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Connecting with AFS: Your Application and your Host Country Resources

Updated

Login to your AFS Dashboard

The AFS dashboard is an online portal that will help you stay organized by giving you:

  • Access to your full application.
  • Information and notices from AFS-USA
  • “My To-Do List” which keeps track of your pending tasks; and
  • Information pertaining to your placement status, payment, orientations, host country, the visa process, and international travel as it becomes available.

If you have any questions about your AFS dashboard, please contact your Study Abroad Specialist via the Chatter feature on your Dashboard, or check our this document that will walk you through the entire application process.

Review the Country Resources section of Help and Learning

This section of Help and Learning houses all of the most critical information that you need to know about studying abroad in your host country! Explore this section by selecting the country you are going to, and the program you are attending. Many of the resources in this section have been developed by the staff and volunteers of the host country and so the information that they are sharing with you is vital to your success on program. These documents should also be available to you on your dashboard.

These documents cover everything from important safety tips to how to have a conversation with your host family to suggestions on what to pack. Be sure to review these thoroughly!

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Cultural Learning Resources

Two of the most important things you can take with you on your program are an open mind and flexibility! To supplement these two things, do some research about your host country, and studying abroad in general. These resources are not affiliated with AFS.

  • Culture Shock! –A Guide to Customs and Etiquette series, for over 40 countries (Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon.)
  • The Exchange Student Survival Kit (Bettina Hansel, Published by Nicholas Brealey, 2021)
  • CultureGrams- access this online resource through AFS’s subscription; it is a great place to start learning about your host country!
    • Username: afsusa Password: cgrams
    • Do NOT share this login information outside of your own family members. CultureGrams is an online resource that contains information on over 200 countries. Topics include non-verbal communication, cultural norms, holidays, current events, and the economy. You can even find recipes for typical dishes of your host country or hear the national anthem! AFS has a limited license for these materials. Please close the window when you are finished using CultureGrams so that other people may access it!

Home Country Knowledge

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      • Many in your host country may expect that you will be knowledgeable about U.S. politics, current events, history, etc. and willing to engage in conversations on these topics with them. While on exchange you may be asked to share information about your home country with your community or school. This can be a way to meet people, so if you are not asked to do so, you may consider offering a presentation. Examples of helpful information to include are: photographs, music, recipes, or any other item that represents your home country and/or culture. Learn more about how to build one of these presentations here.
      • Even if you do not build a formal presentation, consider familiarizing yourself with the below questions as these may be topics of conversations that folks will want to have with you:
        • U.S. Politics
          • What is the form of government in the U.S.?
          • Who are the top 5 ranking officials in office?
          • What are the branches of the U.S. government?
             
        • Hometown History
          • What significant events shaped your hometown?
          • What is the population and cultural makeup?
          • What are the major industries in your state?
             
        • U.S. Current Events
          • What has been in the news lately?
          • What U.S. pop culture might be known abroad?
          • What are your perceptions of these events/people?
             
        • U.S. & Host Country
          • What is the historical relationship between the two countries?
          • What is their current relationship?
          • What are some common values in U.S. versus your Host Country?
          • What else would you like your host family to know about the U.S.?

 

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