Successful completion of the following process allows students in the Renée Crown University Honors Program to use their study abroad experience as a substitute for one HNR course or "other honors course."

This process is NOT required simply to use your study abroad as part of your global awareness requirement.

I. Pre-Departure

This segment must be completed and submitted before you leave the U.S. for your semester abroad, because it is intended to capture your pre-departure impressions. If you have not completed this step before leaving the U.S., we cannot accept it or the remaining materials.

• • • • Complete the activities outlined in part I that prepare you to write your pre-departure essay.

• • • • Write your pre-departure essay (3-5 pages).

• • • • Use the form provided in part IV of this menu to submit your materials to Honors.

II. While Abroad

• • • • Follow the instructions in part II: While Abroad
        • You will be keeping a weekly Travel Journal / blog and writing three Critical Incident Essays. As noted, one Critical Incident Essay should be submitted early on in your semester, another at midterm, and a third towards the end of your time abroad.

• • • • Use the form provided in part IV of this menu to submit your materials to Honors throughout the semester.

III. Re-Entry

• • • • Shortly after you return, write your re-entry essay as outlined in part III: Re-Entry

• • • • Use the form provided in part IV of this menu to submit your materials to Honors.

Pre-Departure; before you leave campus for abroad.

I. Think about the following questions: Getting Ready for Your Semester Abroad

1. What are your personal goals for the semester? Why are you going?
2. How do you think it will be different from spending a semester in Syracuse?
3. How much do you know about the culture, history, current political issues, and people of the country where you will be studying?
4. Where will you turn for more information about the country where you will be going?

II. Read and reflect on the Sojourn Action Plan material below:

Sojourn Action Plan

While the following materials were originally developed for use by students studying abroad in a new culture, they also have relevance for those entering into any new situation. Each of us has a different capacity to adapt to new situations. In fact, we may be able to adapt fairly easily in some ways yet find barriers in other ways. For example, you may find that while you learn easily in a well-focused classroom or studio, applying your skills and knowledge in a fluid, real-world setting poses unanticipated challenges.

In order to increase your skill at adapting to new situations, it is important to take appropriate actions. It is always possible to improve your ability to adapt.
To help your semester away be a process of growth, Dr. Colleen Kelley and Dr. Judith Meyers have articulated four dimensions that can help you understand some of the difficulties and rewards you will face during your time off campus. In some of the dimensions you will be stronger than in others. Your goal will be to understand your strengths and to work on your weaknesses. These dimensions are:

• • • • PERSONAL AUTONOMY: someone who has a clear personal value system and a strong sense of identity, and who is self-directed and self-respecting.

• • • • EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE: someone who is able to bounce back and who has emotional equilibrium, a positive attitude, and a sense of adventure.

• • • • FLEXIBILITY/OPENNESS: someone who lacks rigidity, is nonjudgmental, likes people, and enjoys diversity.

• • • • PERCEPTUAL ACUITY: someone who is attentive to verbal/non-verbal cues, aware of communication dynamics, and empathetic.

Your reactions while abroad will reflect your strengths and weaknesses along these dimensions.

Adapted from The Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory Action-Planning Guide, Dr. Colleen Kelley and Dr. Judith Meyers

A. Journal

Keep a journal with entries that describe and reflect upon the experience of being away from campus. For full semester programs make at least one entry each week. For summer or other shorter programs, make at least two entries each week.  Submit the link to your Journal or travel blog via the form in part IV, specifying that you are submitting your journal link.

B. Critical Incident Essays

Write three essays (one early in the semester, another at midterm, and a third towards the end of your time abroad). Each essay should focus upon an incident, event, or encounter that caused you to think about both the differences and the common ground between your own culture (upbringing, education, beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, expectations, etc.) and those of the new place in which you are studying or working. Each essay should be focused and precise, and 3-4 pages long.

Organize your remarks in the following order:

1. Incident: Report on what happened, describing the event or encounter in detail. What was the setting? Who took part? What seemed to be said? Who listened in? What objects were involved? What role did you play?

2. Interpretation: Interpret the whole scene you have just described. What do you think was "really" happening?

3. Analysis: Considering your interpretation of the incident, ask yourself, "What made
me think so?" That is, identify significant details and account for how each led you to conclude whatever is recorded in your interpretation of the scene.

4. Self-reflection: How did you feel witnessing and/or participating in this scene? Have you even been in a similar situation? When, where, and with what group of people? Did you behave in the same way or differently that time? Did you have similar feelings? Can you explain why?

5. Summary: What did you learn from this exercise? Do you see any way you can employ your insights in other situations?

When your journal and essays are done, submit them via the form in Part IV of this menu, and specify that you are submitting your critical incident essays.

Re-Entry Essay

A. Write an essay of 3-5 pages reflecting on your experiences abroad and re-entry to the United States. Submit it via the form in part IV of this menu.

1. 1. 1. 1. Write about your experiences and feelings while abroad,
         2. about your experiences and feelings upon returning home, and
         3. on how your lifestyle and life plans may have changed.

Think back on the goals, expectations, fears or concerns you had before going abroad and use the following questions as thought provokers.

While you were abroad

1. What were the 3-5 easiest/difficult things? Why?
2. What did you enjoy the most about the host culture?
3. What were your worst and best moments? Why?
4. What could you never adjust to? Why?
5. Who were your friends? Your support?
6. How were you stereotyped? How did you deal with it?
7. What were your stereotypes of the hosts? Were they accurate? How did you deal with it?
8. Were there any incidents or situations that puzzled you? How were you able to understand, solve or accept these situations?

After you return home

9. What did you adopt and bring back with you from your host culture (attitudes, gestures, expressions, behaviors)?
10. How did others react to these, and your stories? Are your close relationships being affected? How?
12. Have you found that your family and friends also have been through some transitions or changes of their own?
13. Do you think you have changed, a little, a lot, why? Do others think you have changed? How do you think others react to these changes?
14. How do you feel about these changes?
15. What personal skills have you developed from having been abroad?
16. What are your career goals?
17. What are the ways in which you will integrate your international experience into your future plans?
18. What intellectual windows will this experience open for you?