Here are some questions about the culture and history
of your host country, questions that will provide you with the sort
of information about everyday matters that are known by most people
living there. Try to answer as many of them as you can before you
leave and complete them at your Program. (Our thanks to L. Robert
Kohls’ book, Survival Kit for Overseas Living, for many
of these questions).
By the way, there are international students on campus
this quarter who would be very willing to help provide you information
about these and other matters. If you haven’t yet met them, make
an effort to do so! They are your best source of information about
the country you’ll be living in within a matter of weeks.
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Who are the country’s most important national
heroes and heroines? Who are the most widely admired public figures
today?
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Are other languages spoken besides Spanish, French,
or German? What are the political and social implications of language
usage?
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What is the predominant religion? Is it a state
religion? How long has the dominant religion been a force? To
what extent does the religion continue to play an important role
in the political and social life of the average citizen?
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What are the most important religious observances
and ceremonies? How regularly do people participate in them?
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How do members of the predominant religion feel
about other religions?
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What are some of the prevailing attitudes toward
divorce? Toward extra–marital relations? Toward homosexuality?
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What is the attitude toward drinking?
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Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are
customers expected to bargain? How is the bargaining conducted?
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If, as a customer, you touch or handle merchandise
for sale (including such things as fruit or linen tablecloths),
will the seller in the store or market think you are knowledgeable,
inconsiderate, within your rights, completely outside your rights?
Other?
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How do people organize their daily activities?
What is the normal meal schedule? Is there a daytime rest period?
What is the customary time for visiting friends?
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How long do people talk when they use the telephone?
Do friends call each other frequently to chat? How do people feel
about having other people make long-distance (overseas) calls
from their private house phones?
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What foods are popular and how are they prepared?
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What things are taboo in this society?
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What is the usual dress for women? for men? Are
slacks or shorts worn? If so, on what occasions? Do teenagers
wear jeans?
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What are the special privileges of age and/or
sex?
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If you are invited to dinner, would you arrive
early? on time? late? If late, how late?
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On what occasions would you present (or accept)
gifts from people in the country? What kind of gifts would you
exchange?
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Do some flowers have a particular significance?
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How do people greet one another? shake hands?
embrace or kiss? How do they leave one another? What do they say
when they greet or leave one another?
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What are the favorite leisure and recreational
activities of adults? teenagers?
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What sports are popular?
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What kinds of television programs are shown? What
social purposes do they serve?
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What is the normal work schedule?
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What kind of local public transportation is available?
Do all classes of people use it?
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Who has the right of way in traffic: vehicles,
pedestrians?
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Is military training compulsory?
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Are the largest circulation newspapers generally
friendly in their attitude toward the United States?
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What is the history of the relationships between
this country and the United States?
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Are there American expatriates living in the country?
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Is education free? compulsory?
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Where are the important universities of the country?
If university education is sought abroad, to what countries and
universities do students go?
