Living in East Asia & the Pacific Region

Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation, 2017

Olivia Nguyen, Vietnam ETA ‘15 uco.nguyen@outlook.com

Pooja Bag, Laos ETA ‘15

poojabag@gmail.com

Matthew Poissant, Indonesia ETA ‘16-17 mpoissant93@gmail.com

HELLO :)

HOUSING

WHAT TO EXPECT

BASIC AMENITIES

● Western toilet & shower

● Air conditioning

● Fridge/mini-fridge (varies)

● Desk & basic storage

● Bike (pedal or electric)

● Snack cart or canteen on-grounds

CAVEAT

Placement quality & amenities seriously vary

E.g.: Wi-Fi is not guaranteed!

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THESE POTENTIAL ISSUES:

● Curfews & other restrictions

● Reporting whereabouts/travels

● Noise

● Unannounced visitors/intrusions

● Bugs & lizards

● Stray cats & dogs

● Being alone at night

● Power outages

TIPS & TRICKS

1. Be clean or be judged. HARD.

2. Always be prepared for guests - whether it’s students, teachers, your host, or important officials (i.e. have tea & snacks on hand, or whatever’s customary)

3. Befriend and be extra kind to the security guards & other maintenance staff (but be aware of existing social hierarchies at school)

4. Bring some things that make home feel like home for you: pictures, posters/banners, etc.

Money and Banking

WHAT TO EXPECT

● International Fees

● Bargaining

● Foreigner Prices

● Cash transactions

● Exchange rate =/= Worth

Banking Tips

● Your bank should: ○ Covers international fees

○ Has good customer service

● International ATMs

● Have a backup card

Budgeting Tips

● Ask community about pricing

● Review monthly charges

○ Student loans

○ Mobile Service

○ Subscriptions

● Bargaining

○ Go with a local

○ Half the price

Clothing/Dress

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Overall, clothing standards are more conservative

a. Rule of thumb - if you aren’t sure, don’t wear it

1. Heavy rainy season - bring shoes & raincoat that can withstand storms

1. Don’t pack anything you wouldn’t wear in the US

TIPS & TRICKS

WOMEN:

● What is ok varies from country-to-country, but overall, expect to dress conservatively

● Exposed shoulders/chest/back are not ok

● In some places, sheer clothing is ok

● Sleeveless shirts are not recommended in class, but are fine outside of school

● Covered knees are recommended in class

● If you can wear local clothing (e.g. sinhs) to class, it will be appreciated

● Major cities - anything (within reason) goes

MEN:

● Button-down and slacks are appropriate for class

● Jeans are not appropriate in all situations - ask colleagues if possible

PACKING

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Available sizes

a. Women: Hard to find clothing above size 6, shoes above size 7, bras above 34-36C

b. Men: Hard to find comfortable pants, underwear, and shoes

c. Solution: Get clothes tailored or make trips into the city to buy what you need

2. Humidity might affect electronics

a. Clements Travel Insurance → used by Peace Corps, reasonable rates

3. Hobby-related supplies will not be readily available, so bring your own

4. Apple products NOT common (except for iPhones); Apple stores only in largest cities

TIPS & TRICKS

DO BRING:

● Good quality winter clothing (if applicable)

● Special school supplies

● Good rain gear

● Sturdy bike lock

● Lots of underwear

● Comfort food

● Nook/Kindle

● Souvenirs of varying quality

○ 5 for really important people

○ 10+ for invites to dinner in homes

○ 50+ for students, friends, etc.

● Favorite skincare/makeup

DON’T BRING:

● Clothes you would never wear in the USA

● Excessive amount of shoes

● Really nice, valuable, sentimental things

Communication

WHAT TO EXPECT

● Different social media norms

● Phone services different from U.S.

● Limited WiFi access

Tips & Tricks

● Create a “fake”book

● Google Hangouts for international calls

● Familiarize yourself with:

○ Line

○ Whatsapp

○ BBM (Blackberry Messanger)

○ Instagram

○ Viber

○ Wechat

INTERNAL/DOMESTIC TRAVEL

WHAT TO EXPECT

● All options mostly well within with your Fulbright stipend (relative costs vary by country)

● Informal systems of local/regional travel (word of mouth, personal connections, booking by phone/texting, no Internet presence)

● Formal systems of national travel (train, plane, overnight buses with websites, ticketing, etc.)

● Very lax safety standards in general (except for national travel)

● Uber-like apps in larger, more developed cities

● Day-to-day: pollution, dust, dirt, uneven tan lines, drunk driving

TIPS & TRICKS

1. DO rely on your local contacts to find you the best (and safest) routes/deals

2. Get accustomed to booking things last minute if you want good deals

3. If possible, find yourself a go-to “driver guy” for your local travel needs & build that relationship - less risk of being ripped off, & it’s generally safer

4. Make sure you are comfortable riding a bike

1. Use Fulbridge to connect with other ETAs

Food

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. DELICIOUSNESS! So much great food awaits you - be adventurous and have an open stomach

a. Diet restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) can often be accommodated, but be aware that ingredients like fish sauce are ubiquitous

b. MSG is a very common ingredient and hard to avoid (if that’s a concern)

1. Spicy food & lots of rice!

1. Limited access to non-Asian food, depending on placement

1. Social drinking culture that emphasizes heavy drinking for men

TIPS & TRICKS

DO:

● Get recommendations from your colleagues & hosts on where to buy food

○ Avoid issues with pesticide & quality control

● Expect to get sick initially -almost everyone does, and you will move past it

● What’s most convenient for you - cook at home or eat out

○ This will depend on your placement, willingness to cook, etc.

● Find a mall to get non-local food, if your town has limited other options

DON’T:

● Be afraid to say no to drinking

○ Take a stance early on - it’s harder to reverse your position after the fact

● Smoke or get drunk in social situations, if you’re a woman

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

WHAT TO EXPECT

● Diverse ways to get involved depending on your interests/initiative

● Opportunity for additional grant funding from Embassy upon request

● Conflicting expectations from your host institution/local government

● Bureaucracy that can hinder planning & execution

● Less organization, planning & communication & more last-minute firedrills compared to USA professional standards

● Lack of interest/participation in your ideas

● Potential shutdown of your plans by government/school

● High level of monitoring by government if you get involved outside of school

TIPS & TRICKS

1. ALWAYS keep your host informed of your extracurricular involvements

2. When it comes to extracurricular projects, make plans extra early

3. Remind colleagues of their responsibilities/commitments more often than not

4. Look to English centers, local universities, & the Embassy for opportunities & resources

5. Some successful ventures: USA scholarship workshops, English language conference, Current Events Club, Embassy movie night, Halloween party, prom

Low English Levels

TIPS & TRICKS

DO:

● Annunciate each syllable

● Economize your language

● Be patient with repetition

● Rephrase what you said

● Check for understanding with a simple question relating to what you said

DON’T:

● Speak louder when repeating (unless asked)

● Use idioms

● Ask “Do you understand?”

Language Learning

Tips & Tricks

Resources

● Podcasts

● Community

● Tutoring

● Instant _____ book series

Keep in Mind...

● Progress is intermittent and inconsistent

● Force yourself into situations where you have to practice

● A smile and good will are universal

Talking about the U.S.

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Blunt questions

2. Assumptions/Stereotypes

DO:

● Keep conversations constructive

● Talk about the variety of backgrounds people in the US have and how many people’s families come from all over the world

DON’T:

● Get offended

○ Comments are almost never meant personally

● Be surprised if people assume you are rich just because you are from the US

Culture Shock

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Your cohort are your best allies in going through culture shock

a. They’re likely going through the same things as you

1. Ups and downs are completely normal

1. Your support network, hobbies, exercise, and familiar places or experiences are useful to deal with culture shock

TIPS & TRICKS

DO:

● Think about who is your support system, both at home and in country

○ Find a community you feel comfortable with

● Establish a routine to bring a sense of order to your life

● For every negative thing you say/think, also try and think of something positive

DON’T:

● Hesitate to make space and time for yourself

● Feel guilty about finding something familiar and frequenting it (McDonald’s, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, etc.)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES

GREATEST AREAS OF GROWTH

RE-ENTRY

TIPS & TRICKS

● Write for publications in your country or USA

● BLOG!

● Grow & maintain your professional network (locals & expats)

● Reverse culture shock is real

● Connect with alumni and the embassy (while there and when you get back)

Olivia Nguyen Vietnam ETA ‘15

uco.nguyen@outlook.com

Pooja Bag Laos ETA ‘15

poojabag@gmail.com

Matthew Poissant Indonesia ETA ‘16-17

mpoissant93@gmail.com

QUESTIONS? :)