CGS London Freshman Program - Boston University...Life on Site: Mental Health Talk to your therapist/counselor about mental health while abroad and make a plan before you go. Even

CGS London Freshman Program

Arrivals Day: Sunday 17 May

Departures: Saturday 27 June

Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here

CGS Freshman Summer 2015

1

When You Arrive

Coach pick-up for group flights

Arrivals Day activities:

Welcome Brunch at your Residence Hall

BU London Orientation

Day Two:

Walking Tours

Scenic Guided Coach Tour of London



2



3

Location: Kensington

15 minutes walk from BU London

Centre

Close to London attractions

Convenient public transportation

links



4

Tube and buses

Oystercard (field trips)

Night Buses/Taxis

Zones

www.tfl.gov.uk

Getting Around



5

Six-Weeks

Overnight trip to Paris

Team B

Team C

Academic Fieldtrips

Academic Outline



6

London is Expensive!!!

Weekly Food Shopping: £35-45 ($58-74)

Cinema Ticket: £10-15 ($17-25)

Dine Out: £15-£30 ($25-$50)

Cost of Living



7

Museums

Parks

Time Out:

Find out about

free events!

London on the Cheap



8

Your Health While Abroad

Talk to Mona for counselling

advice or assistance in finding a

doctor:

• In person at the Student Affairs

Office

• By email: mona@bu-

london.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]




Culture Shock

“…two countries divided by a common language.” George Bernard Shaw

1. Queue for the till

2. Pants and vests

3. Put the rubbish in the bin

Throw the trash in trashcan

Underpants and undershirts

Line up at the cash register



Culture Shock

Weeks




11

Personal Page

Social Program Experiences

Social Programme



12

Select Housing

Medical Information

Order Mobile Phone

London Personal Page



13

If possible, bring a laptop with a plug adaptor for the UK

Layers of clothing for hot and cold weather

Enough prescription medication for full term

Bath towels!

Packing



14

Immigration

Make two copies of your passport. Take a copy with you and leave a copy at home.

Passport: If your passport is due to expire within 6 months of your expected arrival in London, you

must apply for a new passport.

General Student Visitor Stamp (receive on entry)

Confirmation/Acceptance letters (from BU)


15

BU Study Abroad:

[email protected]

BU London Contact:

[email protected]

Contacts



16

Questions?



APPENDICES


Complete general Pre-

departure documents to get

registered for your program.

Watch the online module

(again!)

Action Items



1. Research your host country prior to departure

2. Keep an open mind

3. Search out new experiences and friends

4. Do not judge the people of a country by one person or one experience

5. Keep a sense of humor

6. Listen and observe rather than merely see or hear

7. Reflect daily to process your experiences

8. Use your host university’s support system

9. Stay in touch with home

10. Remember you have traveled far to learn about and experience a new culture,

and to represent your country and school; most people only DREAM about

having this experience.

There is no "best way" to deal with culture shock; it always depends on the individual.

Culture Shock: Ten Tips



Culture Shock



Local Social Media Follow local businesses, venues, organizations, etc. to get latest news about places of interest and keep

up with different social trends.

Apps of interest (examples):

What’s App

Local transit apps

Timeout

Health Apps

Local streaming TV, Spotify channels, radio, etc.

Blogs and websites You have a place to track new websites, magazines, apps, etc. on the worksheet that’s attached to the

online module. Use it!

Technology and Social Media



CISI Coverage

Familiarize yourself with CISI coverage Review BU Study Abroad information on

health insurance and travel assistance

Log into online portal once enrolled

Print copies of insurance card and keep in safe place (e.g. with passport)

In case of need of travel assistance or health insurance: Call or email CISI directly

(312) 935-1703 (outside US)

(855) 327-1411 (inside US)

Provide Group Policy Number

(GLM N0498321A)

CISI will then coordinate treatment plan or travel assistance


http://www.bu.edu/abroad/apply-go/health-and-safety/insurance-and-travel-assistance/

http://www.bu.edu/abroad/apply-go/health-and-safety/insurance-and-travel-assistance/

http://www.culturalinsurance.com/


Life on Site: Mental Health

Talk to your therapist/counselor about

mental health while abroad and make

a plan before you go.

Even if you may be excited about

new opportunities, stress or anxiety

may increase abroad.

Keep Healthy: Keep up routine (when possible)

CISI covers mental health care

Use the on-site staff as a resource


Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Keep your belongings safe

Do not bring valuables or sentimental items abroad

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash

Monitor your wallet/purse closely. Keep money hidden, or consider a money belt

Limit smartphone usage in public

Carry only necessities out at night – make sure you have emergency numbers with you

Personal Safety



Personal Safety - Preparation

BU provides a variety of educational programs designed to

promote awareness and prevention of sexual assault and

domestic violence.

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training

The Boston University Police Department offers RAD

training several times during the year, and can schedule

additional sessions on request.

Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center

In cooperation with BU’s Student Health Services, SARP

provides a variety of services, including:

Step Up. Step In. (bystander training)

health services

mental health counseling

violence prevention workshops during the academic year

and upon request

Be Safe@BU

The Dean of Students provides programming at student

orientation and beyond to educate the BU community on a

variety of safety measures, including assault prevention.

Wellness & Prevention Services:

http://www.bu.edu/shs/wellness/

Non-BU students, please also research your university’s

services


http://www.bu.edu/police/services/RAD/

http://www.bu.edu/shs/emergencies/sexual-assault/

http://www.bu.edu/dos/resources/be-safe/




Keep yourself safe

Do not drive (road crashes are #1 cause of death abroad)

Do not participate in demonstrations/protests

Drink responsibly

Keep a low profile and be aware of your surroundings

Travel with others and look out for each other

Pay attention to the news (before and during the program)

Practice safe sex, report any sexual assault to staff abroad

Personal Safety



Personal Safety

Boston University is committed to fostering a safe learning environment for all members of the University community and preventing sexual misconduct.

All forms of sexual misconduct, including rape, acquaintance rape, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment are violations of Boston University’s policies, whether they happen on campus or off campus.

Reporting: On-site staff should be first resource. If unavailable or uncomfortable reporting, contact Title IX Deputy Coordinator (Assoc. Director, Enrollment Services at BU Study Abroad), Debbie Miller at [email protected]

BU staff/site staff are obligated to report any incident of sexual misconduct

On-site staff will go over this in orientation



Boston University Slideshow Title Goes Here Program Emergency Plan

Will be explained during on-site

orientation

Personal Emergency Plan

Always have emergency contact

numbers with you, both in your

phone and separately

Enroll in the State Department

STEP Program to get travel alerts

and warnings

Talk with your family about

communication expectations so

they know you are okay

Safety Plans


https://step.state.gov/step/

https://step.state.gov/step/


LGBTQ Resources

US State Department Advice for

LGBT Travelers

Diversity and Inclusion Abroad:

Sexual Orientation Abroad

Disability resources


Student with Disabilities Abroad

Abroad with Disabilities

Facebook Community

Women’s issues by site

US State Department Advice for

Women Travelers


Women Abroad

BU: http://www.bu.edu/shs/resources/

Many additional resources can be

found online

Resources


http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel/forlgbttravelers.php

http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel/forlgbttravelers.php

http://www.diversityabroad.com/sexual-orientation-abroad

http://www.diversityabroad.com/sexual-orientation-abroad

http://www.diversityabroad.com/disable-students-abroad

http://www.diversityabroad.com/disable-students-abroad

https://www.facebook.com/DisabledStudentsAbroad

https://www.facebook.com/DisabledStudentsAbroad

http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel/forwomentravelers.php

http://studentsabroad.state.gov/smarttravel/forwomentravelers.php

http://www.diversityabroad.com/women-study-abroad-safety

http://www.diversityabroad.com/women-study-abroad-safety

http://www.bu.edu/shs/resources/

Documents

CGS London Freshman Program - Boston University...Life on Site: Mental Health Talk to your therapist/counselor about mental health while abroad and make a plan before you go. Even