Read This! Advice for the Foreign Exchange Student
“There are many situations that I had to get used to school, social habits at home and other places, food, communicating to people, and many more,” says Jaziel Tan, a student with a vision disability that traveled from Malaysia to study in Kansas. “These are the little things in life that we go through everyday and they are quite different in the host country. These are also the things that may help us to grow, which is a part of what the exchange program is about.”
The following four books will help you become familiar with American English and cultural habits, the disability matters and how to prepare for your exchange program. If you haven’t yet applied to go abroad, these books can help you see if this type of experience interests you.
The Slangman Guide to Street Speak:The Complete Course In American Slang and Idioms
By Dan Burke US $18.95
Tel: 818-769-1914 or 877-752-6462 (in U.S.)
Email: info@slangman.com
When you arrive in the United States and the person meeting you at the airport says, “It’s a good thing you travel light. Well, with the jet lag, I imagine you’re pretty wiped out.” You may not understand some of what your host just said because he used "slang" words. With print and audio books to teach you the everyday language of Americans and the difficult to understand slang words, you will learn your host meant, “It’s a good thing you travel with little luggage. Well, with the fatigue due to the time difference, I imagine you’re pretty exhausted.” The author of this book, a former high school exchange student, has written many publications on this topic and presents it in a fun and easy to learn way.
Survival Strategies for Going Abroad: A Guide for People with Disabilities
By Laura Hershey Free to Download or $5 to ship in the U.S.
Tel/TTY: 541-343-1284, Fax: 541-343-6812
Email: info@miusa.org
Do you want to learn from people who have traveled internationally how to do it successfully with a disability? Have you heard about adaptive technology or the independence attitude that is common in the U.S. disability community? This 200-page book focuses on academic, volunteer, short-term work and other types of cross-cultural exchange for a cross-disability audience. It compiles new tips and stories from twenty individuals with disabilities that have traveled to other countries. While mostly about U.S. adults going abroad, this new, easy-to-read book will give you information, resources and guidance on finding international exchange opportunities. It addresses disability-related aspects of choosing a program, applying, preparing for the trip, adjusting to a new country and returning home.
By Bettina Hansel US $16.95
Tel: 207-846-5186 or 866-372-2665 (in U.S.), Fax: 207-846-5181
Email: books@interculturalpress.com
While the previous book will give you tips on preparing for disability issues, this book will give you lessons learned from exchange participants your age. As more high school students participate in international exchange programs, you can learn from their experiences and better prepare for your own. Adjusting and adapting to a new culture, school, family and community for a few weeks, months or a year can be challenging. Students who read this book can learn what to expect. You can learn about typical feelings other youth have at certain times on international programs, and some of the ways to solve similar issues that may arise for you.
What's Up America: A Foreigner’s Guide to Understanding Americans
By Diane Asitimbay US $14.95
Tel: 619-501-9873, Fax: 619-501-1369
This book will answer some of the questions you have about Americans both before and after you arrive. While you may be in the United States to study in school, you could find that studying the cultural habits of the people around you to be most confusing. Written by someone who has answered a lot of questions from international students over the years, this book fills a couple hundred pages with interesting drawings and descriptions. You can find answers to questions such as, ‘Why do many American children leave home at 18?’ ‘Why are Americans always on diets but also overweight?’ This book also compares American habits to Korean, Japanese, and European customs and describes how cultural practices differ in many parts of the world.
