Learning local customs and etiquette is important when studying abroad
November 22, 2011
Studying abroad affords students the opportunity to learn about other cultures, but there needs to be a certain amount of preparation when one plans to visit another country. Foreign etiquette was the topic of a workshop held recently by the University of Texas' International Office. The Daily Texan reports that the workshop covered things like appropriate gestures, body language and wardrobes.
"We need to learn about cultures because if it were up to me, I would've worn whatever I felt like, but now I know that there are certain things we can and cannot wear in certain countries," Erika Mendez Morales, one of the students at the workshop, told the news source.
Respecting the culture of another nation will not only help students to more easily integrate with the local community during their stay, but it can also help them have a more successful experience, Bryan Cain, the program director for the UT International Office, explained.
Even if a student knows the local customs backward and forward, living in an unfamiliar place can still make them homesick, so they should remember to bring along an international phone card that will help them stay in touch with their loved ones.