FAQ’s for Global Education short-term programs abroad
Each program will have an itinerary, a syllabus, reports, etc. and the student must fulfill the requirements set by the professor leading the program. Your transcript will indicate that this was a study abroad experience under a special topics course, or as a fulfillment of a core curriculum course.
English is a quite common language in most of the countries CGE groups will visit, so you will have no problem communicating.
These meetings will cover topics like: packing, airport security, rooming, food, cultural customs to expect,tipping, medications to bring, what not to bring, academic expectations, tickets, and a host of other smaller items to make the program one both problem-free and memorable.
There are at least three meetings before each program.
All students and non-students must stay in the same hotel, and no one will be allowed to stay with friends or families inside the country visited during the program.
In addition, the Director of the CGE carries a globally-networked cell phone for emergency calls, and the
courier also carries a published number for necessary contacts. Some of the group members carry laptops,
and these of course can be used at internet cafes and sites in the host countries for contact with family in the US.
Special accommodations can be made for anyone who needs a vegetarian or kosher menu, so tell us early
about your needs.
Wine and other beverages at dinner – including soft drinks and bottled water – in most countries will be an extra expense.
Plenty of time for rest, walking, or shopping will be available. We will provide all the info on the best theatres, clubs, shows, etc., you will need for the evenings, but remember to go in groups or in pairs, never alone. You must be up and ready, usually by 7am, on our long excursion days, or otherwise you will be left in the hotel,and will miss what you paid to see as well as requirements for credit for the class. The bus-driver leaves on time, and rarely waits for sleepy stragglers. If you miss a trip to a museum, etc., you will of course be responsible to your professor for the absence and the missed material.
You will never be left if we are moving from city to city of course—we will come and get you out of your room,but understand that this kind of behavior delays the bus schedule, affects our planned arrivals, and is considered highly discourteous by most couriers. So, please, set your alarms, and be on time.
You will need to budget for the following: Tips, snacks, film, shopping, lunches, drinks, postcards, etc.
Emergencies: Suggested amounts to bring in case of emergencies vary from country to country, and will be
discussed in the pre-program meetings. Borrowing from fellow students can often lead to hurt feelings and
mistrust.
Savvy travelers rarely use travelers’ checks anymore. It is much easier to use credit debit cards, and ATMs
are plentiful now in most countries to which we travel. If we go on a program where ATMs will not be available, we will give you info in the pre-program meetings on the best monetary methods to use. The best and easiest method is to use your debit card, keep receipts, and carry this one card everywhere.
At the meetings, we will also tell you about the currency in any country in which we travel, and how to get the best exchange rate, etc.
If you lose your wallet, money, or card, please inform the courier and your professor, and we will help where we can. Do not let a loss like this damage your program. Please inform us of any loss, and we will help you take the necessary steps to get emergency funding through your bank.
Otherwise, enjoy being lost, and carry the hotel card in your pocket to give to a taxi driver. Never worry—we will find you.
Please consult with your doctor before you go on any of these programs about any specific medical conditions you may have and any medications you may need to bring with you. In addition, check the US State
Department web site for information on prescription medications that may not be allowed in particular
countries.
It is best not to engage in any behavior that could compromise you, the university, or the country you represent. Think twice before going out on dates with anyone you do not know—good advice anywhere.
The only time the courier and the agency or the professor may insist on your returning early would occur when you have flagrantly violated the guidelines of the program, endangered others, or broken laws within that country.
If you know the guidelines—and we will discuss them and you will sign a statement indicating you will abide by them—then the program will be both illuminating for everyone and trouble-free.
Remember, these programs are not to be construed as vacations or time-off; rather, you are paying for an
unparalleled learning experience. Yes, you will have fun, and yes, you will also be doing some serious exploration of the culture.
Most importantly, students must abide by the same standards of conduct as expected of them while on Oglethorpe campus.
When you return, you will work independently on what you experienced, meet occasionally with your professor, turn in the work by the announced deadline, and receive the credit and the grade for that course on your transcript, marked as a course you took while studying and traveling abroad.
Many companies examine resumes for any international experiences or study abroad experiences, and see them as indicative of someone who is flexible, capable of adjusting to new situations, and aware of global
cultures.
Going alone would cost you much more, but going with a group you know and with friends you love only enhances the experience.
Call or email the Center for Global Education (CGE) at www.oglethorpe.edu (keyword: study abroad) and embrace the world.