What is your preparation routine when preparing to leave on a trip to a brand new location, an international location? I leave Friday for my CIBER-sponsored, premier trip to Turkey. I've made a packing list that includes essentials such as converter and adaptor for my cell phone charger and more importantly for my hair straightener (I wouldn't want to embarrass Indiana University by showing up with frizzy hair!), passport, travelers cheques (just in case Plan A to use a debit card at ATMs doesn't work out), snack bag (word on the street has it that Turks eat dinner much later than my mid-western system is accustomed to), good walking shoes, and an umbrella. And of course in the carry on, the Fodor's book on Turkey and the essentials that I can NOT live without if my luggage doesn't arrive with me (Those "must haves" tell you a lot about a person,I suspect--what do my items of Dramamine, toothbrush,and camera tell you about me. What would your carry on items tell me about you?)
As important as the packing list is to a successful trip to a foreign country, it's also critical to do some basic research. Americans get a bad reputation as international travellers because we, too often, assume American ways will prevail wherever we wander. I don't want to be perceived as the "rude American" so I know to cover my arms, legs, and head when visiting a mosque and to remain standing as a sign of respect (no matter how tired by tootsie toes might be.) I know to leave the sandals at home and to be cautious of displaying or touching something with my feet when in the Middle East. I've learned a few basic phrases to help me be courteous and polite: Hello or "mer-hab-a"; Please or "lewt-fen"; Thank you "tay-shake-kur eh -day-reem" (Oh dear, I may need to keep my flash cards handy for "thank you!") And of course, "Tuvalet nerede?" (Those of you who have travelled with me and counted my frequent stops at "facilities" will piece that one together on your own!)
Flight plan--leave Friday---Chicago, Munich, Ankara. More from Ankara.
Goodbye for now or ("Allahaismarladik"--argh! I need another flash card!)
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Brenda Bailey-Hughes
ABOUT YOUR CIBER FOCUS HOST
Brenda Bailey-Hughes is Senior Lecturer of Business Communication at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. She holds a Master's degree in Organizational Communication and has extensive professional experience as a training and management consultant. Her professional interests include managing cross-cultural teams, ways in which instructor feedback affects student learning, and customer service in higher education.
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- The Indiana University Center for International Business Education and Research is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The CIBERs nationwide form a network for independent and collaborative programs supporting professional international business development, research, and travel opportunities for faculty and students as well as outreach to regional and national business and educators.