Studying Abroad

Attend any orientation workshops offered by your programme or university. It s worth attending them even if you think you already know the content you might learn something, and its a good way to meet people in a similiar situation and staff and faculty who may be able to help you. You might also take advantage of a guided tour of your local area and/or campus to help you to orientate yourself geographically.
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Register with the police, if you can. This may be mandatory for all foreign visitors, required only if visitors from certain countries, or not necessary at all. To register, you will usually have to go the police station and show your passport and documents of student status, and might have to fill out a form about your background and intentions in your new country.

In some cases, you will be able to register by phone or through a hotel or other accommodation.

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Occasionally, you may be thrown right into your programme on arrival. especially if you re part of an organized exchange. In most cases, though, you will have a few days before your official commitments begin. During this time, there are a number of things you might do to help yourself feel more comfortable and confident in your new surroundings.

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Whether you are being picked up, or finding your own way to the university, or your accommodation, the first thing you should do after clearing Customs is organize some cash, if you are not already carrying local currency. Bear in mind the following.

• Airport exchange rates are notorious for being high. Change only enough money to get you through the first day or 2 of your trip and organize the rest later.
• Be conscious of security – there may be pickpockets around. Don’t leave your luggage unattended.
• If you have to catch a public transport, try to buy something small in the airport, so that you can change your large notes; many buses and trains require exact or close to close change and may not be able to handle a large note.

When Somethings go wrong with customs?

If you prepared very well to your journey for the Customs and immigration then you have very high chance to pass easily. There will be no diffciculty in clearing Customs and immigration. However, if something goes wrong, its important that you have researched beforehand what your rights are. You might be asked, for example, to have a private interview, or to be searched in detail. This may even include a strip search, its important that you don’t be panic., you will have to use your own intuition and discretion to work out what s going on.

The rights that you have in this situation vary from country to country, but you should feel free to ask politely that whats going on there and you might be able to make a phone call if the problem doesnt get resolved immediately, or ask the person dealing with you to call your embassy for assitance. What is “strip search” mean? Detailed search on your body. This may be included, removing your top, pants, bra etc. You may be whole naked in front of somebody in another room.

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