Preparing to Travel
Things to know and think about before you go.
Travel Information and Registry
Before travel, you are required to register your travel itinerary and housing accommodations into “My Travel Plans”, also called the travel registry. You can find “My Travel Plans” in your MyNortheastern portal or on the Travel Website.
Before you leave for your global experience, please carefully review the Northeastern University International Travel Site for the most up-to-date policies on international travel. The travel site includes information around:
- Registering your travel with Northeastern
- Necessary travel documents
- Housing abroad
- Connectivity abroad
- Health and safety issues to consider
- International emergency numbers
Questions to consider before traveling internationally:
Navigating a new culture can be tricky. Expectations on things like style, mannerisms, and more vary greatly around the world. The more you know about the culture you’ll be immersed in, the better your experience abroad will be. Some questions to consider before reaching your destination include:
- Social Etiquette: If you are invited to dinner, should you arrive early? On time? Late? How do people greet one another? What are the social norms surrounding dating?
- Politics: What is the political structure of the country? What is the history of the relationship between this country and the country you are from?
- Religion: What is the predominant religion of the country? Is it a state religion? Are there any minority religions? What are the most important religious observances and ceremonies? How does religion tie
- Values/Attitudes: What actions and beliefs are considered taboo (or frowned upon)?
- Language: What is the primary language and are there other languages spoken? What are some common greetings and phrases?
- Dress: Are there dress norms based on your perceived gender identity? What is the appropriate dress for you, as a foreigner?
You may encounter academic systems that are very different from what you are used to. Often, this academic difference is the largest adjustment when studying abroad. Here are some tips to navigate those differences successfully:
- Take some time to research the history, academic culture, mission and vision of your host institution, just as you did when you researched Northeastern.
- Academic differences can be cultural, deep rooted in diverse educational philosophies around the globe.
- It is not uncommon for courses taken abroad to be based on just one or two exams or a final project. Greater weight factored across fewer assignments means that there is less room for error in terms of your academic performance.
Classroom etiquette may also be different abroad. Ask your peers for their insight into acceptable classroom behavior at your host institution.
(Credit to the University of Kansas for some of the material used above.)