Culture & Identity Abroad

Studying abroad can be an exciting and rewarding experience for everyone. As you embark on this incredible journey of discovery and growth, we encourage you to consider how the identities you hold may affect how you engage with the cultural attitudes and norms at your host location. The Global Experience Office strives to offer you the resources you need to have a successful and fulfilling study abroad experience, regardless of your identities or abilities.

Northeastern University serves a diverse student population and promotes inclusive practices both on campus and abroad. This section contains important information and resources related to ability, identity, and religion to help you make the most of their time abroad. Please note that attitudes, laws, and customs concerning inclusivity and diversity vary around the world.

The questions below can help you reflect and begin to understand your social identity before going abroad and can help you learn about the host community.

• Which identities do you lead in your current environment?
• How do you anticipate these shifting through a change in your physical and social environment?
• What is the impact of an identity shift through a global experience?
• What are the demographics of the country/city in which I am studying?

To help you answer some of these questions, the Global Experience Office has created the My Global Identity Series, a series of workshops addressing different identity issues students could face abroad.

Before going abroad, it’s important to research the country you’ll be traveling to, in order to make sure you’re familiar with its customs, traditions, and laws. Spiritual practices can affect many aspects of culture and daily life, so it is important to be informed. Researching in advance will help you understand what to expect and take the necessary steps to prepare yourself.

Northeastern Belonging Resources
Feel free to look through and reach out to any of these Northeastern resources below to use as a reference as you prepare for your N.U.in international program:

• Belonging at Northeastern
• Belonging in Study Abroad
• Disability Access Services
• The Asian American Center
• The Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service
• The Center for Intercultural Engagement
• The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute
• The Latinx Student Cultural Center
• The LGBTQA Resource Center
• The Social Justice and Resource Center

Culture is often defined as a shared system of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors. When students travel abroad and leave the cultural context they are familiar with, they can be confronted with feelings of anxiety or distress. While each student experiences this in their own unique way, the process of acculturation can be characterized by feelings of homesickness, heightened irritability, or frustration with the host culture. Students should be prepared for this experience and know that it is possible to move through the feelings related to disorientation of being in an unfamiliar culture with appropriate guidance and support.

All forms of challenges associated with cultural adaptation are completely normal and part of a successful process of acculturation.  

These strategies may take effort to put into practice, but pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone can make a big difference: 

• Journal regularly to reflect and process your experience 
• Avoid quick judgments—keep an open mind 
• Set personal goals and track your progress 
• Get involved in activities at your host institution 
• Talk to your sites staff to make sense of your experience–they can help! 
• If feelings persist, make an appointment to see an on-site mental health professional 
• Exercise and practice self-care 
• Be patient with yourself and avoid comparisons
• Consider taking the 1-credit Global Learning Experience course

You may not only experience cultural adaptation while living in a foreign country, but you may also go through a period of re-entry or re-adaptation when returning to your home culture after spending time abroad. Living abroad often expands your perspectives and or worldview. As a result, returning home may require readjustment and reexamination of previous ways of life.

To help manage this transition, consider journaling to reflect on the experience and its impact on your personal development, sharing the experience with friends, family, or prospective students, and staying connected with your N.U.in cohort after returning to Boston.