хорошее питание-здоровье

В начальных классах, особенно нижнего элементарном уровне, дети знают, что Существуют различные пищевые продукты, некоторые "хорошие" и некоторые "плохие". Кроме того, они, кажется, понимают, что рост человека и размер может зависеть от того, что он / она ест. В данном исследовании, студенты будут использовать онлайновые ресурсы, чтобы помочь им изучить, как питание может влиять на их здоровье в целом.

По мере прохождения через этот урок, вы также должны знать, что младший учащихся начальной школы часто считают, что содержание тела, что они видели, вводится в или выхода из него. Они также знают, что пища, связанные с растущей и быть сильным и здоровым, но они не знают о физиологических механизмах. Вы должны дать понять, что пища является источником вещества для роста, не является обязательным требованием для роста.

Этот урок является вторым из науки NetLinks трех частей серии. Он работает в связке с 1 Питание: Питание и пищеварительной системы, урок, который фокусируется на необходимости питательных веществ, и питание 3: Got Брокколи, последний урок, который инкапсулирует, что учащиеся узнали о питании?.

Этот урок рассматривает только первую часть теста. Дополнительные мероприятия, направленные на хау, как люди растут, объемы и виды пищи и физических упражнений, необходимых для тела может меняться, будет необходимо для студентов, чтобы получить полное представление о данном тесте.

МОТИВАЦИЯ
Попросите учеников прочитать 5 День Факты на сайте питание команды. Исследование могло бы быть напечатаны заранее и распространен среди студентов.

Примечание: Вы должны структурировать эту деятельность таким образом, который соответствует чтению уровня ваших студентов. Студенты могут читать статью на свои собственные, а можно читать вслух класса.

Попросите учащихся на них, основываясь на этой информации:
Сколько фруктов и овощей должно дети едят каждый день? (Они должны съедать 5 порций фруктов и овощей каждый день.)
Назовите причины, почему это важно питаться пять или больше фруктов и овощей каждый день. (Некоторые причины включают в себя: есть 5 или больше фруктов и овощей каждый день играет важную роль в предотвращении сердечных заболеваний, рака, остеопороза, высокое кровяное давление, ожирение, диабет, инсульт и врожденные дефекты, фруктов и овощей также может увеличить энергию и помогать в потеря веса; в качестве бонуса, фрукты и овощи, вкусно, удобно, легко и быстро подготовить).
Вместо того, чтобы фрукты и овощи, то, что большая закуска для детей? (Картофель фри является большой закуска. Четверть всех овощей съеден элементарном студенты картофель фри.)
Каков средний фруктов и овощей, служащие для 6 до 12-летних? (Это составляет 2,4).
Какие тревожные результаты этого исследования? (Ответы могут быть различными. Поощряйте учащихся объяснить свои ответы.)
Далее, есть студенты изучают есть руководство, ешьте пять Путь группы Пищевые продукты из питания исследователи. Это руководство не только показывает количество фруктов и овощей, которые должны потребляться, а количество порций молочных продуктов, мяса / птицы / рыбы, и хлеб / крупы.
Имея в виду эти цифры, спросите студентов на следующие вопросы:
Сколько порций мяса / птицы / рыбы должны дети в день? (Они должны иметь две порции в день.)
Сколько порций молочных продуктов должна дети в день? (Они должны иметь три порции в день.)
Сколько порций хлеба / зерно должно дети в день? (Они должны иметь 5:55 порций.)
После обсуждения руководства, говорят о том, как дети в целом может идти о еде рекомендуемое количество порций из пяти основных групп продуктов. Спросите учащихся, почему важно, чтобы поесть правильных продуктов. Имейте обсуждение с ними об их различные мнения.
Если позволяет время, вы можете расширить эту деятельность, имея студентов обследование своих одноклассников о типичных выбор закуски. Это исследование можно сделать в классе, класс, или в масштабах всей школы.
РАЗВИТИЕ
Попросите учащихся идти на питание игре Sleuth питания кафе. Эта игра может предоставить студентам хорошее представление, как витамины и минералы необходимы, чтобы держать все работает хорошо.

Поскольку Есть семь различных случаях студенты могут пытаться решить, вы можете разделить студентов на группы и каждой команде решать дела. Попросите учащихся записать то, что они узнают о питательных веществах в их научных журналах, как они решают дела.

После команды решили случаях иметь их доклад класса, чему они научились. Возможно, вы захотите создать таблицу для всего класса, используя большой лист бумаги. Список каждом из случаев, включенных в игру Sleuth питания и запишите результаты исследований студентов по каждому случаю.

После класс закончил это упражнение, попросите учащихся на следующие вопросы:

Какие продукты являются хорошими источниками кальция? Как кальций помогает держать все работает хорошо?
Какие продукты являются хорошими источниками железа? Как железо помогают держать все работает хорошо?
Почему вода так важна для нашего организма?
Какие продукты являются хорошим источником витамина С? Почему так важно, чтобы убедиться, что мы включаем витамина С в нашем рационе?
Какая пища является важным источником витамина? Как витамин А помогает держать все работает хорошо?
Что является важным источником непродовольственных витамина D?
Почему витамин D важным для помогая предотвратить остеопороз?
Где можно найти фолиевой кислоты? Почему фолиевой кислоты важны для помощи, чтобы держать все работает хорошо?
После завершения этой работы, обсудить ответы учащихся с ними.

 Основываясь на концепции, что витамины и минералы необходимы, чтобы держать все в нашем организме работает хорошо, предоставить студентам Take 5 график Day Challenge. Попросите учащихся следуйте указаниям на странице и запись фруктов и овощей они ели накануне. Как только студенты записали фруктов и овощей, обсудить график с вашими студентами и спросите их, эти вопросы:
Удалось ли вам съесть пять фруктов и овощей в день?
Если нет, то вы можете сделать для достижения цели есть пять фруктов и овощей в день?
Если вы все же удалось съесть пять фруктов и овощей в день, как вы думаете, что имеет положительное или отрицательное влияние на ваше здоровье?
Почему Вы думаете, важно съесть пять фруктов и овощей в день?
После того как вы обсудили график с ними, спросите студентов думать о том, сколько порций каждой из групп пищевых продуктов они были накануне. Возможно, вы захотите создать диаграмму и запишите количество порций на одного студента для каждой из групп продуктов питания. Затем, есть ученики, определить среднее количество порций класса ели. Сравните эти цифры, чтобы национальные средние показатели для каждой из групп продуктов питания. Будьте уверены, чтобы исключить картофель фри и чипсы для овощной группы.

Обсудите со студентами, как они могут увеличить количество порций пищи из пяти групп продуктов, которые они едят в день, и важность сбалансированную диету, чтобы получить витамины и питательные вещества, они должны держать свое тело работает хорошо.
ОЦЕНКА
Хороший способ для оценки понимания учащимися этот материал и попросить их создать MyPlate плакат сами, на основе нового руководства питания MyPlate разработанный правительством США, и использовать этот плакат, чтобы информировать и поощрять других студентов, чтобы поесть рекомендуется порций пять групп продуктов.

Для того, чтобы студенты создают MyPlate, разделите их на пять различных команд, каждая из которых концентрируясь на определенной группе пищи. Но, вместо того чтобы просто список из пяти групп продуктов питания и количество порций, которое должно быть съедено от каждого, студенты также должны включать в себя типы пищи обнаружены в пищевой группы и типы питательных веществ, которые можно получить, употребляя в пищу те продукты. Они должны указать, почему питательные вещества важны за помощь в поддержании своего тела работает хорошо. Студенты также могут иллюстрировать пластина с изображением части тела, для которых эти продукты особенно хороши.

Для того, чтобы MyPlate себя, студенты могут использовать стандартные платы размер плаката. Пластина должна быть достаточно большой, чтобы его можно включать всю информацию. Каждый из кусков пластин может быть настроена следующим образом:
Название Фуд Групп
Рекомендуемое количество порций
Типы питания Найдено в Фуд Групп
Питательные вещества
Преимущества для тела

5 советов, которые помогут чувствовать себя лучше

Когда вы чувствуете себя плохо, трудно сохранить позитивный настрой. Но если бы вы знали, что, как вы думаете, влияет, как вы чувствуете, будете ли вы готовы сделать все необходимое, чтобы чувствовать себя лучше?
Если у вас есть болезни или сильной боли, трудно не допустить заболевания, повседневная деятельность и ваш взгляд на жизнь. Люди в боль часто не обращаются за помощью для себя, а когда страдания длится долгое время они, как правило, сдаются. Или медицинская система носит их. Люди учатся адаптироваться к плохо себя чувствовать, и они поверили, что ситуация никогда не изменится к лучшему. Вот почему успех настолько редка.
Хотите чувствовать себя лучше? Передумать и изменить результат
Независимо от тяжести вашего состояния и степень прогресса вы делаете, это зависит от вас, и только вы, чтобы найти в себе силы продолжать. Отпусти упором на то, что другие могут сделать для вас.
Попробуйте думать по-другому, сохраняя следующих принципов:
Там разница между знанием и верой. Это действительно разница градусов. Полагая, что вы можете быть на 100 процентов без боли в порядке. Но что произойдет, если вы убеждены в том, что это произойдет и тогда у вас есть неудача? Вы могли бы найти себе задавать вопросы, что вера на некотором уровне.
С другой стороны, зная, что у вас есть силы, чтобы помочь себе чувствовать себя лучше поможет вам пройти через неизбежные взлеты и падения. Так что живите знания.
Живу с ожиданием. Пройдите каждый день уверен, что вы собираетесь становиться все лучше и оставаться здоровым. Это начинается со своими мыслями и словами вы используете, потому что они повлияют на ваши действия.
Если вы еще не были в состоянии сделать то, что вы любите в течение очень долгого времени, скажите себе, что вы будете делать это на определенную дату в будущем. Обсуждение всем об этом. Читать книги и смотреть видео об этом. Заполните свой ум радости. Затем начинают готовиться к нему. Пыль, что удочку. Чистый, что велосипед. Купить, что новая пара кроссовок и поставить их там, где Вы можете видеть их каждый день, чтобы напомнить вам, что вы хотите загружать снова.
Пять советов, которые помогут чувствовать себя лучше

1.Change так, как вы думаете о вашей ситуации.
2.Allow другим, чтобы помочь вам, даже если они не являются профессионалами.
3.Do не сдаться или дать системе бить вас вниз.
4.Recognize небольших доходов, как прогресс и надеемся, что вы получаете лучшее.
5.Treat симптомы и причины вашего состояния.

Не дай пять лет проходят без принятия на себя ответственность за улучшение вашего здоровья.
Живая зная, что вы можете чувствовать себя лучше. Живая ожидал чувствовать себя лучше. Живая, принимая меры, а не урегулирование, пока вы не достигли своей цели.

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/767667662/106445147

Как Долголетие

  Как Путешествие может увеличить долголетие
Путешествия для Long Life
По словам Липшица, двумя наиболее важными факторами для долголетия здоровья и счастья, и путешествия помогает укреплению и другое. Планирование поездки помогают пожилым следующими способами:
Путешествия держит свой ум острым.
Расширение возможностей для прогулок и другие упражнения помогают пожилым людям оставаться в форме.
Создание новых друзей увеличится продолжительность жизни.
Подключение увеличивает долговечностьПутешествие с супругом или иных существенных является отличным способом для пар, чтобы подключиться через обмен опытом, возродить романтику и увеличения близости. Исследователи обнаружили, что наличие близких отношений, как мы становимся старше, является критическим фактором для здоровья и долголетия. Женатые мужчины живут в среднем на 10 лет дольше тех, кто не состоят в браке, и замужних женщин жить примерно три года дольше.
"Любовь есть одна вещь, которая необходима для долгой жизни, и путешествие будет питать его," сказал Липшица Новости Dallas Morning. "Путешествие, чтобы провести время вдвоем не только расширить свой кругозор, но и сделает вас здоровым человеком".
Старший Путешествия меняется
Но то, как пожилые люди путешествие кардинально меняется, и она будет меняться еще больше, как больше бэби-бумеров достичь своих старших курсов с большим количеством энергии, улучшение здоровья, и больше дохода, чем предыдущие поколения.
"Что характерно для нашего поколения является то, что мы очень, очень индивидуалистическое, и это повлияет на то, как мы будет путешествовать", Липшица сказал Найт Риддер газет. "Мы хорошо ездил поколения. Где бы нам не было? Теперь я хочу поехать в Антарктиду, на Галапагосских островах, в Монголию. Я хочу путешествовать, что заставляет меня чувствовать, что нет ничего в жизни я не могу сделать".
Пожилые люди Изменение туриндустрии
Население планеты стареет так быстро, что индустрия туризма будет вынуждена учитывать их потребности и предпочтения - от более здоровых вариантов столовая для более широкого круга группы и независимые варианты путешествия с учетом пожилых людей.
Некоторые из этих изменений уже происходят. Например, Elderhostel, крупнейших образовательных международная организация путешествий для взрослых 55 лет и старше, ввел более поколений поездки и программы дорожного ученый, который предлагает более активными и независимыми движения без обычных ограничений возраста.
"В течение ряда лет мы готовились к этому следующая волна, это следующее поколение старения в отставку лет", сказал Джеймс Моисей, президент Elderhostel в. "У нас есть некоторые очень специфические различия между ученый дорог и Elderhostel".
Новая программа поездки более активно и с учетом самоисследования, чем традиционные Elderhostel Дорожная ученый поездок, которые включают в себя комфортабельные номера, утром лекции, и поездки днем ​​поле, всегда в группе, которая исследует темы вместе.
Увеличение продолжительности жизни приносит Путешествие в любом возрасте
Но это не только бэби-бумеров, которые начинают отправляться в путь в рекордных количествах. Поскольку все больше пожилых наслаждаться здорового и активного долголетия, они строят планы, чтобы обойти - мир. Липшица отмечает, что 50 процентов американских 85-летних теперь жить независимо и иметь больше вариантов образа жизни, чем раньше.
"Они могут делать все что угодно", говорит он. "Я не думаю, что основные автобусные туры являются волной будущего".
Симиланские острова национального паркаПожалуйста, обратите внимание: Similan Национальный парк закрыт с 1 мая до 1 ноября каждого года. Это означает, Есть НЕТ аварийно-спасательных служб, телефоны не работают, и это незаконно, чтобы посетить. Не рискуйте своей жизнью, идя на туры в эти месяцы. Есть несколько гнусных погружения и трубка компаний, которые предлагают туры в эти месяцы - вы рискуете своей жизнью путем объединения их туры.
Симиланские острова Национальный парк известен белого кораллового песка пляжей, кристально голубой водой, теплой тропической ночи и прохладный бриз сходит на Андаманское море. Девять Unihabited острова с некоторыми из лучших пейзажей в Таиланде.
Симиланские острова очень легки для посещения. Расположенный всего в 50 км от Khao Lak - Симиланские острова можно посетить за один день, на ночь или на гастролях. Есть не курортах или магазинах на Similans - только пару станций рейнджер и несколько бунгало для аренды.
Дом для лучших мест для дайвинга и подводного плавания в Таиланде, Симиланские острова являются домом для огромного разнообразия морской жизни и невероятных возможностей, чтобы увидеть редких и вымирающих видов. Часто упоминается как одно из лучших дайв-мест в мире - вы, вероятно, согласится после посещения. Хотя подводный мир может привлечь некоторых людей - Есть также много разновидностей птиц и животных на Симиланские острова. И конечно - пляжи!  

                                 Выбор за вами, чтобы расслабиться, Интернет-бронирования.

                              

                                    Choice for you,To Relax.Online booking.

World Tourism Day

27 September 2011

The theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, “Tourism – linking cultures”, highlights the powerful role of tourism in building international understanding and mutual respect.

There is no better way to learn about a new culture than to experience it first-hand. Tourism offers a wonderful connecting thread between visitor and host community. It promotes dialogue and interaction.  Such contact between people of different backgrounds is the very foundation for tolerance.   In a world struggling for peaceful coexistence, tourism can build bridges and contribute to peace.

Tourism’s contributions to development also advance the cause of global solidarity.  At a time of profound global economic uncertainty, tourism’s ability to generate socio-economic opportunities and help reduce the gap between rich and poor, is more important than ever.

I encourage all involved in tourism to embrace the ten principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. These guidelines for sustainable and responsible tourism development, approved by the UN General Assembly in 2001, are based on the proven interaction between tourism and peace, human rights and understanding.

World Tourism Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to global well-being. As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity. On this observance, let us recognize tourism as a force for a more tolerant, open and united world.

Healthy Eating on the Road

Typical freeway fare includes fast food, microwave-ready service station options, bags of chips, and lots of sodas. These foods are almost always full of bad fats, lots of calories, and not much valuable nutrition. Plus, eating junk food for a couple of days can leave you feeling fatigued and crabby, and give you a stomach ache.
With a little bit of effort and willpower, you can navigate your way around the junk food and maintain your healthy diet while on a long road trip. You'll feel healthier, more alert, and have more fun.

Health Planning

Take Note: The most common problem to foreign travelers is "over medicating." We've provided this detailed information to stimulate thought, not provide evidence or rationale for a traveling pharmacy. In most cases, your body's normal defenses, common sense and plenty of rest will provide faster relief.

When you're setting off on your own for an extended period of time, it's important to take a few basic precautions to insure your health.
Here's a predeparture checklist from Robert Kohls' book, Survival Kit for Overseas Living:

• Make an appointment to see your doctor at least three months ahead of departure for a physical and required or recommended immunizations. If you have a health condition which requires routine attention, prepare to deal with the condition overseas. Bring a doctor's statement with you describing your medical problem, prescriptions for drugs you may require, other treatment information regarding your problem, and a very clear explanation about any drugs or medical paraphernalia that you are carrying with you.
• Find out from your public health service if gamma globulin shots, a preventative measure against hepatitis, are recommended for the country or region where you plan to travel. Request copies of medical records that would be important to the treatment of problems you might encounter overseas: X-rays, EKGs, a record of your blood type, prescriptions written in a generic form, dental records, and a letter describing any special health problems. Make a duplicate copy of this information and keep (whatever is practical) in two places, one on your person and one in your luggage.
• Remember that U.S. prescriptions cannot be honored overseas. Take additional prescribed drugs with you and be sure that you have a doctor's letter describing, in generic trade and dosage terms, what these drugs are and how they are used. Sometimes prescription drugs in the U.S. can be bought over the counter in other countries. Beware, however, of buying potent drugs over the counter. Always ask careful questions about what you're purchasing.
• Bring eyeglass prescriptions and extra glasses or contact lenses. If you are using an electric cleaner for your contact lenses, make sure that you have appropriate transformers or find other methods of cleaning.
• Bring a medical kit. Standard items which may be useful include adhesive tape, cotton swabs, gauze, Band-Aids, sterile cleaners, and antibacterial ointment. Depending upon the country, it might be useful to have water purification tablets, salt tablets, skin lotion and moisturizer, insect repellent, antihistamines, painkillers, disinfectant, small scissors, tweezers, thermometer and something for insect bite reactions.
• Learn how to find a doctor overseas. If you are with a health insurance program, a Member Services department might be able to help. The school or center you're attending (administrators, teachers) and family or hotel you're staying at will have favored physicians. Large international hotels refer English speaking doctors, or you can check with the U.S. consulate or embassy. IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, provides a list of English speaking doctors all over the world. There is no fee, but donations to this nonprofit organization are welcomed.
• Keep all medications in your hand luggage. Checked baggage can be subject to extreme temperature variations and may be lost.
• Eating Safe Foods... When abroad, consider food safe to eat if it is served steaming hot and is thoroughly cooked (not cooked, cooled, and moderately reheated). Other things considered safe include that which you can peel (oranges, avocados, etc.); processed beverages which you pop open (bottled water, carbonated soda, beer, etc.); piping hot coffee and tea. Exercise your judgment on other foods: those sitting at room temperature, and/or uncovered, foods requiring refrigeration, foods sitting out in the open sun (such as items in an open air market).
  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control publishes Health Information for International Travelers, a yearly update on health vaccinations and other health issues. Other pamphlets are Before you Travel, Health Concerns for International Travel, and Self-Care.
  
  
  

  Facts on Obtaining Academic Credit

  The best option is to start at the university, government agency, school, or business which you anticipate accepting your foreign course work for credit. Hundreds of academic institutions routinely accept course work done at various schools for credit or equivalency clock hours. Check with your director of international programs, study abroad advisor, department chair, employee relations supervisor, academic dean, or registrar. If you're working with a state agency, see the director of license renewal, crediting department, or in service coordinator. A relationship may already be set up between your school, business, or agency and the foreign school.

  If a relationship is not pre-established, you may find that coursework/credit transfer can be accomplished provided you bring back a complete portfolio of your foreign course materials (copies of homework assignments, course exercises, quizzes, tests, foreign instructor progress reviews/evaluations, etc.) - or take an equivalency test upon your return. Your institution may have provisions for guided reading courses, independent study, or work experience courses which award credit even if the program is taken overseas. Plan ahead and do some research into possible alternatives.

  If you're coordinating an international credit transfer, get a written policy statement before you travel abroad. lt's imperative that there be no misunderstanding as to your academic and credit objectives. Most institutions will not accept credit transfer unless defined and agreed upon in advance.

  In the United States, if your university or employer does not accept credit transfer from a foreign school, it may accept credit transfer from another U.S. university. Some North American universities may have a credit transfer agreement with the foreign institution you plan to attend. This entails registering with that university in the U.S. while (actually) studying abroad. This type of credit transfer can be costly, because you pay tuition both abroad and at the U.S. university issuing the credits.

  An additional option is to get a transcript or certificate of attendance from the foreign school. Be aware, credit issued does not imply credit accepted. Translated this means that earning the credit does not mean that it will be accepted by an institution in your country. Each country has its own unique system of educating and measuring levels of education.

  Foreign schools will NOT be familiar with your credit transfer requirements, so it is your responsibility to advise the administration when you arrive at the foreign center as to what you will need and when. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation before leaving the foreign center, so things won't get "lost in the mail." Be prepared to pay an administrative service fee for your transcript and possible photocopies of papers, tests, etc.

  The key to a successful credit transfer is research and planning ahead.

  Culture Shock & The Problem Of Adjustment To New Cultural Environments
  (An editorial by Dr. Lalervo Oberg; Anthropologist; Health, Welfare and Housing Division; United States Operations Mission to Brazil)

  I would like to make a few remarks about culture shock, a malady which afflicts most of us to some degree. We might almost call culture shock an occupational disease of many people who have been suddenly transplanted abroad.

  Customs, Cues, Norms

  Culture shock is precipitated by the anxiety that results from losing all familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse. These signs are the thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to the situations of daily life: when to shake hands and what to say when we meet people, when and how to give tips, how to give orders to servants, how to make purchases, when to accept and when to refuse invitations, when to take statements seriously and when not.

  These cues, which may be words, gestures, facial expressions, customs, or norms are acquired by all of us in the course of growing up and are as much a part of our culture as the language we speak or the beliefs we accept. All of us depend for our peace of mind and our efficiency on hundreds of these cues, most of which are unconsciously learned.

  When an individual enters a strange culture, all or most of these familiar cues are removed. He or she is like a fish out of water. No matter how broad-minded or full of good will he may be, a series of props have been knocked from under him. This is followed by a feeling of frustration and anxiety. People react to the frustration in much the same way. First they reject the environment which causes the discomfort: "the ways of the host country are bad because they make us feel bad."

  For example Americans who are in a strange land get together to grouse about the host country and its people, you can be sure they are suffering from culture shock.

  Another phase of culture shock is regression. The home environment suddenly assumes a tremendous importance, everything becomes irrationally glorified. All difficulties and problems are forgotten and only the good things back home are remembered. It usually takes a trip home to bring one back to reality.

  Symptoms

  Some of the symptoms of culture shock are: excessive concern over cleanliness and the feeling that what is new and strange is "dirty." This could be in relation to drinking water, food, dishes, and bedding; fear of physical contact with attendants or servants; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for dependence on long-term residents of one's own nationality; irritation over delays and other minor frustrations out of proportion to their causes; delay and outright refusal to learn the language of the host country; excessive fear of being cheated, robbed, or injured; great concern over minor pains and irruptions of the skin; and finally, that terrible longing to be back home, to be in familiar surroundings, to visit one's relatives, and, in general, to talk to people who really "make sense."

  Individuals differ greatly in the degree in which culture shock affects them. Although not common, there are individuals who cannot live in foreign countries. Those who have seen people go through a serious case of culture shock and on to a satisfactory adjustment can discern steps in the process.

  The Honeymoon Stage

  During the first few weeks most individuals are fascinated by the new. They stay in hotels and associate with nationals who speak their language and are polite and gracious to foreigners. This honeymoon stage may last from a few days or weeks to six months depending on circumstances. If one is a very important person he or she will be taken to the show places, pampered and petted, and in a press interview will speak glowingly about progress, goodwill, and international amity. If he returns home may well write a book about his pleasant if superficial experience abroad.

  But this "Cook's tour" type of mentality does not normally last if the foreign visitor remains abroad and has to seriously cope with real conditions of life. It is then that the second stage begins, characterized by a hostile and aggressive attitude towards the host country. This hostility evidently grows out of the genuine difficulty which the visitor experiences in the process of adjustment. There is maid trouble, school trouble, language trouble, house trouble, transportation trouble, shopping trouble, and the fact that people in the host country are largely indifferent to all these troubles. They help but they just don't understand your great concern over these difficulties. Therefore, they must be insensitive and unsympathetic to you and your worries. The result, "I just don't like them." You become aggressive, you band together with your fellow countrymen and criticize the host country, its ways and its people.

  This criticism is not an objective appraisal but a derogatory one. Instead of trying to account for conditions as they are through an honest analysis of the actual conditions and the historical circumstances which have created them, you talk as if the difficulties you experience are more or less created by the people of the host country for your special discomfort. You take refuge in the company of your countrymen and this cocktail circuit becomes the fountainhead of emotionally charged labels knows as stereotypes. This is a peculiar kind of shorthand which caricatures the host country and its people in a negative manner.

  Stereotypes

  The "dollar grasping American" and the "indolent Latin American" are samples of mild forms of stereotypes. The use of stereotypes may salve the ego of someone with a severe case of culture shock but it certainly does not lead to any genuine understanding of the host country and its people. This second stage of culture shock is in a sense a crisis in the disease. If you overcome it you stay, if not, you leave before you reach the stage of a nervous breakdown.

  Culture shock is lessened as the visitor succeeds in getting some knowledge of the language and begins to get around by himself. This is the beginning of his adjustment to the new cultural environment. The visitor still has difficulties but he takes a "this is my cross and I have to bear it" attitude. Usually in this stage the visitor takes a superior attitude toward people of the host country. His sense of humor begins to exert itself. Instead of criticizing he makes jokes about the people and even cracks jokes about his or her own difficulties. He or she is now on the way to recovery. And there is still the poor devil who is worse off than yourself whom you can help, which in turn gives you confidence in your ability to speak and get around.

  Final adjustment

  In the final stage of adjustment the visitor accepts the customs of the country as just another way of living. He can operate within the new milieu without a feeling of anxiety although there are moments of strain. Only with a complete grasp of all the cues of social intercourse will this strain disappear.

  For a long time the individual will understand what the national is saying, but he is not always sure what the national means. With a complete adjustment you not only accept the foods, drinks, habits, and customs but actually begin to enjoy them. When you go back home on leave you may even take things back with you and if you leave for good you generally miss the country and the people to whom you have become accustomed.

  It might be well to point out that the difficulties which the newcomer experiences are very real. If individuals come to a tropical area from a temperate one they quite often suffer from intestinal disturbances. Strange foods sometimes upset people. In Rio, for instance, water and power shortages are very real. When these physical difficulties are added to those arising from not knowing how to communicate and the uncertainties presented by customs the consequent frustrations and anxieties are understandable.

  In the course of time, an individual makes this adjustment. You do what is essential about water, food, and the other minutiae of daily life. You adapt yourself to water and power shortages and to traffic problems. In short, the environment does not change. What has changed is your attitude towards it. Somehow it no longer troubles you, you no longer project your discomforts onto the people of the host country and their ways. You get along under a new set of living conditions.

  Your attitude

  Another important point worth considering is the attitude of others to a person suffering from culture shock. If you are frustrated and have an aggressive attitude to the people of the host country, they will sense this hostility and in many cases respond in either a hostile manner or try to avoid you. In other words, their response moves from a preliminary phase of ingratiation to aggressive ridicule and on to avoidance.

  To your own countrymen who are well adjusted you become somewhat of a problem. As you feel weak in the face of the host country people you tend to wish to increase your dependence on your fellow countrymen much more than is normal. Some will try to help you, others will try to avoid you.

  The better your fellow countryman understands your condition the better he is able to help you. But the difficulty is that culture shock has not been studied carefully enough for people to help you in an organized manner and you continue to be considered a bit queer - until you adjust yourself to the new situation.

  Although I am not certain, I think culture shock affects wives more than husbands. The husband has his professional duties to occupy him and his activities may not differ too much from what he has been accustomed to. The wife, on the other hand, has to operate in an environment which differs much more from the milieu in which she grew up.

  A product of history

  In an effort to get over culture shock, I think there is value in knowing something about the nature of culture and its relationship to the individual. In addition to living in a physical environment, an individual lives in a cultural environment consisting of manmade physical objects, social institutions, and ideas and beliefs.

  An individual is not born with culture but only with the capacity to learn it and use it. There is nothing in a new born child which dictates that it should eventually speak Portuguese, English, or French, nor that he eat with a fork in his left hand rather than in the right, or use chop sticks. All these things the child has to learn. Nor are the parents responsible for the culture which they transmit to their young. The culture of any people is the product of history and is built up over time largely through processes which are, as far as the individual is concerned, beyond his awareness. It is by means of culture that the young learn to adapt themselves to the physical environment and to the people with whom they associate.

  As we know, children and adolescents often experience difficulties in this process of learning and adjustment. But once learned, culture becomes a way of life, the sure, familiar, largely automatic way of getting what you want from your environment and as such it also becomes a value.

  People have a way of accepting their culture as both the best and the only way of doing things. This is perfectly normal and understandable. To this attitude we give the name ethnocentrism, a belief that not only the culture but the race and nation form the center of the world.

  Individuals identify themselves with their own group and its ways to the extent that any critical comment is taken as an affront to the individual as well as to the group. If you criticize my country, you are criticizing me. If you criticize me, you are criticizing my country.

  Along with this attitude goes the tendency to attribute all individual peculiarities as national characteristics. For instance, if an American does something odd or antisocial in a foreign country which back home would be considered a purely individual act, it is now considered a national trait.

  Instead of being censured as an individual, his country is censured. It is best to recognize that ethnocentrism is a characteristic of national groups. If a national criticizes some aspect of his own culture, the foreigner should listen but not enter into the criticism.

  The study of culture

  Specific cultures are products of historical development. Brazil and the United States, for instance, have different cultural origins and different culture histories which account for present day differences.

  In this case, however, the differences are not great, both cultures being parts of Western civilization. It might be useful to recognize here that the study of culture per se is not the study of individuals. Psychology is the study of individual personality. Sociology is the study of groups and group behaviors.

  The student of culture studies not human individuals but the interrelationships of culture forms like technologies, institutions, idea and belief systems. Hi is interested not so much in the study of culture as such, but its impact upon the individual under special conditions.

  Common elements

  Any modern nation is a complex society with corresponding variations in culture. In composition it is made up of different ethnic groups, it is stratified into classes, it is differentiated into regions, it is separated into rural and urban settlements, each having its own distinctive cultural characteristics. Yet superimposed upon these differences are the common elements of official language, institutions, and customs which knit it together to form a nation.

  These facts indicate that it is not a simple matter to acquaint oneself with the culture of a nation. Similarly the culture of one's own nation is complex. It too, differs by region and class.

  Americans, for instance, who go abroad in various governmental and business capacities, are usually members of the middle class and carry the values and aspirations of this class, some of which are an accent on the practical or utilitarian - work as a means to personal success, and suspicion of personal authority.

  Accustomed to working in large hierarchical institutions like business corporations, governmental agencies, or scientific foundations which have a life of their own and persist in time, Americans tend to become impersonal. Individuals no matter how able are replaceable parts in these large institutions.

  A lack of understanding

  An objective treatment of your cultural background and that of your new environment is important in understanding culture shock. There is a great difference in knowing what is the cause of your disturbance and not knowing.

  Once you realize that your trouble is due to your own lack of understanding of other people's cultural background and your own lack of the means of communication rather than the hostility of an alien environment, you also realize that you yourself can gain this understanding and these means of communication. And the sooner you do this, the sooner culture shock will disappear.

  The question now arises, what can you do to get over culture shock as quickly as possible? The answer is to get to know the people of that host country. But this you cannot do with any success without knowing the language, for language is the principal symbol system of communication.

  We all know that learning a new language is difficult, particularly to adults. This task alone is quite enough to cause frustration and anxiety, no matter how skillful the language teacher.

  But once you begin to be able to carry on a friendly conversation with your maid, your neighbor, or to go on shopping trips alone, you not only gain confidence and a feeling of power but a whole new world of cultural meanings open up for you. You begin to find out not only what and how people do things but also what their interests are.

  These interests people usually express by what they habitually talk about and how they allocate their time and money. Once you know this value or interest pattern it will be quite easy to get people to talk and to be interested in you. When we say people have no interests we usually admit the fact that we have not bothered to find out.

  At times it is helpful to be a participant observer by joining the activities of the people. This could be a carnival, a religious rite, or some economic activity. Yet the visitor should never forget that he or she is an outsider and will be treated as such. He should view this participation as role playing.

  Understanding the ways of the people is essential but this does not mean that you have to give up on your own. What happens is that you have developed two patterns of behavior.

  The source of pain

  Finally a word on what your fellow countrymen can do to help you get over culture shock. Persons suffering from culture shock feel weak in the face of conditions which appear insufferable and it is natural for them to try to lean heavily on their compatriots.

  This may be irritating to the long-term resident, but he should be patient, sympathetic, and understanding. Although talking does not remove pain, a great deal is gained by having the source explained.

  Some of the steps toward a cure have been indicated. With patience and understanding, we can be reasonably sure that time, the great healer, will soon set things right.

  
  

  Information Worth Noting Before You Pack

  Fashion vs Comfort:

  In the continuing conflict of image versus comfort, most experienced travelers choose comfort.

  Jewelry:

  The more you leave at home, the less you will have at risk. Think about what you will need and what you will be heartbroken over if it is lost or stolen.

  Footwear:

  The most important item in your luggage will be your shoes. Make sure your footwear is in good condition, waterproofed (or oiled with mink oil) and well broken in. Select shoes that are sturdy, with non-slip soles. Bring along some lambs wool or bandages to prevent blisters. Plan on wearing shoes at all times since protozoa, fungi, and worms enter the body through the skin, and often through your feet. Open toed shoes and sandals aren't very functional in some areas. Bring slippers or shower shoes, etc. Some foreign homes won't allow street shoes in the house and going barefoot is really taboo! Be prepared. Bring along wool or cotton socks. Chances are you'll be doing some walking and you might find yourself changing your socks more often.

  Laundry:

  Most natural fabrics (cotton, denim, etc.), stand up to laundry methods around the world - but not delicate items and knits. Pack some fine washable detergent and hangers and wash some items yourself. Don't bring clothes that require dry cleaning. Choose items for their lightness and washability.

  General:

  Coordinate your wardrobe around one main color. Choose separates that can be mixed and matched. Scarves, belts, and costume jewelry can change your look. You may notice that women in other countries dress up more than they do in the U.S., especially for dinner in a restaurant. Although pants are acceptable the world over, you may want to bring along at least one skirt if you expect to be eating frequently in restaurants. Dressing with dignity is key in many foreign cultures.

  If you'll be traveling to a country that has altitude fluctuations or temperature extremes, plan on layering clothes (i.e. turtleneck, flannel shirt, nylon wind breaker, light t-shirt, shirt/blouse, sweater combinations). You can peel off layer-by-layer as the day warms - replacing each layer in the evening. Most countries do not have central air/heat, so you'll feel the temperature changes more.

  Items the streamlined traveler often does without include pajamas and nightgowns (a t-shirt will do); bathrobe (a raincoat will serve just fine); fancy clothes and expensive jewelry.

  The ideal raincoat is crushable, dark in color so that it never shows dirt and looks great on you at any given time. Raincoats that can be folded, rolled and stuffed into your suitcase or carry-on are ideal.

  Bring a hat. A beret or wool hat for cold weather, a crushable hat with a visor or baseball cap for sunny climates.

  The black rubber galoshes people wear over their shoes are perfect for traveling because they take up little room in your suitcase, will save you from wet, uncomfortable shoes, and are easy to tote around daily in case of a sudden rain storm.

  Traveling Clothes:

  You may want to wear your bulkiest outfit, suit, heavy sweater or overcoat the day of travel. Pack one more complete, coordinated set of clothes, for a total of two complete outfits. Women should not include dresses in this formula, which are less versatile than separates. Many women travelers claim that a full-skirted, comfortable dress is great for flying.

  Knits are also ideal. A jogging suit is also comfortable on the plane (but carry a change of clothing in your carry-on).

  
  

  
  

  People & Culture

  Bargaining

  One should generally expect to bargain in curiosity shops, open air/flea markets, and smaller specialty shops. There are places where the overeager tourists only make fools or nuisances of themselves in their desire to haggle with everyone (i.e., supermarkets, large stores which indicate fixed prices, and some areas of a market (the meat section where prices are standardized)). As a visitor to a foreign land, you should be aware of this. You should realize that the one cent reduction for which you bargain so cleverly is of more importance to the seller than it could be to you. In most countries, business hours for shops, stores, and businesses range from 9 A.M. to 4 or 5 P.M. with evening hours (open to 8:30 P.M. or so) only one night a week. In some countries, there are closures for several hours during midday. You will not find many things open on Sundays. Banks have even shorter hours, closing between 2-3 P.M. with no Saturday or Sunday hours. (Some major banks in Great Britain do open for limited hours on Saturday.) Post offices generally open at 9:00 A.M. and are open until 5:00 P.M.

  Business Hours

  In most countries, business hours for shops, stores, and businesses range from 9 A.M. to 4 or 5 P.M. with evening hours (open to 8:30 P.M. or so) only one night a week. In some countries, there are closures for several hours during midday. You will not find many things open on Sundays. Banks have even shorter hours, closing between 2-3 P.M. with no Saturday or Sunday hours. (Some major banks in Great Britain do open for limited hours on Saturday.) Post offices generally open at 9:00 A.M. and are open until 5:00 P.M.

  Electricity

  In Mexico and Central and South American countries, electricity is the same as in the United States, but not as reliable. Power surges are common and electric hair dryers and curling irons may blow a fuse. Electricity is also quite expensive in foreign countries, and since your host has to pay the bill, we suggest you be ultraconservative in its use. In Great Britain, the standard voltage is 240v AC. 50HZ. An adapter, or converter, is necessary to use electrical appliances in Great Britain. Virtually all of Europe is served with 220-volt, 50 cycle alternating current (compared to the US's 110-volt, alternating current). If you bring appliances from home, you'll need an adapter. Plug configurations may also vary from country to country. If you need to purchase an adapter, find an electric adapter set which holds various adapters and plug converters in a small, convenient travel case.

  Time Zones

  In Europe: Greenwich Mean Time: Iceland, Ireland, Great Britain and Portugal are five hours ahead of New York (EST). Central European Time: Norway, Sweden, and the bulk of the Continent, including Hungary, are six hours ahead of New York (EST). Eastern European Time: Finland, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey are seven hours ahead of New York (EST). Most of Europe goes on Daylight Savings Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in the September. (The U.S. DST runs from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. Use of the 24 hour clock is widespread, i.e. 1:00 P.M. is 13:00 and so on to midnight, 24:00. Mexico/the Americas: The same time zones that govern the U.S. also gauge time in countries to the south of the U.S., i.e., Mexico City is in Central Standard Time; Bogota, Columbia in EST.

  Telephone

  In most countries, there are separate booths for making local and international calls. Local booths are quite common, but international booths may take some looking for. They're quite easy to find in large hotels, pharmacies, and some larger stores and tourist attractions. "Telephone debit cards" are becoming common in some countries (they are very popular in Japan, where most telephones can only be accessed with one). They are extremely convenient, easy to use and can be bought at hotels, newspaper stands, small shops, etc.

  Mail

  There isn't an address in the world that isn't on someone's mail route. Receiving mail while abroad can take anywhere from 7-30 days. You can receive mail at General Delivery (the generally used term in Europe is Poste Restante) in any city, worldwide, usually at the main post office. Mail should be addressed thus: Name, General Delivery, City, Country, Postal Code (if any). If it's important, you can always use any of the various services which guarantee overnight or second day delivery (including the post office) with a high price tag.

  Tourist Information

  You should be able to find tourist information booths at airline and train stations, major squares in cities, near or in the center of a city, near city hall and local government offices, around major tourist attractions, and close to some main cathedrals. Here you can find street and transit maps, basic brochures on the sights, an up-to-date calendar of what's happening, and advice on restaurants and hotels. Most tourist information centers are open normal business hours.

  Toilets

  Public toilets can be hard to find and toilet paper downright scarce (you'll eventually decide to carry some with you). Sometimes it's disposed in the bowl, sometimes in a waste basket and usually very little is used.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Getting Around: General Information

  The first thing to realize is that virtually everything abroad will be different from your hometown. Appreciate that, take some lime to learn the "system" and you'll have fun and avoid frustration.

  The school staff (and your family) can provide a wealth of information on the city and what's happening, but you need to ask them for it. Remember that they live where you're visiting - they're not taxis, translators, or tourist offices. Because of cultural differences they probably won't volunteer much, but if you ask them for the information, they will direct you where to go. Also, ask fellow students for advice and tips.

  Your next stop will be the tourist offices, often operating out of City Hall, or kiosks near typical tourist sites. Find the closest one to you and make a point of visiting it. You should be able to pick up information on city bus and walking tours, local transportation, current event calendars, schedules of upcoming celebrations, brochures on the sights, tips on good restaurants, plus much more.

  Consider taking a city tour that will point out places of interest, give you an idea of layout, neighborhoods and provide some background and history.

  Public Transport... If you will be spending time on your own, get a map of the bus or subway lines and find out if you can purchase weekly or monthly passes. If you aren't familiar with the language yet, ask an English speaker to explain the local public transportation system to you. Certain seats on public transport may be reserved for pregnant women, war veterans, and disabled people. Usually there is a sign to indicate this. If people are standing, and there's an empty seat, don't assume they were saving it for you. Check for a sign indicating restricted use.

  Cabs... Before you enter a cab, talk to the driver and size him up. Tell him where you are going and ask him to estimate the cost. If the driver will not tell you, or complains about taking you there, or looks unsavory, get another cab. Before getting into a cab, it helps to have some ideas of the best route to your destination and what the fare should be. Ask your host or hostess, hotel desk clerk, concierge, or at a tourist information booth, or look at a map. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the less likely that you will be driven out of your way. You have the right to specify the route.

  
  

  Planning Your Air Travel

  Traveling by air offers you a multitude of choices. With a little research and by asking the right questions when you have the airline on the phone, you should be able to find a reasonable airfare that meets with your travel schedule and study plans.

  There may be many different prices for the exact same seat on an airplane. Each airfare is identified by a different code letter, i.e.: Q, L, V, B, Y, etc. Each letter code has different prices and different rules attached to it. For example, a Q fare may be a 30 days advanced purchase ticket which requires you fly Monday through Thursday, and stay a Saturday night. The guiding principle of all airfares is that the lower the fare, the more restrictions there will be, including high cancellation penalties.

  Charter flights may be less expensive than regularly scheduled fares, but they can be risky, too. If you book a charter flight, make sure the company you book with has an escrow account where your money stays until your trip is completed. This will offer you some protection if the charter company goes belly up before you've returned home.

  Excursion fares to Europe might be an answer for you, but these are loaded with restrictions, one being you must purchase your ticket anywhere from 21 to 30 days prior to departure. You must usually stay a minimum of 7 days, and no more than 60 to 90 days. Plus, a safe bet is that you'll be penalized for changes made before and during your trip.

  You should telephone at least three, maybe more airlines to shop around for a good fare. The best time to call an airline is usually early morning or late at night.

  Write everything down - the airline, the name of the clerk, the date and time you called, the flight numbers, times and the cost. Find out if the flight is nonstop, direct, or requires a connection. If you cannot find a nonstop or direct flight, try to make your connecting flights with the same airline.

  Make sure you allow yourself enough time between flights if you need to change planes. It is not advisable to book a flight with less than 45 minutes for you to disembark and find the new gate. Airport security measures can bog you down when changing planes.

  Airfares are subject to change without notice, but once you pay for your ticket the airline cannot make you pay more if there is a fare increase. If the price of your ticket in the same letter class goes down you may be eligible for a refund. Changing your flights and rearranging your schedule for a slightly less airfare may be more trouble than you think, considering that change penalties may apply.

  There are many good reasons to purchase your ticket with a credit card, one being that it will be easier to get a refund if your flight is canceled. American Express offers free flight and baggage insurance when you use the card to charge your airline ticket.

  Many airlines allow you to get your seat assignment, boarding pass, and meal request ahead of time, some up to 90 days in advance. If you are traveling at holiday time, or at peak vacation times, having your seat assignment and boarding pass early will help save you time in checking in at the airline counter.

  If you've purchased your ticket through a travel agency, try to pick up your ticket at least two weeks prior to departure. Have the travel agent secure your seat assignment and boarding pass when booking your flight.

  
  

  Travel Documents

  Passports: For most nationalities, a valid passport is required to travel abroad or for European countries outside of the EU.

  If you don't have a passport, inquire at your main post office or courthouse for requirements on how to obtain one. Allow two months for processing. In an emergency, you may be able to get a passport within days, directly from a Passport Office (call the U.S. Government information operator for a location nearest you), or through a passport service. Visa and passport expediting agencies charge a fee. Ask your travel agent for local services.

  Make several copies of your passport ID page and other travel documents and leave one copy with a relative at home and bring two copies along with you, keeping them in separate places. Once you arrive at your destination, you may want to pack your passport in a safe place and carry one of the copies along with you.

  You can register your passport at your country's embassy office upon your arrival in a foreign country if you chose to do so. This greatly expedites the process if your passport is lost or stolen.

  Visas: Some countries (Taiwan, Brazil, etc.) require that all visitors have a visa. Most countries only require a visa for visitors intending a stay of over 90 days. This includes all European countries. A visa may be applied for through the consulate or embassy of the country to be visited. It is an endorsement made in your passport indicating that the intended purpose of your visit is acceptable to the foreign government.

  Health Inoculations: You may want to check with your local public health office or physician. Even though they are not required, they may be "recommended," especially if you are planning on traveling to remote areas.

  Other Documents may be needed if:

  • You are a minor (under age 18) traveling alone. For example, minors traveling to Mexico alone or with one parent need a notarized parent permission signed by both parents.
  • Your passport has a different (maiden) name.
  • You are taking children other than your own.
  • You will be visiting countries other than the country in which you're studying; etc. Most countries require "evidence of sufficient funds for your length of stay" and a return or continuing ticket.

  Please Note: Some countries require that your passport be valid at least 6 months beyond the date of your visit to that country.

  It is your responsibility to have the proper documents. Verify that there has been no "document change" when you call the airlines to confirm your flight at least 72 hours before your departure.

  Lodging - General Information

  There are a variety of lodging options offered by schools around the world. University residences of a rather high standard are the norm in Britain yet seldom available elsewhere. Student residences are available in some cities. Most are converted houses or hotels with a broad range of amenities. Apartments are scarce and generally quite expensive. Most schools also offer the option of tuition only whereby you get the lodging of your choice.

  Joining In: Most foreign schools provide a brief homestay orientation when you check in at the school and/or are transferred to your homestay. If not, talk to your host directly and ask what's expected of you. Courtesy and common sense should be your guide. Always ask your host when you have a question.

  Meals: Food and meal times will be different. Some research on your part will help you get better acquainted. If your homestay includes meals, you should expect a range of possibilities from regional specialties to family recipes to sampling local treats. It's important to be flexible, as each host may have meals scheduled around many people. Breakfast may be very early, the main meal may be at midday with a very light dinner or an earlier evening meal (akin to a continental breakfast). Adjust and enjoy. Generally, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not served with meals.

  Your Room: You should attempt to keep your room clean and tidy. Make sure you dust off all  including tables, dessers. Ask your host for supplies you may need. Wash cloths are seldom used abroad  are frequently thin. (If that's an issue, consider bringing your own). Your host may come in and do some basic straightening up, or just weekly to change sheets. Don't leave valuables or money lying around where it can be a temptation to younger children. Items left locked in a suitcase or out-of-sight should not be a concern.

  Laundry: Laundry service is rarely included. If hosts offer to do it for you, assume there is an additional cost. Sometimes it's easier to use a commercial laundry or laundromat. At commercial laundries, check costs first and ask if they separate clothes or wash everything in the bag together.

  Keys: Most families will provide you with a front door key. This means you should be able to come and go as you please, within reason. You will be responsible for your key and if you lose it you will be charged for changing the locks and making extra keys. Always lock (avoid slamming) doors when leaving.

  Telephone Service: Please do not ask to make long distance calls from your host's home. Check with your host to see if you may give their number to your family and friends, but they should only call you in an emergency. In some foreign countries, local calls are "time charged," which means that charges could be incurred even on incoming calls. Ask before making outgoing calls. Be brief and (if applicable) be prepared to reimburse metering charges. In some areas, there is a surcharge on collect calls and a hefty tax on long distance calls, sometimes exceeding 100%!

  Guests: Please do not bring guests to your foreign home unless first checking with your host, as it infringes on the family's privacy. Never plan on taking guests of the opposite sex to your room.

  Absences: If you will not be home for a meal, are planning on staying out late, or are going away on a day-trip with an overnight, please let your hosts know. Your family is concerned about your well-being and may worry about you.

  Friendship: As each family is different, each student undergoes a different homestay experience. Usually friendly, enthusiastic students tend to create a friendly, positive atmosphere. In these cases, families often include students in social activities, family outings, etc.

  Gifts: A small gift such as chocolate, ice cream, or a dessert to share at dinner always makes a nice gesture towards your family. If you have a good relationship, you might volunteer to wash dishes or cook a special meal. Some past participants suggest bringing a small present from home - hard candy, music cassettes, unusual local spices, lighters, etc. with logos of sports teams, pictures of your home, hometown, etc. (pictures make good conversation openers). Fresh flowers from the local market, or inviting your family to a movie or cafe can also be a welcome "thank you."

  Generalities are problematic, especially when discussing homes which are all unique. However, to generalize... Homestays in smaller towns, less wealthy countries, and for longer stays tend to foster more personal relationships (tend to feel less commercial). Approaching homestays in a friendly, cooperative spirit significantly improves their outcome (like most things in life!). The more traditional the society, the greater likelihood of having extended family members and children in the household (and within countries traditional values tend to be stronger in towns than cities).

  Arrival Times: Try to arrive at the host home during daylight - and definitely plan on being there before 9:00 P.M. Either before departure, enroute, or upon arrival at the destination airport, telephone the home to make sure someone will be there when you arrive (not at the store, on an errand, or out for the evening). If you're delayed enroute, contact them (or the emergency number for the school, if applicable) and advise your family of your new estimated time of arrival.

  Payments: It is best to avoid discussing financing with hosts. For virtually all programs, your housing payment goes to the school and from there to the family. If there are misunderstandings, talk to the housing coordinator at the school.

  Do not loan money or make investments. Families do not refund missed meals or weekends out of town. Appreciate that food and utilities generally cost more abroad than at home and foreign hosts are paid relatively little. Most participants recognize this and are prepared to accept local norms, conserve on utilities, and eat what the hosts eat. Be prepared to buy a few things on your own (some participants comment on getting different brands of soap, toilet paper, or a higher watt light bulb).

  Conserving energy is high priority in most countries. Lights don't burn in rooms that aren't being used, air conditioning and central heating are rare (most rooms have individual heaters), and quick showers are the norm (not long, hot baths). Many areas are subject to water shortages. Some sewage systems are antiquated (resulting in toilet paper going in a dispenser, not down the bowl). Electric rates are often indexed (a little increase produces a whopping bill). Observe the different realities and adjust accordingly. Exercising conservation and consideration of these amenities abroad will be appreciated by your foreign host family.

  Express an interest in the family and culture, and the family will extend themselves as much as possible to make you a member of the household. Making yourself familiar with the foreign customs and adapting yourself to their lifestyle and culture will help bridge the cultural gap between you and your hosts.

  Occasionally students have complained that they had little contact with their family. Most foreign cultures have a great deal of respect for the liberties of all persons, and some families may be unsure if they are "bothering" students by trying to converse with them.

  It is not reasonable that your hosts be expected to change their lifestyle or their daily routine during your visit.

  Financial Planning

  When preparing a budget for your learning vacation abroad, use your budget at home as a guide - and then prepare for things to cost even more than you expect. Do some research on costs and seek out someone who has knowledge of day-to-day costs in the country you'll be visiting. Remember that at least for the first few weeks you may not know where to find the "best" value and you shouldn't let this stress you out.

  Start with the trip costs you know, i.e., airfare, tuition, housing, etc. Then make a list of things you know you'll need additional money for. Include estimates for local and regional transportation (bus fare to/from school, plus just getting around), meals outside of the home, books and materials (required or optional) at the school, sightseeing and entertainment, laundry and clothing purchases, souvenirs, phone calls, snacks, tips, newspapers, beverages, airport taxes, medical expenses, and emergency money.

  Finally, list the costs of items you may need to purchase before you leave. This category is the easiest to budget, because making sensible purchases prior to departure may leave you more money to spend on things you want abroad.

  Don't buy a new travel wardrobe or new luggage (unless you need it). You're not going on vacation . . . you're going to a foreign country to live and learn with the people, so you'll want to dress appropriately and blend in. Fancy clothes and expensive luggage may target you for crime. Only buy things that will add to your comfort.

  Your "Emergency" budgetary amount should be substantial and flexible. If all goes well and you don't dip into it, you can either spend it lavishly on yourself, or save it for next time. It should be based on the fact that something can go wrong and you should be prepared for it. This could mean you need it for an emergency night's lodging, a medical bill, something to wear if your luggage gets lost, or anything else that could and might happen.

  Sitting down with your personal banker and discussing your plans to travel abroad may be smartest thing you do. By planning ahead, both for enjoyment and emergencies, you'll travel with a lighter conscience and have a great trip. Your personal banker should be able to answer almost every financial question you may have, covering a wide spectrum of topics: conversion and exchange rates, traveler's checks, using your ATM card abroad, credit card use, wiring funds, amenities provided by credit cards and various traveler's checks, and much more. They may even be able to set up a plan of action for a financial emergency. If something does happen, a long distance phone call to your banker could set the plan in motion for you and you'll be better off.

  Research Checklist

  As a foreigner in another country, you might feel more comfortable if you research the following subjects, keeping in mind the city, region, and country you'll be visiting. One more thing to keep in mind is your gender, as custom and courtesy relate differently between men and women in most foreign countries.

  1.                   Forms of greeting and gestures

  2.                   Courtesy, general attitudes

  3.                   Eating in the home and at restaurants (meal times, table manners, typical diet, etc.)

  4.                   Local dress

  5.                   Population of the city and country

  6.                   Religion

  7.                   The family structure including views on dating and marriage

  8.                   Customs

  9.                   Social and economic levels

  10.                Work hours and hours of doing business

  11.                Art, craft, dance, music, theater, etc.

  12.                Local, regional, and religious holidays

  13.                Forms of recreation, sports

  14.                Land, climate, weather

  15.                Past and present relations with the United States

  16.                History

  17.                Current government

  18.                Economy, the value of a U.S. dollar, exchange rates, etc.

  19.                Education

  20.                Transportation

  21.                Tipping and other forms of compensation
  
  

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    庆祝方式 素食节。

    
    

            为期9天的节日期间，虔诚的,戒食肉食品和一些蔬菜。其他活动有全球九个圣徒的欢迎仪式、游行、中国神像游行和许多让你目瞪口呆的特级表演，据说其灵感来源于神。普吉素食节每年都在中国历阴历九月举行。人们相信，素食节以及与之相伴的宗教仪式必将给那些参加仪式的虔诚教徒带来好运。在这期间，当地的华裔居民都会严格地遵守十天的斋戒，只吃素食，以净化,积功德。各个中式寺院和庙宇都会举行宗教仪式，还有赤脚踩热炭和爬刀梯等精彩的表演。普吉当地举行素食节的传统始于1825年，当时Thalang的地方官将普吉岛上的主要城镇从Ta Reua区迁移至Kathu区的Get-Hoe，那里是普吉的锡矿所在地还有中国移民在那里落户。传说那个时候有一家很受欢迎的中国戏剧团来到普吉，并在这里停顿下来为矿工们演出。但是，不久戏团的人就莫名其妙的发起烧来，人们坚信只有严格吃素，祭先帝神明才能康复起来。连续九个日日夜夜，人们祭拜先祖，只吃素食，远离肉、酒和性。戏团里的人真的很快恢复了健康。这件事在那里的华人中引起轰动，大家都渴望能更多的了解这个自然康复现象。戏团的演员们将他们奇迹般的快速康复都归结于严格食素以及虔诚的祭拜仪式，当地人也对此深信不疑。

    
    

    
    

    
    中国长城
    　　1987年12月长城被列入《世界遗产名录》。
    
    
    中国的长城是人类文明史上最伟大的建筑工程，它始建于2000多年前的春秋战国时期，秦朝统一中国之后联成万里长城。汉、明两代又曾大规模修筑。其工程之浩繁，气势之雄伟，堪称世界奇迹。岁月流逝，物是人非，如今当您登上昔日长城的遗址，不仅能目睹逶迤于群山峻岭之中的长城雄姿，还能领略到中华民族创造历史的大智大勇。
    
    
    长城位于中国北部，东起山海关，西到嘉峪关，全长约6,700公里，通称万里长城。
    
    
    长城的修建持续了两千多年，根据历史记载，从公元前七世纪楚国筑“方城”开始，至明代（1368-1644年）共有20多个诸侯国和封建王朝修筑过长城，其中秦、汉、明三个朝代长城的长度都超过了5千公里。如果把各个时代修筑的长城加起来，总长度超过了5万公里; 如果把修建长城的砖石土方筑一道1米厚、5米高的大墙，这道墙可以环绕地球一周有余。
    
    
    　　长城的主体工程是绵延万里的高大城墙，大都建在山岭最高处，沿着山脊把蜿蜒无尽的山势勾画出清晰的轮廓，塑造出奔腾飞跃、气势磅礴的巨龙，从而成为中华民族的象征。在万里城墙上，分布着百座雄关、隘口，成千上万座敌台、烽火台，打破了城墙的单调感，使高低起伏的地形更显得雄奇险峻，充满巨大的艺术魅力。
    
    
    各地的长城景观中，北京八达岭长城建筑得特别坚固，保存也最完好，是观赏长城的最好地方。此外还有金山岭长城、慕田峪长城、司马台长城、古北口长城等。天津黄崖关长城、河北山海关、甘肃嘉峪关也都是著名的长城游览胜地。
    
    
    中国万里长城是世界上修建时间最长，工程量最大的冷兵器战争时代的国家军事性防御工程，凝聚着我们祖先的血汗和智慧，是中华民族的象征和骄傲。
    
    
    根据历史记载，从战国以来，有20多个诸侯国和封建王朝修筑过长城。最早是楚国，为防御北方游牧民族或敌国，开始营建长城，随后，齐、燕、魏、赵、 秦等国基于相同的目的也开始修筑自己的长城。秦统一六国后，秦始皇派著名大将蒙恬北伐匈奴，把各国长城连起来，西起临姚，东至辽东，绵延万余里，遂称万里长城，这就是“万里长城”名字的由来。但今天我们所见到的主要是明长城。
    
    
    秦长城只有遗迹残存。秦始皇为了修筑长城动用了30万人，创造了人类建筑史上的奇迹。长城的修建客观上起到了防止匈奴南侵，保护中原经济文化发展的积极作用。孙中山先生曾评价：“始皇虽无道，而长城之有功于后世，实上大禹治水等”。
    
    
    　　汉代继续对长城进行修建。从文帝到宣帝，修成了一条西起大宛贰师城，东至黑龙江北岸，全长近一万公里，古丝绸之路有一半的路程就沿着这条长城，是历史上最长的长城。 到了明代，为了防御鞑靼、瓦刺族的侵扰，从没间断过长城的修建，从洪武至万历，其间经过20次大规模的修建，筑起了一条西起甘肃的嘉峪关，东到辽东虎山，全长6350公里的边墙。（但据报道，1990年一个徒步走完长城全长的中国人的计步器显示的是6700公里。）
    
    
    长城有极高的旅游观光价值和历史文化意义。现在经过精心开发修复，山海关、居庸关八达岭、司马台、慕田峪、嘉峪关等处已成为驰名中外的旅游胜地。 蹬高远眺，凭古怀幽，古战场的金戈铁马似乎就在眼前。如今，长城与埃及的金字塔，罗马的斗兽场，意大利的比萨斜塔等同被誉为世界七大奇迹，是中华民族古老文化的丰碑和智慧结晶，象征着中华民族的血脉相承和民族精神。
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Healthy  Food (Cumin)

    
    

    
    

    Scientific Name: Cuminum cyminum
    Biological Background: A seasoning that is the principal ingredient of curry powder, a blend of powdered Indian spices. Cumin is a member of the parsley family and cumin seeds resemble caraway seeds. The aromatic seed has a characteristic strong, slightly bitter taste. Traditionally cumin has been used to flavor cheese, unleavened bread, chili, and tomato sauce.
    Nutritional Information: Due to its use as a spice, cumin provides insignificant amount of nutrients.
    
    Pharmacological Activity: Studies have indicated that cumin has strong anticancer activity, which may be due to its phytochemical cuminaldehyde. Cuminaldehyde also has strong antiinflammatory properties. In addition, cumin contains two phytochemicals, cuminyl ester and limonene, which have been shown to stop aflatoxin from binding to DNA to start the cancer process.
    Eating Tips: Use cumin to add an earthy flavor to Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.
    
    
    

    Is one drink a day really healthier? 
    
    There’s a real buzz in the air at the moment, don’t you think? I love how the Rugby World Cup has created a party atmosphere all over the country.
    
    I was at the opening ceremony and first game, and am really looking forward to getting along to some more of the games. I hope the All Blacks are eating for tip-top condition and performance right now, so they can once again take away that trophy!
    
    One way, we all know, to be at our best is to moderate the amount of alcohol we consume. You may have caught the news last week that women who drink ‘one drink a day’ are healthier than women who don’t drink at all. US researchers studied over 121,000 nurses enrolled in the US Nurses' Health Study which started in 1976. They compared the drinking habits of women when middle-aged with their later health status. The research suggests that women who had one standard drink of alcohol a day may be healthier when they are older, than their peers who did not drink at all, who consume more than two drinks a day, or who consume four drinks or more at the one time.
    
    The temptation for the media when research like this is done is often to jump on the headline – “drinking is good for you” – and not worry too much about the detail. As consumers, the message we get from this is that a tipple every day is ‘healthy’. Of course the truth is never quite that simple. Experts here point out that there are some issues with the way this study was done, including the fact that it involves self-reporting on the part of the participants (and don’t most of us under-estimate how much we have of things that aren’t so good for us?) and the fact that ‘confounding factors’ may exist that the researchers didn’t look for. Confounding factors are often a problem in research. What it means is that the differences in health may be due to other differences in lifestyle. In other words, women who have one drink a day may also be more likely to do other things in their diet and lifestyle which could account for their better health.
    
    All that aside, what does this research tell us? First of all, if you’re a woman and you don’t drink at all, it’s probably not worth starting just to get a health benefit. If you are a woman and you do drink, the take home message is that regular small amounts of alcohol in middle age might be good for you. By small, they do mean small: under 15g of alcohol a day, which is just above one ‘standard’ drink: a 150ml glass of wine (measure this out yourself; you might be surprised at how small it is) or one-and-a-half cans of beer. Any more than that, and you undo any potential benefit.
    
    Don’t forget alcohol still packs a hefty kilojoule count, too, so if you drink you need to be aware of the energy it’s adding to your day and compensate elsewhere. Our nutritionists still advise for everyone - men and women – to have at least two alcohol-free days each week, and don’t ‘save up’ and have all your drinks for the week in one night. Binge drinking, even if you don’t drink on any other days, is the least healthy way to drink.
    

    
    

    
    

  
  

  
  

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