International Business Exchnage · PDF fileINTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXCHANGE PROGRAM PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION ... • Pre-departure Checklist • Preparation/planning • Smart packing

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXCHANGE PROGRAM

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION

International Programs Office

Faculty of Business Administration

www.mun.ca FACULTY OF BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION

OVERVIEW:

www.mun.ca

• Preparation

• Important Documents

• Areas of Risk

• Courses

• Health

• Finances

• Culture Shock

FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

• Packing

• Finding your Balance

• Travel Hassles

• Critical Incidences

• Jet Lag

• Student Responsibilities

DO NOT TRAVEL WITH

ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT

PREPARED TO LOSE


ADMINISTRATION

PREPARATION: DOCUMENTATION

www.mun.ca

• Update Passport, driver’s license, student ID (ISIC)

• Ticket (paper and/or electronic)

• Visa

• Travel insurance

• Check with MUNSU/GSU, personal plan (Johnson’s Insurance, Blue Cross, Guard.me, Travel Cuts, etc.

• Additional insurance

• Look for: Medical Evacuation + Repatriation

• Look for: Exemptions (alcohol / drugs)

• Flight cancellation / trip interruption insurance


PREPARATION: DOCUMENTATION

www.mun.ca

• Itinerary for study abroad program

• Email addresses and phone numbers

• Medical permission letters

• Contact information / lists entered BEFORE you go

• Copies (1 in NL, 1 with you): passport ID, credit card info, medical info, etc. – store in cloud, paper, etc.


PREPARATION: HEALTH

www.mun.ca

• Vaccinations

• Do you need any?

• MCP Out of Province Coverage Certificate

• If you are not from NL or covered by MCP check with your

provincial/national health plan to determine if you need to

complete a similar form

• It is your responsibility to ensure you are covered by a

provincial government health plan and have supplementary

health insurance that covers international travel

• Air evacuation, repatriation, coverage for pre-existing medical

condition, prescriptions, etc.


PREPARATION: INFORMATION

www.mun.ca

• www.Travel.gc.ca (travel reports)

• ROCA - Register as a “Canadian Abroad” - http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration

• “Travel Smart” App – iOS and Android

• Research your location:

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations

• Pre-plan “top 10” list

• Google Alerts: https://www.google.ca/alerts


PREPARATION: COURSES

www.mun.ca

• Complete the “Students Travelling Abroad” section on open Memorial Self-Service page

• Register for exchange section (BUSI 7999) through your Memorial Self-Service Page

• Register for your course at your host institution

• Pay your tuition by the last day to add courses at MUN (otherwise you will be charged a late penalty!)


PREPARATION: NOTIFICATION

www.mun.ca

• Travel Outside Canada Policy:

• https://www.mun.ca/policy/site/policy.php?id=279

• Contact Bank or Credit Card Company

• Health check-up before you go

• Alert key people if need to be aware of medical conditions (e.g. epi-pens, contact info…)


PREPARATION: MONEY MATTERS

www.mun.ca

• Scholarships

• Talk to the Scholarships, Bursaries

and Awards Office

• Look online

• Student Loans

• Arrange prior to departure!


PREPARATION: PACKING

www.mun.ca

• Text books for any distance courses you are taking

• Shower sandals/shoes

• Quick-dry, microfiber towel

• Pad lock/combination lock

• Money belt

• Smaller luggage for weekend travel

• Mini-first aid kit (Advil/Tylenol, band-aids,

Polysporin, etc.)

• Required prescription medications

• Plug adapters*(some prefer to purchase these upon

arrival in their host country)

• Multivitamins

• Mementos from home

PACK LIGHTLY!!

(Leave enough room to bring things back!)


PARTICIPATION: STRIKING A BALANCE

www.mun.ca

• Primary purpose?

• To study!

• But, you can travel, have fun and do

well

• Attend class

• Study as you would at MUN

• Email [email protected] re: course

changes

• Marks do not transfer but you must meet

the requirements of your program


PARTICIPATION SAFETY


ADMINISTRATION

PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

www.mun.ca

1. Incident Occurs: I immediately go to (location 1)________________________

2. I call: (name) ________________(phone number)______________________

1. I tell them I am OK

2. I tell them (or ask them) where I should go next, and what time I expect to

arrive, which is: _________________.

3. I call consulate for advice: (phone number):

3. I go to (location 2): ______________________________________________

4. I call: (name) ________________ (phone number): ___________________

(name) Canadian Consulate (phone number):

(name) CEP (St. John’s) (phone number): +001 (709) 864-4100

5. I check in with School, Coordinator, Friends, Family. (hashtags, social media)


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY

www.mun.ca

• Use your common sense and avoid high risk zones.

Ask about the safe and unsafe places

• Don’t carry large amounts of money

• Don’t give anybody your PIN number or

login/password details; Keep your documents

somewhere safe

• Avoid walking on your own at night and always walk

in well-lit areas

• Walk on major roads if possible


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY

www.mun.ca

• Never leave your keys, wallet, laptop, mobile or bag

unattended

• Lock all windows and doors when you leave your room

• Ensure the phone numbers for police and security are

programmed into your mobile (and on paper)

• Make sure your mobile is always charged so you can make a

call in an emergency

• Keep your head clear, drinking and driving laws are strictly

enforced.

• Always ensure your own safety before assisting others


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: HEALTH

www.mun.ca

• Health

• Climate (e.g. pollution, natural

disasters, extreme temperatures)

• Food/water

• Accidents

• Sickness

• Lost/stolen prescription


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: FINANCE

www.mun.ca

• Card/PIN doesn’t work

• Lost/stolen credit card

• Access to money

• Run out of money

• Finances


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: TRAVEL AND LOST DOCUMENTS

www.mun.ca

• Travel & Lost Documents

• Lost/stolen passport

• Visa restrictions

• Customs regulations

• Luggage restrictions

• Lost luggage

• Missed plane/train


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

www.mun.ca

• Cultural Differences

• Communication

• Isolation

• Appropriate attire

• Gender relations / relationships

• Views of sexual orientation

• Religious sensitivities

• Alcohol and drug use


PARTICIPATION: SAFETY: ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS

www.mun.ca

• Accommodation Problems

• Location

• Landlord

• Lease

• Electricity, plumbing, etc.

• Roommates


PARTICIPATION: JET LAG

www.mun.ca

• A condition that results from flying across several time zones,

causing fatigue, disorientation, fuzziness, broken sleep,

dehydration, discomfort of legs and feet

• Poor introduction to host country

How to reduce the symptoms:

• Preflight: manage your stress, be well-rested, exercise, pre-

pack

• In-flight: drink lots of water, avoid caffeine and alcoholic

beverages, rest, use sleeping aids (blindfolds, neck rests,

earplugs), walk up and down the aisle.

• Try to stay awake until “bedtime” after arriving in your host

country


PARTICIPATION CULTURE SHOCK

• The difficulty people have adjusting to a new culture that differs from their own.

• A completely normal response

• You will experience it

Stages:

1. Euphoria and energy

2. Less energy, homesickness, comparisons to home

3. Frustration/ negativity towards host country

4. Enthusiasm. Increased appreciation and understanding of host culture. Feel “at home”

www.mun.ca


PARTICIPATION EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT (CULTURE SHOCK) • Common issues may include:

• Homesickness, loneliness, depression

• Anger, irritability, or unwillingness to interact with others.

• Idealizing your home country; critical of new culture.

• “Information overload” (mental tiredness).

• Lack of confidence, feelings of insecurity.

• Unable to solve simple problems.


ADMINISTRATION

PARTICIPATION EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT (CULTURE SHOCK) • How to deal with these issues:

• Learn about the culture before you go

• Get involved with the host culture once you’re there

• Learn and use the language (in places where English is not the first language)

• Talk to someone (a friend, roommate, professor, employee, local doctor)

• Make new friends

• Keep in touch with family and friends at home


ADMINISTRATION

PARTICIPATION EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT


ADMINISTRATION

PARTICIPATION EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT (REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK) • May experience upon return to home country

• Can be more difficult than culture shock

• Stages:

• Disengagement

• Initial euphoria

• Irritability and hostility

• Readjustment and adaptation


ADMINISTRATION

PARTICIPATION STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Student’s $250 exchange program deposit will be reimbursed upon the

completion of a student’s exchange obligations. Exchange obligations

include:

• attending meetings prior to departing for exchange

• participating in the exchange semester

• completing a debrief meeting and report upon return to Memorial University

• having satisfactory academic performance while abroad

• demonstrating appropriate non-academic conduct while abroad

• being an appropriate ambassador for Memorial University and the Faculty of

Business Administration

• Attend the Go-Abroad Fairs at the Host Institutions Failure to meet these exchange obligations impose direct and indirect costs on the IPO. Therefore, failure to

satisfy the outlined exchange obligations will result in forfeiture of the exchange program deposit. Students

who satisfactorily complete their obligations will normally have their deposits reimbursed soon after

Memorial has received students’ official transcripts from the host institution.

www.mun.ca


PARTICIPATION: FINAL NOTE..

www.mun.ca

• Pre-departure Checklist

• Preparation/planning

• Smart packing

• Check-in early

• Carry with you: documents, contact

numbers

• Always have a plan B

• Contact IPO if you have any questions or

concerns

HAVE A FUN AND SAFE TIME!!!
