Prepare for Departure: A Guide to Making the Most of Your Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad -- an endeavor often described with words like "eye-opening," "amazing," and even "life-changing" -- offers you the opportunity to see more of the world, learn another language and culture, and experience things you might not under any other circumstances. But moving to another country, especially temporarily, can also come with pitfalls and roadblocks that trip you up and slow you down. Without your usual support network, the learning curve can be steep, and basic tasks (from figuring out how to do your laundry to keeping your appointment at the immigration office) can be frustrating and discouraging.

This book will help you shorten that learning curve so that you can spend more of your time and energy abroad on meaningful activities unique to your destination -- the kinds of things you imagine when you think about why you're going in the first place. The book's assertion is that being prepared to go abroad isn't achieved by packing the right suitcase; it requires planning, process, and practice. You'll walk through all three, and end up with high-quality preparation that sets you up for your best possible study abroad experience.

The author managed the student life division of a study abroad program in Italy, and she draws on lessons from nine years (and thousands of students) to help those who are headed abroad have a smoother ride.