Issues in Kenya 2.National, Regional, and Continental Development

January 16, 2014

Morning: Visit Kericho Tea Estate

Afternoon: 1. Issues in Primary and Alternative Healthcare

January 17, 2014

Morning: Visit with and interview Egerton University Students

Afternoon: 1. Education and Human Resource Development in Kenya; 2. Current Economic and Social Issues in Kenya

January 18, 2014

Morning: Visit the Kericho Tea Estates

Afternoon: TBD

January 19, 2014

Free day for shopping in Nakuru Town, visiting with friends, and farewell party.

January 20, 2014

Morning: 1. Issues in Primary and Alternative Healthcare in Kenya;2.Education and human resource development in Kenya;

Afternoon: 3. Current Economic and Social Issues in Kenya; visit and interview Edgerton University students

January 21, 2014

Visit Naivasha Horticultural Farms and the Eburru Geotherman Power Plant

January 22, 2014

Departure

Your time at Egerton University will include field trips, cultural lectures, and seminars on special topics that complement the field trips. These seminars will include important political, economic, environmental, and educational issues in modern Kenyan society.

As you travel from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to Egerton University in Njoro and within the Rift Valley, you will pass through small and large scale tea and coffee estates and Lake Naivasha's export-oriented estates, where string beans and flowers for sale in Europe are grown. Other sites of interest may include Lake Nakuru National Park, Kericho tea estates, Maasai cattle herders, dairy farms, and Lake Bogoria with flamingos and hot springs.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, travel arrangements, hotels, excursions, activities or other arrangements made necessary by factors beyond its control. On certain dates when some attractions or activities may not be available, UW Oshkosh reserves the right to substitute alternate attractions or activities.

airplanebulletpointFlight - Return

TBA

airplanebulletpointOshkosh - Return

Mode of transportation: school bus

Estimated date & time: TBA

Return Location: Parking Lot 30 (corner of Wisconsin and Pearl)

Family Orientation

airplanebulletpointFamily Orientation Options, Dates and Deadlines

Participants may choose to attend in-person Family Orientation OR participants may exempt themselves from in-person Family Orientation by completing family orientation on line PRIOR TO the in-person Family Orientation date.

Family orientation is mandatory FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY and must be completed on or prior to the in-person Family Orientation date. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

For dates, see Orientation & Pre-/post-travel Class Dates.

airplanebulletpointFamily Attendance

Family member attendance at the in-person orientation is not required. Family members who don’t plan to attend the in-person orientation, or who would like to review the orientation prior to attending in person, may also access the on-line orientation. However, please encourage family members not to submit the orientation quiz.

Prior to in-person or on-line orientation, be sure that family members who plan to attend have access to the print documents and have reviewed these documents in advance.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER ATTEND ORIENTATION IN YOUR PLACE. 

airplanebulletpointPrint Orientation Materials

All participants, regardless of whether you will complete the on-line or the in-person orientation, must review these print materials prior to orientation. Share these with interested family members as well.

Most of these materials are referenced throughout both the on-line and the in-person orientation. A few are provided only in print below and are not referenced.

  • CISI Health Insurance Policy and CISI Security Evacuation Policy
    Your insurance doesn’t cover the things you don’t know about! (In other words, if you’ve never read your policy, you won’t know when to go to the insurance company for reimbursement.) Know what your policy covers and how to get reimbursed PRIOR to travel. If this is your first experience with health insurance, review this with a family member.
  • U.S. State Department Country-specific Information
    How do Americans know what not to do when they travel? What should Americans be aware of when traveling to a particular place? Find out here. Read the highlighted version now. Refer to the most up-to-date information prior to travel. More information like the above will be available in “guide books” written specifically for your country/ies.

airplanebulletpointOn-line Family Orientation

Review the materials linked above, grab some paper and a pencil, and schedule about 90 minutes to focus on your on-line orientation. Complete your orientation requirement by submitting this orientation quiz to the Office of International Education by the Thursday prior to in-person orientation.

Click here to access your on-line orientation.

airplanePointerIn-person Orientation Registration

All participants who have not completed the on-line Family Orientation PRIOR TO the in-person Family Orientation date are REQUIRED TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Arrive at the designated room at least 15 minutes before this event is scheduled to begin to sign in. Registration will close approximately 5 minutes before the event.

airplanePointerDriving Directions to In-person Orientation

From highway 41, take the highway 21 exit east into Oshkosh (from the south, take a right; from the north, take a left).  After crossing the bridge, take a right onto High Avenue. Parking is available in Parking Lots 15 & 32 (available from High or Algoma) or Lot 34 (available from Elmwood). You can purchase a parking permit on campus (the parking office is accessible from Lot 15) or park only in lots with a meter. Campus Map

airplanePointerAccommodation During In-person Orientation

Accommodation is available on the Oshkosh campus to participants & family members. To make reservations, contact Gruenhagen Conference Center at (920) 424-1106. Be sure to reference the study abroad orientation when you call.

 

Family Orientation Notes

airplanePointerUW Oshkosh Course Enrollment
     (for courses taken during study abroad)

You will automatically be enrolled in your UW Oshkosh courses as late as a few weeks before your program departure date.

airplanePointerAirline Tickets

Most airline tickets for international flights are now e-tickets. You will receive a copy of your e-ticket via email prior to travel; you must print at least one copy to take with you when you travel. While having the copy with you is not a requirement, if the airline is having trouble finding you in their system when you show up to check it having the copy with you may be the only way to resolve the issue quickly.

If you will be on flights abroad which are not part of your international flight, you may receive paper tickets. Often, U.S. airlines cannot issue e-tickets for flights which originate and end entirely within countries outside the U.S. If there are paper tickets for your program, you will either receive yours when you board the bus at UW Oshkosh or, if there isn't a bus or you aren't taking the bus, be asked to stop in the OIE prior to travel to sign for your ticket. To avoid loss of ticket, the OIE does not mail paper tickets to participants.

You must pay your entire program fee IN FULL BEFORE you receive your e-ticket or paper tickets.

airplanePointerFrequent Flyer Miles

See our information on Frequent Flyer Miles for basic information on how these programs work. See the website of the specific airline you will fly for program enrollment information.  

airplanePointerEmergency Contacts

In a life and death emergency ABROAD

U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center (1-202-647-5225) will relay messages to the foreign Embassy. Embassy personnel may try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.

To reach your student directly

If your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program. The Office of International Education cannot give out private residence or homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we will contact your student for you in an emergency.

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)

Office of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
Tanya Kollross, Study Abroad Advisor - abroad@uwosh.edu
Emily Hoffmann: Hessen & NSE Advisor - nse@uwosh.edu
Mary Reinke: Program Manager - reinkem@uwosh.edu
Sarah Christensen : International Student Advisor - christes@uwosh.edu
Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours

University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216

To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD

The UW Oshkosh program leader can be reached using the contact information listed under Accommodation in this guide.

Fr. Dr. Stephen Mbugua Ngari, program organizer at Egerton University in Kenya; Address: P.O. Box 536, NJORO, Kenya; Phone: 011-254-722-769-765 (cell);  011-254-376-2397 (home); Email: Frmbugua@africaonline.co.ke

 

Money Matters

airplanePointerCovering Personal Expenses (Bringing Money Abroad)

In addition to advertised program fees, you will be responsible for other expenses. The budget estimate for your program is based on an average person's expenditures and takes into account pricing for goods and services at the destination. It is unreasonable to think that you may spend significantly less than the estimates for your trip. If you enjoy shopping or plan to spend evenings out, bring more than the budget estimate! Official exchange rates are available from the Currency Converter at http://www.xe.com.

Cash (foreign currency)

It is typically least expensive and recommended to purchase foreign currency once you arrive at the international destination airport unless you are traveling to a place where currency exchanges & ATMs may be closed outside banking hours (Japan) or exchanging in the airport is unsafe (Mexico, countries in Africa). You may also purchase most (but not all) foreign currencies before traveling from a currency exchange outlet at an international airport or by ordering through your local bank or credit union. For up-to-date locations and hours of operation - Currency Exchange at O'Hare Airport.

Traveler's Checks

Purchase enough traveler’s checks at your bank or credit union to bring as backup when a credit or ATM card cannot be used or is stolen. PROs: given increasing credit, debit and ATM card fees, traveler's checks may be less expensive. CONs: traveler's checks can only be cashed at the airport, in banks, at money exchanges and in SOME hotels. Expensive hotels tend to give bad exchange rates for traveler's checks. If there is an American Express office in the city you plan to visit (and you are on a program with a flexible enough schedule to conveniently get there), cash your traveler's checks there. American Express will not charge commission.

Credit, Debit & ATM Cards

Plastic is extremely convenient in some parts of the world and useless in others. Use your guide book to determine whether this type of currency is accepted at your destination. You'll be charged a percentage of each transaction; this fee is "rolled" into the exchange rate and can be the daily rate of exchange plus 2.5% or higher. You may also be charged per transaction by your bank and/or by the foreign bank (owners of the ATM machine).

In order to use your cards abroad, you must let your credit/debit/ATM card company know you plan to travel abroad. If you don't, it's quite common, even for regular travelers, to find that their card has been red flagged and cancelled by the issuing bank's computer system. In addition, for security reasons some cards are not validated for overseas travel and may be confiscated by a machine even after entering the correct PIN. *At least one area Credit Union has cut off all access to ATM's from abroad due to fraud.

Global VISA ATM locator
Global MasterCard ATM locator
Global American Express ATM locator

Credit Cards: Bring VISA or MasterCard only. American Express may be used at American Express offices. PROs: credit cards typically offer protection against unauthorized use provided you follow the company's reporting policy. CONs: numbers are often stolen; credit card cash advances are extremely expensive and require a PIN. *Know your credit card limits--charging over the limit is an arrestable offense in some countries. Paraphrase from a US State Department Consular Information Sheet: Credit card fraud is on the rise in many countries, and both theft and 'number skimming' are common. Retain all your credit card receipts and check your accounts regularly to help prevent unauthorized use of your credit cards.

Debit Cards vs. ATM Cards: In the U.S. we typically use debit cards rather than ATM cards. Debit cards allow users to withdraw cash using a PIN or make purchases WITHOUT using a PIN. In other countries, because of the high incidence of theft, ATM cards are a better choice because they always require a PIN. PROs: In developed countries (except Japan) ATM cards are typically the most convenient way to access money. CONs: Your account can be emptied if your numbers (or numbers and PIN) are stolen. You should keep only the money you plan to spend on your trip in your account; remove overdraft protection. To protect your PIN

  • never access cash from machines visible to other people
      
  • always shield both your hand and the PIN pad to protect against cameras planted near ATMs
      
  • avoid ATM machines which require you to swipe your card in order to open the door to the ATM booth
      
  • Paraphrase from a US State Department Country-specific Information publication: avoid using debit cards for point of sale purchases, as a skimmed number can be used to clean out an account.

airplanePointerMoney in an Emergency

Wire Transfer

To send money by wire transfer, you will need the following information from the institution/organization/individual you are paying:

--Name of the institution/organization/individual --Account # (at the bank)
--Address --Fax Number (optional)
--Phone Number --Email (optional)

You will also need the following information from the bank which will receive the money. The institution/organization/individual you are paying will give this information to you.

--Bank Name --Bank Fax --Sort Code
--Bank Address --Branch Number --Swift
--Bank phone --ABA  

When requesting a wire transfer at your local bank or credit union, present the information above and ask that the bank "cover the wire transfer fees at both the sending and the receiving banks." If you don't cover the wire fees at the receiving bank, your payment will be reduced by the amount of the fee and you will end up still owing.

When you order the transfer, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the transfer has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the wire transfer in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the transfer).

Wire transfers typically take 3-5 days to process. Be sure that you make payments by wire transfer far enough in advance of payment deadlines.

Bank Drafts in Foreign Currencies

To make a payment in a foreign currency by check, you will need to order a "bank draft" in that foreign currency through your local bank or credit union.

When you order the draft, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the draft has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the draft in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the draft).

Be sure that you make requests for drafts far enough in advance of payment deadlines. Bank drafts take at least several days to process before being mailed to the bank and then to you. Plan for an additional 10 days to mail the draft to a foreign country.

airplanePointerStudy Abroad, Tuition and your 1098-T (tax credit)

UW Oshkosh may include only qualified tuition paid to UW Oshkosh for enrollment at UW Oshkosh on 1098-T's issued to students.

Qualified tuition is tuition for academic credit which a student must pay to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution.

Academic credit is credit awarded by an eligible educational institution for the completion of course work leading to a post-secondary degree.

An Eligible educational institution is a ... university ... that is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as in effect on August 5, 1997, and that is eligible to participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs.

Financial Administration of Study Abroad Programs (UW System). In order to increase student access to UW study abroad programs and minimize the cost of student participation, study abroad programs will be financed on a cost recovery basis. Students studying abroad will be exempt from paying the Board of Regents' approved academic fees.

This means...

  • For study abroad with course enrollment at UW Oshkosh, no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. If no tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
  • For study abroad with NO course enrollment at UW Oshkosh (except a "placeholder" used to keep your registration at UW Oshkosh active), no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. Your program fee may include tuition from an ineligible educational institution abroad. If no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
  • For tuition paid directly to an institution abroad, check with that institution to see whether a 1098-T can be issued. It is our understanding (and we may be wrong - check with your tax advisor on this!) that while some foreign schools do participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs (making them eligible educational institutions), students must also be completing course work leading to a post-secondary degree at that institution for the 1098-T to be issued.

 

Health, Safety & Security

airplanePointerHealth Insurance

If I am on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored program, do I have insurance for medical and emergency services while studying abroad?

YES - but only during your official program dates! UW System requires all participants on UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs abroad to purchase insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This insurance is included in your study abroad program fees; your coverage will begin on the first day on which you are required to be in the host country and end on or just after the last day on which you are required to be in the host country.

In addition to CISI, all students studying through an Australian, German or New Zealand university are required by the foreign government to carry additional health insurance. You will receive instructions and the necessary paperwork to obtain your insurance card at your host university’s orientation.

What does CISI cover?

CISI coverage can change from policy year to policy year. All benefits are clearly explained on the Description of Coverage. If your program begins

Additional Comprehensive Security Evacuation Insurance is outlined on a separate Description of Coverage, available from http://culturalinsurance.com/pdf/security_evac_comprehensive_ace.pdf.

How do I access information about my CISI coverage and print my insurance card?

Instructions on accessing information and printing your insurance card, among other things, are available from http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/myCISI.pdf.

In addition, use the CISI Participant Portal to

  • View, print and email your
    • Consulate letter (if you are applying for a visa to enter a foreign country, you may need this),
    • Claim form (submit this directly to CISI)
  • Access travel-related sites.
  • Research country specific information.
  • Access a personal security assistance website.
  • Extend your coverage (prior to or following your program dates).

I will arrive abroad prior to my official program start date and/or will return after my official program end date. Do I need to extend my insurance coverage if I'm on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored program?

YES! If you don't extend your insurance coverage, you won't be covered. Follow the instructions available from http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/myCISI.pdf to extend your coverage. You must pay for the additional coverage directly at the time that you request the extension.

Can I use my personal health insurance plan without purchasing additional insurance for travel abroad?

If studying on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored Program, no. UW System does not allow for the exemption of any participant for any reason.

If you are studying through a program not sponsored by or affiliated with UW Oshkosh, sickness and accident coverage while in a foreign country may be included in your personal health insurance plan, but it is rare for personal health insurance plans to cover medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation or emergency medical reunion. BEFORE you travel you should be familiar with the type of coverage you have and the steps you need to take in order to use your policy abroad. If you are not satisfied that you have sufficient coverage abroad, you can purchase a temporary policy.

My insurance company requires me to be a full-time student in order to take advantage of a lower premium. Will study abroad affect my ability to keep this premium?

Your insurance company may require you to be a full-time student in order to take advantage of lower premiums. IF you are NOT enrolled in classes at UW Oshkosh for a full semester (i.e. you are transferring credits back to UW Oshkosh at the end of your study abroad program), AND you are NOT enrolled for full-time credit through another accredited U.S. institution, this may affect your premiums. Information on your enrollment status is automatically extracted from UW Oshkosh records and sent to a Clearinghouse, which many insurance companies monitor. You will show up in the Clearinghouse as “not enrolled” at UW Oshkosh IF you are not enrolled for courses AT UW OSHKOSH, and your premiums may be affected.

In order to avoid problems, contact your insurance company BEFORE leaving for your study abroad destination. Your insurance company will either give you a form or a list of information which they need. You can fax this form/list to the institution abroad for verification of full-time status while studying there.

Please note that if you are on Academic Leave of Absence, you are being reported by UW Oshkosh as "not enrolled."

What are some insurance supplements or alternatives?

If you need comprehensive security evacuation insurance, Global Rescue and International SOS both offer to individuals.

At $22, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a popular option for students. The ISIC can be purchased on line; policy details are available from the link above. To call STA Travel: 1-800-329-9537 (menu option “Student, youth and teacher identity cards”). A second option is to search on the internet or contact your local travel agent. There are many other insurance companies that will cover you during your time abroad.

What are medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation and medical reunion?

Medical evacuation, security evacuation and repatriation benefits cover the insured when the insured is moved to a location outside of the host country or returned to the U.S. because a medical condition cannot be treated locally, because of a security risk at the site abroad or because of the death of the insured. Medical reunion benefits cover a family member who travels to the location where the insured is undergoing medical treatment. If you have medical reunion, identify one or more family members who have a valid passport as your emergency contact. Anyone not holding a valid passport will need to apply for one before being able to take advantage of emergency medical reunion.

Is the insurance offered through CISI sufficient?

CISI insurance is not comprehensive. It is each participant's responsibility to review the policy for sufficient coverage. If you feel that coverage is insufficient, purchase additional coverage through your insurance agent. Do not cancel your health insurance policy in the U.S. while you are gone. In most cases, your international policy will cover you while you are gone and/or bring you back to the U.S., but once you return, your domestic policy will need to provide coverage.

Do I need trip cancellation insurance or baggage insurance?

Because the UW Oshkosh OIE runs all programs on a cost-recovery basis, it is not possible to make exceptions to the withdrawal and refund policy for any reason, including withdrawal for medical reasons or family emergencies. To protect yourself, reach through the CISI insurance policy provided through UW System and then consider purchasing TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE to cover other potential eventualities. If you choose not to purchase trip cancellation insurance and the CISI policy does not cover your withdrawal, study abroad fees assessed by the OIE will be your responsibility regardless of your reason for withdrawing. Trip cancellation insurance may provide reimbursement for CERTAIN financial losses UNDER A LIMITED SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. Read policies carefully and shop around. Not all policies cover pre-existing conditions.

Baggage insurance typically provides coverage related to lost or delayed luggage. Because there are fairly low limits on the claims you can make, you may also need to purchase insurance riders through your home insurance policy to cover items such as digital cameras or other expensive equipment.

airplanePointerInsurance for Loss, Theft or Damage of Personal Property

If traveling with valuable personal property such as cameras, laptops or equipment, your (or your parents') rental or homeowner's policy may provide sufficient coverage or you may need to purchase a rider to cover specific items; items normally covered without a rider may not be covered while traveling.

airplanePointerSecurity Evacuation Alternatives

If traveling to parts of the world which are difficult to reach or are considerably less safe than you are accostomed to, you may want to consider purchasing additional insurance to cover security or medical evacuation (above and beyond what is provided by the university insurance or by your own insurance). Two options are International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com/en/) and Global Rescue (https://www.globalrescue.com/).

airplanePointerCheck the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Site for Immunization Information

The Center for Disease Control provides health information on specific destinations, information about specific diseases that can affect travelers, immunization recommendations, tips on avoiding illness from food or water and more through it's web site. For information specific to your destination/s, see http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.

When reviewing the CDC information, it's important to understand the distinction between "recommended" and "required" immunizations.

  • Required immunizations are those immunizations which a foreign country requires that you prove you have had in order to enter that foreign country. For example, a country that requires the yellow fever immunization will require you to present your "yellow fever vaccination card" when you show up in the foreign airport or you apply for a visa. If you don't present this, you may be required to get the immunization (and pay for it) on site or you may be sent back to the U.S. (at your own expense).
       
  • Recommended immunizations are those immunizations which the CDC recommends that all travelers have prior to visiting a particular foreign country. Unless you face serious health risks if you receive a particular immunization, it is extremely unwise to ignore these recommendations. If you think you'll save a bit of cash by not getting the recommended immunizations, think again! If you were to contract a disease overseas, you could be faced with $1,000's of dollars in medical expenses upon return. In addition, depending on the disease, you may miss a semester or more at UW Oshkosh upon your return. This can happen! A UW Oshkosh student did not to get the Hepatitis A vaccination prior to traveling to Peru, contracted the disease and was too ill to attend UW Oshkosh over the semester following her program abroad.

If you can't afford an immunization, you may be eligible for a financial aid loan.

If you aren't sure whether you've already had a particular immunization recommended by the CDC, you may be able to check your records with your healthcare provider or on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

airplanePointerVisit the Student Health Center or Your Healthcare Provider

The student health center offers the most frequently used immunizations, and can get others on order with advance notice, at lower fees than travel clinics and other healthcare providers. Make an appointment with the student health center (424-2424), a Travel Health Clinic (listings for Aurora available through International Travel Clinic) or your healthcare provider at least 6 weeks before leaving for a foreign country. Some immunizations must be administered over time in order for them to be effective. You will be asked to provide information on your specific destination/s (within each country), date of departure, length of stay and childhood immunizations (bring a copy of the actual record, if possible) either when making the appointment or during your visit.

Travel to an unfamiliar environment can increase stress levels; honestly evaluate your mental health in relation to support systems you can reasonably maintain while studying abroad. If traveling to a developed country, consider setting up an e-mail and phone-support system with friends and family before you leave. Keep in mind that some study abroad sites have very limited means of communication.

The Student Health Center can also provide certification of physical and mental health if needed to apply for a visa. Take care of all dental work, eye exams, and other things which may be offered at a different level of quality or standard of care efore you leave for abroad.

airplanePointerFind English-speaking Doctors

U.S. embassies often maintain lists of English-speaking doctors by city. For a list specific to your destination, find the embassy or consulate nearest your destination city using the link above, click on "American Citizen Services" and look for a "medical" list.

airplanePointerPut Together A Personal Medical Kit

Many prescription and over-the-counter medications available in the U.S. are not available abroad or cannot be found in the same form or at the same quality. Carry all prescription medications AND a letter from your doctor describing your condition and your prescriptions (using both the generic names and the drug name which appears on the prescription container) in your carry-on luggage. All prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs must be carried through customs in original containers. Consider bringing a medical ID bracelet if you have allergic reactions.

For those who wear glasses or contact lenses, carry an extra prescription or extra lenses. Not all countries use the same scale for determining prescriptions, so arrange to have someone send a replacement pair in an emergency. Contact lens supplies can be rare and expensive, so bring saline and cleaner or wear glasses.

airplanePointerCheck Department of State Country-specific Information, Travel Alerts & Travel Warnings

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs regularly publishes country-specific information, travel alerts and travel warnings; U.S. embassies abroad publish messages for U.S. Citizens and emergency messages for U.S. Citizens.

  • Country-specific Information includes health conditions and crime and security information. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security.
       
  • Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, either transnational or within a particular country, that pose significant risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.
       
  • Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.

  • Message for U.S. Citizens is used to disseminate information about routine topics such as voter registration, income tax season, new passport procedures, and other non-security issues of interest to the local U.S. citizen community.

  • Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens is used to inform U.S. citizens about events or threats that can affect their personal security.  This includes demonstrations, civil disturbances, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other breaking events.  Whenever the Department revises the Worldwide Caution or issues a Travel Alert or Travel Warning for a country or region, posts (Embassies or Consulates) will also disseminate it with an Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens. To ensure that you receive these messages, register on the State Department's Smart Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP).

airplanePointerSmart Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP)

The Smart Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service which allows you as a U.S. citizen to record travel details which help the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad locate you when you need them the most.

All UW Oshkosh students traveling abroad are required to (and responsible for)
completing the registration at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

The UK, Canada, New Zealand and Japan have similar systems for their nationals.

airplanePointerFaculty Leader/Host School Responsibilities

For faculty-led programs, your faculty leader is responsible for the activities of your group for the entire program. For student exchange programs, your host school is only responsible for activities such as course registration and orientation. In either case, your faculty leader, program sponsors or host school:

  • cannot guarantee or assure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environments.
  • cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
  • cannot assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for participants.
  • cannot assume responsibility for the actions of persons not employed or otherwise engaged by the program sponsor for events that are not part of the program or that are beyond the control of the sponsor, or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a participant to disclose pertinent information.
  • cannot assure that home country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.

airplanePointerStudent Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for preparing academically and personally for their experience abroad. All participants must understand that the orientations offered by the OIE and by faculty offer only an INTRODUCTION to issues related to travel abroad and cultural/language differences you will encounter. We do our best to cover the most important topics, but there is absolutely no possible way that we can tell you everything you will want to know or feel you need to know before your trip. You can prepare by reading resources suggested to you at orientations, by exploring on the internet, by knowing your itinerary and checking out your hotels on-line, and by reading books and articles related to your destination. The more you know before you go, the steeper your learning curve will be while abroad.

You also signed a statement of responsibility which you will be expected to abide by. Faculty leaders and host school liaisons have the right and responsibility to remove any participant from the program for disruptive or unsafe behavior.

 

Travel

airplanePointerVisa

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on a U.S. passport that makes it possible for the bearer to visit that foreign country. U.S. citizens and citizens from many other countries must apply for a visa prior to traveling to your host country.

Instructions related to the visa application are in the "STUDY ABROAD APPLICATION" section of this guide.

airplanePointerPack

Identification

Bring a student ID to take advantage of student entry fees. Make sure you have both your passport and a second official form of identification (e.g. driver’s license). Consider bringing your birth certificate (with the raised seal) as this is helpful if replacing a lost passport.

Electricity

Avoid bringing electrical appliances if possible; buy adapters (plug shape) and a converter (to change voltage) if necessary and use both. Try to AVOID purchasing an UNFUSED adapter (otherwise the charge goes either into the appliance or into the wall - potentially starting a fire - if it blows). For more information on adapters and converters, go to http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/wwelect.htm.

Pack to Stay Safe!

For you own safety, follow this simple rule: Don't bring anything that someone else may want. Don't pack clothing or accessories that will make you a target for theft. Leave name brand clothing at home and don't wear any jewelry. Empty your wallet or purse before traveling. Remove extra credit cards and other items you won't need.

Pack to Walk!

You will walk a lot. Codes pertaining to the height and depth of steps, sidewalk conditions, the height of signs (this is for you tall people!) etc. may be different. Avoid foot and ankle injuries by packing appropriate shoes, socks and lots of bandages!

Luggage

Your airline will limit the number and size of both carry-on and checked bags. Check baggage restrictions on the website of your airline of choice and know in advance what fees you may need to pay for excess baggage.

Note that most airlines impose a maximum of excess baggage as well (in other words, you can't just pay to bring as much as you'd like). If you show up at the airport with baggage which exceeds the maximum excess baggage limit, you will not be allowed to bring this baggage with you.

Convert kilograms to pounds.

Regardless of the luggage limits for your flight, limit yourself to one reasonably-sized check-on piece of luggage and one small carry-on. Leave extra space for things you buy abroad to avoid paying fees for going over luggage limits on your return. Label every piece of luggage both inside and out and buy TSA-approved locks (so that your locks aren't removed during airport inspection) for use at hotels. If you can't carry your luggage (all of it at once) up and down the block and up and down a few sets of stairs, you have probably packed too much.

Airline Entertainment

International flights can take anywhere from several to fourteen hours. Generally, passengers are offered food and beverages, movies (depending on the airline and length of the flight) and music channels & headphones. If you think you might require other entertainment, you'll need to bring it with you.

Prohibited Items

U.S. Department of Homeland Security's list of prohibited items

airplanePointerYour Flight

Jet Lag

To avoid jet lag on flights where there is a large time difference, it is best to immediately adopt the sleeping schedule of your destination; this means either attempting to sleep or to stay awake according to the time of day (or night) it is at your destination before arriving. You should begin doing this at the front end of your trip (i.e. while riding to the airport if someone else is driving or immediately upon take-off on the first leg of your trip).

If there is a large time difference between Wisconsin and your destination and you arrive at your destination during the day, DON’T SLEEP! If you can manage to stay awake on the first day, jet lag will be less difficult for you during the days to come. You're going to be extremely tired either way, so it’s best to fight it at the very beginning of your trip so that you can enjoy the days to come!

Procedures at U.S. International Airports

Arrive at a U.S. international airport (O'Hare, Minneapolis, etc.) a minimum of 3 ½ hours early so that you complete your check-in 3 hours early. Passengers who show up later to check in on planes which are oversold don’t always get a seat assignment. Go through security immediately after checking in; if you run into trouble with security you may still have enough time to get cleared and make your flight. You must be through security a minimum of ½ hour to 45 minutes (the exact timing depends on the airport) before your plane is scheduled to BOARD. If you aren't, you may not be allowed through security and you will miss your flight. Boarding times are typically 30 to 45 minutes before scheduled take off. Anyone who is not flying will not be allowed to pass through security.

For airport maps, terminal information, parking information, etc., check the appropriate web pages below:

O’Hare: http://www.flychicago.com/PassengerInformation/AirportMaps.aspx
Milwaukee: http://www.mitchellairport.com/
Minneapolis/St. Paul: http://www.mspairport.com/maps.aspx
Outagamie County (Appleton): http://www.atwairport.com/

Customs Declaration Form

Either just prior to check-in or while on the flight, you will receive a customs declaration form; be sure you have the form for U.S. citizens (unless you are a citizen of another country) written in English. Complete this form—front and back—either before check-in or before the plane lands. You will need this form to go through customs (explained elsewhere in this guide).

Remain with your group

Whether you've navigated foreign airports on your own or not, please remain with your group while exiting the aircraft and going through immigration, baggage claim and customs. Your faculty leader will appreciate your help with students who haven't traveled and, if you happen to be pulled aside at immigration or customs, will want to be right there with you to offer assistance.

Immigration

When you go through immigration, officials inspect your passport and may ask for your hotel/host family address and telephone number; it's a good idea to carry this information with you. If asked what you will be doing in the host country:

  • short-term programs with NO ENROLLMENT in a university or school ABROAD, “I'm here on a cultural visit with my U.S. professor.” Do not say “to study” or "for international business."

  • short-term programs WITH ENROLLMENT in a university or school ABROAD (LdM, Germany, Spain), "I'm here to take classes at (institution name) for # (number) weeks."

  • semester or longer, “I'm here to study at (institution name).”

  • USA Summer Camp, “I'm here to participate on a language camp.” Do not say "to work at a summer camp."

  • Wisconsin in Scotland, present a letter to immigration officials (included in a packet sent to your permanent address before departure)

  • Even if you hope to find a legal job later, do not mention working.

If you say “to study,” "to work," or “for international business" when you are not studying at a university or getting paid for work, you will confuse immigration officials, who may assume that you then need a special student or work visa.

Photographs and Fingerprinting

Just as the U.S. does with foreign nationals entering the United States, you may be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry in the foreign country. Data collected may be checked against a database of international terror and crime suspects, checked against domestic crime records and/or used for other purposes. The U.S., Japan and Brazil are photographing and fingerprinting.

Customs

After immigration, you will go to the baggage claim to get your luggage and then head through customs. At this point, officials will decide whether or not to search through your luggage. In general, you cannot bring meat or agricultural products across borders. These items will be confiscated. For more information on customs regulations, see the U.S. State Department's Country-specific Information for your destination.

 

airplanePointerFamily Communications Plan

Develop a reasonable family communications plan that includes contingencies for emergency situations. Use the Emergency Communication Form to record important information; leave a copy of this form, your itinerary and other important information with someone back home.

UW Oshkosh also has Emergency Response Plans in place.

Upon Arrival (this could take more time than you had planned!)

It's not easy to contact friends and family upon arrival! By the time you get off the plane, go through immigration & customs, travel to your accommodation, purchase an international calling card, learn how it works and locate a public phone or an internet cafe, all when you're jet lagged and dealing with a new environment, you may not be able to call or email until the next day.

Email

You may or may not have easy access to reliable email from hotels, internet cafes or universities, depending on your study abroad site. In some countries where crime and computer theft are problems, internet sites may be protected by guards. In this case, avoid sites which are open to the street or are not guarded.

When using UW Oshkosh TitanApps:

  • Turn off the pop-up blocker on the computer you are using.  TitanApps WILL NOT WORK with the pop-up blocker turned on.
       
  • Remember that staff & faculty at UW Oshkosh will continue to use your UW Oshkosh email address.  If you are away for an extended period of time, you must continue to check this!

Snail Mail

Sending mail to the U.S. can take two to several weeks, depending on your location. Choose DHL to ship important items and USPS for regular mail. If staying in hotels or hostels, you will not be able to receive mail and you will not have an address abroad. If staying with a host family, your address will be the same as the host family's address, but ask friends and family to use both your host's name and your name when addressing the envelope. At USA Summer Camp, you can send mail from some camp sites but not from others. If possible, buy stamps in Japan before you get to the camp. Mail should be sent to your host family's house rather than to the camp so that it can bereturned to you if you are no longer in Japan when it arrives.

Telephone

  • It's best to use pre-paid phone cards purchased in your destination country. If you purchase these in the U.S., call the customer service number on the back of the card before departing from the U.S. to get the access number from your destination country!
  • Avoid using an international phone card tied to your phone number in the U.S. It’s very easy to rack up a $100-200 phone bill in just a few nights.
  • Do not make international phone calls from your hotel room, even with a calling card or pre-paid calling card, without asking the hotel desk clerk whether or not you'll be charged by the hotel for time spent on the telephone line! Hotels are notorious for charging for time spent on the phone, regardless of how you are paying for the actual call.
  • Never call the U.S. from your host family's phone without a calling card. This is expensive, and it will be difficult to pay the family for the calls after you return to the U.S.
  • Wisconsin in Scotland: international prepaid calling cards purchased in the U.S. do not work on the phones in Dalkeith House.

Cell Phone

While most cell phone companies will tell their customers that their U.S. cell phone will work abroad, the reality is that some U.S. cell phones work abroad and others don't. In some cases two people with the same cell company experience different results. In many cases cell phone customers have been unpleastantly surprised upon returning home to enormous phone bills. Unless you have a cell phone which is specifically designed for use outside the U.S. or you have successfully used your U.S. cell phone abroad, use your U.S. cell phone at your own risk!

If you plan to use your cell phone a lot while outside the U.S. and perhaps plan to continue traveling into the future, consider purchasing a phone which will work anywhere in the world. Otherwise, consider renting a phone. There are lots of options available on the internet - here's what you're looking for:

  • GSM Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900)  
  • It must be unlocked!    

You will also need to purchase a SIM card. Your phone number will be on the SIM card (not on the phone). Without a SIM card, your phone is useless.

  • If you plan to be abroad short-term, for many countries you must now purchase your SIM card PRIOR to traveling. In many countries, you now need to show that you'll be residing in the country for a significant period of time before you can purchase a SIM card in-country. If purchasing before travel, consider purchasing a card which can be replenished on line. A simple google search should turn up multiple companies selling SIM cards.
       
  • If you plan to be abroad long-term (a semester or longer), purchase your SIM card in-country after speaking to other students in the area to find out which company is currently offering the best deal for international students.

airplanePointer Purchase a Travel Guide

Purchase a travel guide for your study abroad destination for current information on money/currency, customs & duties, staying healthy, public transportation, travel tips, telephones, sending mail, tipping, and a lot more. Choose the guidebook which fits your needs, and make sure it is current for the year in which you are traveling! Guidebook titles include Frommer's, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Let's Go and more.

airplanePointerCultural Adjustment

A Little Advice (from us and from you)!

For getting through the tough times and the culture shock ups & downs...

It isn't better. It isn't worse. It's just different.

Learn to accept -- not to expect. False expectations can lead to disappointment.

Don't be afraid to ask directions.

Don't be afraid to get lost. Getting lost can lead to wonderful discoveries!
(But stay safe.)

Be flexible -- tolerate ambiguity.

Talk to the locals as much as you can.

Remember that you are a guest who has traveled to learn about cultural differences--not an intruder who has come to make a difference.

Work hard to find the positive in everything you do and see--this will have a tremendous effect on your own attitude and, in turn, on the type of experience you have.

Take lots of pictures and keep a journal.

Don't worry about what's going on back home - just enjoy where you are!

Know about your own country before you go.

Learn to budget your money before you go.

Be practical with your packing.

Have fun and enjoy the time that you are there. You will be gone before you know it!  

RESOURCE LIST

airplanebulletpointKenya

airplaneBulletPointPolk Library

  • Back in the U.S.A.: Reflecting on your study abroad experience and putting it to work
  • Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication
  • Cross Cultural Communication: A Visual Approach
  • Developing Intercultural Awareness: A Cross-Cultural Training Handbook
  • Do's and Taboos of Preparing for Your Trip Abroad
  • Everybody's Guide to People Watching
  • Mindsets: The Role of Culture and Perception in International Relations
  • Safety and Study Abroad (32 minute video)
  • Study Abroad: A Parent's Guide
  • Survival Kit for Overseas Living: for Americans planning to live and work abroad
  • Whole World Guide to Culture Learning

airplaneBulletPointTransportation 

airplaneBulletPointAccommodation

airplaneBulletPointCulture & Key Facts

airplaneBulletPointTravel Guides

airplaneBulletPointCommunication

airplaneBulletPointConversions

airplaneBulletPointDisability Services

airplaneBulletPointHealth & Safety

airplaneBulletPointOn-line Shopping

 

This page was last updated on: May 8, 2013