Northern Michigan University - International Affairs Office

We recommend you learn as much as you can about your study abroad country. In order to help you begin your research, we have listed a few topics to consider. This list is by no means complete, but if you can familiarize yourself with this information, you will have a better understanding of the beliefs, attitudes, and daily customs and practices of your host country/family.

Who are the country's most importatnt national heroes and heroines? Who are the most widely admired public figures today?
Are other languages spoken besides the official language? What are the political and social implications of language usage?
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?
What are the most important religious observances and ceremonies? How regularly do people participate in them?
How do members of the predominant religion feel about other religions?
What are some of the prevailing attitudes toward divorce? toward extra–marital relations? toward homosexuality?
What is the attitude toward drinking?
Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are customers expected to bargain? How is bargaining conducted?
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?
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?
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? Are local calls toll calls?
What foods are popular and how are they prepared?
What things are taboo in this society?
What is the usual dress for women? for men? Are slacks or shorts worn? If so, on what occasions? Do teenagers wear jeans? Are long sleeves required in certain settings?
What are the special privileges of age and/or sex?
If you are invited to dinner, would you arrive early? on time? late? If late, how late?
On what occasions would you present (or accept) gifts from people in the country? What kind of gifts would you exchange?
Do some flowers have a particular significance?
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?
What are the favorite leisure and recreational activities of adults? teenagers?
What sports are popular?
What kinds of television programs are shown? What social purposes do they serve?
What is the normal work schedule?
What kind of local public transportation is available? Do all classes of people use it?
Who has the right of way in traffic: vehicles or pedestrians?
Is military training compulsory?
Are the largest circulation newspapers generally friendly in their attitude toward the United States?
What is the history of the relationships between this country and the United States?
Are there American expatriates living in the country?
Is education free? compulsory?
Where are the important universities of the country? If university education is sought abroad, to what countries and universities do students go?

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			Northern Michigan University Research Information Important Information We recommend you learn as much as you can about your study abroad country. In order to help you begin your research, we have listed a few topics to consider. This list is by no means complete, but if you can familiarize yourself with this information, you will have a better understanding of the beliefs, attitudes, and daily customs and practices of your host country/family. Who are the country's most importatnt national heroes and heroines? Who are the most widely admired public figures today? Are other languages spoken besides the official language? What are the political and social implications of language usage? 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? What are the most important religious observances and ceremonies? How regularly do people participate in them? How do members of the predominant religion feel about other religions? What are some of the prevailing attitudes toward divorce? toward extra–marital relations? toward homosexuality? What is the attitude toward drinking? Is the price asked for merchandise fixed or are customers expected to bargain? How is bargaining conducted? 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? 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? 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? Are local calls toll calls? What foods are popular and how are they prepared? What things are taboo in this society? What is the usual dress for women? for men? Are slacks or shorts worn? If so, on what occasions? Do teenagers wear jeans? Are long sleeves required in certain settings? What are the special privileges of age and/or sex? If you are invited to dinner, would you arrive early? on time? late? If late, how late? On what occasions would you present (or accept) gifts from people in the country? What kind of gifts would you exchange? Do some flowers have a particular significance? 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? What are the favorite leisure and recreational activities of adults? teenagers? What sports are popular? What kinds of television programs are shown? What social purposes do they serve? What is the normal work schedule? What kind of local public transportation is available? Do all classes of people use it? Who has the right of way in traffic: vehicles or pedestrians? Is military training compulsory? Are the largest circulation newspapers generally friendly in their attitude toward the United States? What is the history of the relationships between this country and the United States? Are there American expatriates living in the country? Is education free? compulsory? Where are the important universities of the country? If university education is sought abroad, to what countries and universities do students go?