"A mind once stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
Welcome to the ISA-ELAP Alumni page. We sincerely hope that you enjoyed your time abroad, and that you are adjusting to life back at home after your adventure. This page has been divided into specific sections which have been designed to facilitate your return home. Please click on the blue lettering to access these pages. We're looking forward to continuing our relationship with you as alumni and we hope this alumni section is the first step.
Volunteering overseas is an experience that has undoubtedly affected your view of the world and how you interact with it in a profound way. To best assist you in incorporating this experience into your life, ISA has compiled resources and created several opportunities for ELAP alumni to share their experience.
Now that you're back
Volunteering overseas was likely one of the most challenging yet rewarding of your life experiences thus far, and something that has forever changed your view of the world. It is vital that you seize opportunities to use this experience in your life at home, both to make the most of your own experience and to share insights with others in order to continue the positive cycle of change. We hope that we are able to help you draw upon this.
The return home and process of re-acclimating to your native culture is often not an easy transition. It is often difficult to fully realize the impact of your experience until you return home, and you will likely be surprised at how integrated into your new culture you became. Upon returning home, it is normal to become frustrated or annoyed by some aspects of your home community. Although reverse cultural adjustment is generally overcome much more quickly, it can be just as intense as your initial cultural adjustment and in many ways you may finding yourself grieving for your life abroad. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to ease the transition of re-entry. The key is to achieve an ideal balance of reconnecting with your life back at home, while at the same time staying in touch with your experiences abroad.
Signs of Reverse Culture Shock
Your reactions to re-entry will vary, and may include one or more of the following:
Restlessness
Boredom
Depression
Uncertainty
Confusion
Isolation: Wanting to be alone
Reverse homesickness: Missing the people, places, attitudes or lifestyle of your host country
Changes in goals and priorities
Negativity or intolerance towards the your home country including behavior, attitudes, customs, and common social practice
Boredom
Depression
Uncertainty
Confusion
Isolation: Wanting to be alone
Reverse homesickness: Missing the people, places, attitudes or lifestyle of your host country
Changes in goals and priorities
Negativity or intolerance towards the your home country including behavior, attitudes, customs, and common social practice
Regardless of how much time you spent abroad, you will experience differences in yourself, your family and friends, and your surroundings upon your return home. At times you may feel that no one understands how you've changed, and it may be difficult for you to realize that life has not only changed for you but also for your friends and family. These realities can make you feel a little out of place at home. In fact, you may sometimes even feel like a stranger in a familiar land. This uncomfortable transition period is characterized as re-entry adjustment.
Tips for Coping with Re-entry
- Continue writing in the journal that you used abroad, or purchase one if you have not yet done so and write down your favorite memories. This will keep your experience fresh in your mind while maintaining perspective. Remember that life is a continual learning experience abroad and at home.
- Know that you're not alone in your feelings. Most alumni experience the discomforts of re-entry, although degrees of severity differ greatly. Usually readjustment to life at home is most difficult for those who were most immersed in the host culture.
- Learn to share your experience in small doses and don't forget to ask friends and family about their lives while you were away. Keep in mind that others have had valuable growing experiences at home during your absence, and they will be excited to share these with you. Talk with them about what has changed and let them know you are interested in their lives.
- Seek out other ELAP alumni and encourage your peers to think about embarking on an ELAP adventure. Relaying your experience to others will be valuable to both parties!
- If you are a student, become involved with international students on campus and assist with pre-departure orientations and study abroad or service-learning fairs for future students.
- Go to an elementary, middle, or high school language class and do a presentation about your time abroad.
- Stay in touch with the people you met on your ELAP program. Your best link to the experience can be only an email or a phone call away.
Global Ambassador's Program (GAP)
Can't stop talking about your amazing experience abroad?
Spread the word!
The Global Ambassador Program (GAP) is an internship program for ISA-ELAP alumni designed to connect your amazing experience abroad to your life back at home. This opportunity is meant for those volunteers that have not yet graduated from college. Through GAP you will have the chance to encourage other students to volunteer and study abroad, relive your experience by sharing it with others, meet other ISA and ELAP participants and help globalize your home campus!
Global Ambassador activities include:
- Presenting information to a class, organization or club on campus
- Participating in the study abroad or service-learning fair on campus
- Hanging posters on campus
- Assisting the ISA Representative during a visit
- Helping the study abroad office on campus
- Setting up an information table on campus
Global Ambassadors will receive the Global Ambassador training manual, ISA and ELAP materials to be used for promotional activities and support from the ISA Alumni Coordinator. We also encourage you to be creative in developing strategies that you think would be effective on your home campus. As an ISA Global Ambassador, you would be working in conjunction with the study abroad office on your campus and must have their approval to participate.
Great reasons to join the team:
- Global Ambassadors are paid hourly for all approved and documented work.
- Gain valuable experience for your résumé and professional development.
- References and letters of recommendation are provided for active ambassadors.
- A complementary year's subscription to Glimpse Magazine, a National Geographic publication that provides forums for sharing the experiences of young adults living and studying abroad.
- Support and interaction with the ISA main office.
How to apply
Share your experience and spread the word about volunteering abroad! Please click here to download the PDF Global Ambassador application.*
* Your participation in the program must be approved by the study abroad office at your home university. The application has a section that needs to be signed by a study abroad advisor on campus. If your home university does not think it is appropriate to have ISA Global Ambassadors on campus, you will not be eligible to participate.
Look for an email from the ISA Alumni Coordinator about two weeks after submitting your application. We look forward to having you join the team!
If you have questions about the program, please contact the ISA Alumni Coordinator at alumni@studiesabroad.com.
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Have you thought about going abroad again? Your international experience doesn.t have to end here! In this section, you will find information on other cross-cultural opportunities including: traditional study abroad programs, independent study options, and volunteer and internship opportunities that are available. The World Awaits...
Repeat Student Grant
Now that you're back, you may notice how much you crave going abroad and look for any opportunity to continue building on your travel experiences. Many of our alumni feel their time with ISA was too short, and choose to volunteer or study abroad again with ISA or ELAP in another program location.
Currently, ISA has programs in 26 cities, 13 countries worldwide, and ELAP is offered in 6 countries throughout Latin America. Depending on the program selected, ISA offers grants to students who have previously participated in an ISA or ELAP program, regardless of the length of time that passes between the two programs.
$100 ISA SUMMER PROGRAM GRANT
ELAP or ISA alumni will receive a $100 grant towards a summer program or any ELAP program six to ten weeks in length.
ELAP or ISA alumni will receive a $100 grant towards a summer program or any ELAP program six to ten weeks in length.
$350 ISA SEMESTER/TRIMESTER/ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAM GRANT
ELAP or ISA alumni will receive a $350 grant towards an ISA Semester, Trimester, or Academic Year program or any ELAP program 12 or 16 weeks in length.
ELAP or ISA alumni will receive a $350 grant towards an ISA Semester, Trimester, or Academic Year program or any ELAP program 12 or 16 weeks in length.
Note: Students who participate in an Intensive Month as their first ISA program are not eligible for the repeat student discount.
ISA's Experiential Learning Abroad Programs (ELAP)
If you would like to participate in ELAP again, feel free to review our dates and prices and placement offerings, or apply now.
ISA Study Abroad
If you are interested in completing coursework abroad please visit the ISA website for more information. There are opportunities for many different majors and interests!
Other International Opportunities
The following links will help you find out about other international opportunities:
www.goabroad.com
www.studyabroad.com
www.diversityabroad.com
www.goabroad.com
www.studyabroad.com
www.diversityabroad.com
The following links are to publications that focus on student travel and the sharing of international experiences:
www.glimpse.com
www.studenttraveler.com
www.transitionsabroad.com
www.abroadviewmagazine.com
www.glimpse.com
www.studenttraveler.com
www.transitionsabroad.com
www.abroadviewmagazine.com
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In today's job market, it can sometimes be difficult to make yourself stand out from a pile of prospective applicants. However, individuals that have volunteered or studied abroad have an immediate competitive advantage over applicants that may not have any international experience. That is why it is imperative to learn how to communicate the value of your ELAP experience on your cover letter, résumé and during an interview. Below are some tips and examples to assist you making the most of your international experiences.
How can I highlight my study abroad experience at a job interview?
A potential employer may not have experience abroad and may not understand what volunteering abroad entails and how it has impacted you. It is up to you to effectively communicate the skills and proficiencies you acquired abroad that will benefit their organization. Keep in mind that even though the numbers are increasing, less than 1 percent of the U.S. college students have spent a semester or more abroad. Even fewer have spent their time volunteering in a community abroad, so you are part of a very unique group. Do not underestimate the power of this experience!
What skills or proficiencies have you acquired or enhanced while you were abroad?
Skills that professionals with international experiences cite as being particularly useful in their careers include:
Enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences
Foreign language proficiency
Adaptability
Ability to identify and achieve goals
General improvement in communications skills
Increased confidence and initiative
Greater flexibility
Sense of humor
Awareness of global, economic, and political issues
Ability to maintain an open mind and be tolerant of others
Clarification of goals and improved self-awareness
General travel skills
Resource management
Organization
Problem solving
Crisis management
Patience
Listening and observation
Enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences
Foreign language proficiency
Adaptability
Ability to identify and achieve goals
General improvement in communications skills
Increased confidence and initiative
Greater flexibility
Sense of humor
Awareness of global, economic, and political issues
Ability to maintain an open mind and be tolerant of others
Clarification of goals and improved self-awareness
General travel skills
Resource management
Organization
Problem solving
Crisis management
Patience
Listening and observation
Reflection
Remember all those reflection activities you completed during your ELAP experience? These materials can be utilized to communicate the value of your experience. By reviewing and organizing your experiences you.ll be able to give insightful comments about your experience at any time. Consider which stories or challenges encapsulate skills and knowledge from your education abroad experience.
Linda Gross, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2003
Share an example of how you set priorities to achieve a desired outcome in your study abroad experience.
How did your volunteer abroad experience enhance your knowledge, skills, and understanding of your intended career field?
What assets might international study yield as opposed to someone who volunteered domestically?
Share an example of a travel situation that helped you build your understanding of human motivation.
How did this enhance your understanding of leadership or teamwork?
Share an example of how your international experience has improved your skills in communication with others.
How might this make you a better professional in your field?
How did you adjust /adapt to your new cultural surroundings?
Share examples from academic, social, work settings. How did these influence your ability to interact successfully with others?
Share an international experience in which you had to resolve a conflict or solve a problem. What skills and personal qualities did you tap into?
How did the experience help you grow as a person?
Share an example of a volunteer abroad experience in which you took initiative to achieve a greater result.
Share an example of a time when you may have been in danger or afraid. What did you learn from it? Why?
What was the most significant thing you learned about yourself through your study abroad experience? Why?
Share an example of how you set priorities to achieve a desired outcome in your study abroad experience.
How did your volunteer abroad experience enhance your knowledge, skills, and understanding of your intended career field?
What assets might international study yield as opposed to someone who volunteered domestically?
Share an example of a travel situation that helped you build your understanding of human motivation.
How did this enhance your understanding of leadership or teamwork?
Share an example of how your international experience has improved your skills in communication with others.
How might this make you a better professional in your field?
How did you adjust /adapt to your new cultural surroundings?
Share examples from academic, social, work settings. How did these influence your ability to interact successfully with others?
Share an international experience in which you had to resolve a conflict or solve a problem. What skills and personal qualities did you tap into?
How did the experience help you grow as a person?
Share an example of a volunteer abroad experience in which you took initiative to achieve a greater result.
Share an example of a time when you may have been in danger or afraid. What did you learn from it? Why?
What was the most significant thing you learned about yourself through your study abroad experience? Why?
How can I present my experience abroad in a cover letter or résumé?
Cover Letter
It is important to address the specific job you hope to acquire in your cover letter. These questions can help you focus.
How does your experience relate to your field?
What are the transferable skills?
How might your international experience uniquely benefit a professional in that field?
Develop a strategy to specifically address these points in your cover letter or résumé.
What are the transferable skills?
How might your international experience uniquely benefit a professional in that field?
Develop a strategy to specifically address these points in your cover letter or résumé.
Example: "My experience living in Chile will enhance my ability to communicate and interact effectively with the local Latino population..or, my volunteer program in San Jose, Costa Rica provided me with great insight about cultural differences in the workplace and I feel confident in my ability supervise, manage and teach a class of elementary school children.."
Even if your career goals do not include a specific international dimension at this time, you can promote the general transferable skills, such as independence, confidence, and problem solving.
Résumé
Be sure to locate your international experience in the best place or places on your résumé for your intended job. .
If you participated in ISA-ELAP volunteer placement, list the experience as a professional experience rather than as an activity.
Example: "Pharmacy Assistant Volunteer, Farmacia San Miguel, Santiago, Dominican Republic"
If you participated on a study abroad program, consider listing the program in your education section rather than under activities or other experiences.
Example: "Veritas University, Focus: Spanish. January 2007-May 2007"
Networking and Interviews
If your interviewer remarks or asks about your international experience, take it as an opportunity to expand. Don't let the opportunity pass by with a simple "Yes, it was great!" Develop stories and responses in advance to show it was a learning experience and provide examples that illustrate transferable skills.
Utilize the reflection questions to formulate your responses and stories.
Review the list of skills and develop examples of how you gained these abroad.
Identify skills in the job description and create examples from your international experience that exemplify those skills.
Be sure to use some domestic examples also and ensure your example/stories are balanced. It is better to illustrate critical thinking skills than to show-off or demean one culture at the expense of another.
If you work better with models here is one you could use:
Why you chose the program.
Story that illustrates a skill.
A few sentences about how that skill is transferable to this specific job.
Review the list of skills and develop examples of how you gained these abroad.
Identify skills in the job description and create examples from your international experience that exemplify those skills.
Be sure to use some domestic examples also and ensure your example/stories are balanced. It is better to illustrate critical thinking skills than to show-off or demean one culture at the expense of another.
If you work better with models here is one you could use:
Why you chose the program.
Story that illustrates a skill.
A few sentences about how that skill is transferable to this specific job.
I am interested in sharing my experience abroad with others; what can I do?
Continue developing your stories. It is a great way to reflect on your experience and discover new insights and skills you gained abroad.
ISA Global Ambassador Program (GAP)
The GAP is designed to encourage your involvement in international education, by providing you outreach opportunities right on your home campus. As an ISA Global Ambassador, you would be working in conjunction with the study abroad office on your campus in whatever capacity you and they see fit. You would also arrange promotional activities on campus, as well as assist the ISA Regional Representatives during their campus visits. ISA would send you a Global Ambassador Packet as well as other ISA materials, including catalogs, to be used for promotional activities on campus. We would also encourage you to be creative in developing strategies that would be effective on your home campus.
Internship Opportunities
Your international experience doesn't have to end when you come back to the US. Get involved! Local and international activities can help you adjust to being back as well as help you integrate your time abroad into your academic life and long-term goals.
Go Abroad Again
Now that your back, you may notice how much you have changed from your time abroad. You may have what's known as the "Travel Bug" and will look for any opportunity to continue building on your travel experiences. Many of our alumni feel their time with ISA was too short, and choose to study abroad again with ISA in another program location. Currently, ISA has programs in 27 cities worldwide, throughout 13 countries, and ELAP is offered in 6 Latin American countries. Depending on the program selected, ISA offers grants for students who have previously participated in an ISA program, regardless of the length of time that passes between the two programs. For more information, go to: http://www.studiesabroad.com/alumni/goAbroadAgain
Glimpse Magazine- Glimpse provides a forum for students to share their experience abroad. Submit your story for the online publication or the quarterly magazine. glimpsefoundation.org
Create Your Own Web-page or Blog- Create a website all about your experience abroad.
Your Local News- Contact your hometown or neighborhood newspaper. They may want to feature your experience.
Is ISA currently hiring?
ISA is headquartered in Austin, Texas. We are always looking for passionate and energetic individuals to join the ISA team. In fact, many of our staff members are ISA alumni. If you interested in working for ISA, please send a cover letter and your résumé to: Resumes@studiesabroad.com.
We are always looking for photos to incorporate on our website and promotional materials and would love to feature some of yours! We will consider photos that are creative and highlight the unique experience of studying or volunteering abroad. The photos need to be from the following categories:
* Nature and landscape
* ELAP Volunteering
* Culture, customs, and traditions
* Daily life unique to the location
* Iconic images
* Monuments or places of interest
* Architecture
* ELAP Volunteering
* Culture, customs, and traditions
* Daily life unique to the location
* Iconic images
* Monuments or places of interest
* Architecture
Participation:
All entries must be sent to ISA via email to photos@studiesabroad.com. The following information must be included in the body of the email:
1. Title of photo
2. Category from above list
3. Name of photographer
4. City and country
5. Descriptions of photograph, including date, location, and background information.
2. Category from above list
3. Name of photographer
4. City and country
5. Descriptions of photograph, including date, location, and background information.
Please be aware, we will only be accepting high resolution jpeg files. Please save your photograph with your first and last name as the filename.
Disclaimer:
Photos will be evaluated bi-annually. Please submit photos to photos@studiesabroad.com. By submitting your photos to the contest, you authorize that ISA can use the images on the ISA website and in all promotional materials.
*No photographs incorporating alcohol or illegal activities will be considered.
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