Things to Remember While Abroad
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
In the event of an emergency, call +1-704-894-2250 and follow the instructions to reach a Davidson Education Abroad staff member. The following resources may also be helpful:
- International Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Support: Access local suicide hotlines for a number of international destinations.
- Pathways to Safety International: Pathways to Safety International specializes in prevention and response to American victims of sexual assault overseas, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or geographic location. Pathways case managers provide an informed, culturally-sensitive, compassionate response, as well as advocacy and assistance navigating medical, law enforcement, and legal options. The program can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from overseas by calling an international toll free hotline, 833-723-3833, via the AT&T Direct Access code for each country or by email via crisis@pathwaystosafety.org. Additional instructions can be found on the Pathways to Safety International website.
CHECK YOUR DAVIDSON EMAIL
It is important to review your Davidson email messages at least every few days or immediately in the event of civil unrest or a natural disaster in your host country. The Office of Education Abroad asks that students respond to our three brief check-in emails throughout the semester. In addition to providing important reminders, there are opportunities to let us know about any concerns you have about your program or transition to life abroad. You will also receive messages from the Registrar’s Office and the Residence Life Office with instructions for completing WebTree and housing requests for the upcoming semester. On Davidson programs, resident directors may use email as a primary way to reach you.
VOTING ABROAD
If you are a U.S. citizen, please research what elections may occur while you are abroad (federal, state, and local). Request an absentee ballot EARLY to ensure your vote is counted!
ACCESSING DAVIDSON RESOURCES WHILE ABROAD
The Davidson College Library has created a guide specifically for students participating in an education abroad program. This guide will help you conduct research, locate periodicals, answer questions about citations, and complete other tasks. You can also schedule a one-on-one research consultation.
The Betty and B. Frank Matthews II ’49 Center for Career Development has information about jobs and internships (locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally) through Handshake and GoinGlobal, and staff can assist with exploring various career paths during appointments. They also have tips for networking, interviewing, and enhancing your résumé and cover letter that may facilitate the process of returning to Davidson and for life after graduation.
TAKE TIME FOR REFLECTION
Whether you are spending a summer, semester, or academic year abroad, you will certainly experience highs and lows. By the end of your term, you may even feel as though time flew by more quickly than you expected. Think of ways you can process and keep track of your experience. This will help you to process the new things you are seeing and experiencing, but you will also want to have something tangible to look back on and reflect after you return home. Examples of this could be journaling about your daily interactions (no matter how mundane they may seem), taking photos, creating videos, sketching/painting, and collecting small, meaningful keepsakes. If you find that you are having trouble managing your stress or transitioning to your new environment, read through the resources available through Resilient Traveling, a project compiled by experts at the University of Michigan.