Know Your Destination

When traveling, it is important to learn about where you are going. It shows respect for the people of your host country and that you know at least the basic information about their government, current events, history, language and customs.

Some country specific materials will be given to you at orientation. Read through the list of questions below to see how much you know about your destination.

If you don’t know the answers to the questions below, go to our resources page for links that can help you access interesting information about your destination.

In the meantime, take the following quiz and see how much you already know:

The Country

1. Are there states, provinces, departments, or counties? How many? Can you name them? How are they different?
2. What is the climate?
3. What are the main cities?
4. How large is the population?
5. What are the main industries?
6. Do you know the basic history? Date of independence? Relationship to other countries?
7. There are many contemporary and historical persons important to a country's sense of identity. Can you name one contemporary and one historical (politician, poet, philosopher, musician, writer, actor, actress, photographer, inventor, artist, sports figure, or entertainer...)
8. What are the major national holidays? How are they observed?

Politics

1. Can you name current political leaders and their current titles?
2. Do you know the names of the political parties?
3. How would you describe the political process?
4. What are the interest groups and how do they express their concerns?
5. What kind of citizen is valued?
6. What penalties exist for disobeying the law?
7. What is the role of women in politics?
8. Is bribery a part of the government? If so, in what ways?
9. Is politics an appropriate topic of conversation?

Religion

1. Is there a state religion? How many religions are represented in the country?
2. What are the five dominant religious values in the country?
3. How does religion influence people? How does it affect the normal business week?
4. What are the religious holidays?
5. Is religion an appropriate topic of conversation?

Non-Verbal Communication

1. What is the appropriate distance between two persons?
2. What is the appropriate amount of eye contact?
3. How is time managed differently?
4. Is it appropriate to express emotion?
5. Are there any nonverbal behavior patterns or hand gestures you use which may be offensive?
6. How is their nonverbal behavior pattern different? Do you understand it?

Daily Life

1. How do people greet each other? Say goodbye?
2. Is gift-giving a custom? What kind of gift for which occasion? Are there gifts you should not give?
3. Do colors have a certain meaning? What about flowers? Do numbers have a particular significance?
4. How many days a week do people work? Hours per day? Are business and social conversations mixed?
5. Is alcohol permitted? What about nonalcoholic beverages? What are the local laws about drinking?
6. How do people spend their free time?
7. Do people employ servants? What is their place in society?
8. What are the local laws regarding drugs?

Education

1. Is education free? Compulsory? To what age/grade level?
2. How does the education system compare to yours? (perceived advantages/disadvantages)
3. How are children disciplined at school? At home? By whom? What implications does this have for adult behavior?

Social Structure

1. What are the social class divisions?
2. Are there ethnic divisions?
3. Is there discrimination? Against whom?
4. Does dress reflect social or economic status?
5. What is the nature of social mobility?
6. Has the experience of colonialism or foreign domination affected class structure? The attitude toward foreigners?
7. What are the major occupations of the various classes?
8. What is the size of the average family? Is there extended family? What are their roles?
9. Is there family planning?
10. Is the group more important than the individual?
11. Who do people go to for advice with different problems?
12. What professions or states of life are held in esteem?

Role of Men and Women

1. Are female and male children equally desired?
2. Are there differences between male and female roles in the home? Business? Education? Society?
3. Do women hold professional positions in business?

Business and Social Customs

1. What are the most important elements needed to succeed in business? To succeed socially?
2. What are some dominant business values?
3. What or who determines whether you succeed or fail?
4. Should you invite business colleagues to your home? To a restaurant?
5. Should you be on time or late for a meeting?
6. How do you tell a colleague that s/he is in error? In public? In private?
7. What is the normal manner of rewarding? With increased pay? Benefits? Extra vacation? Overtime? No rewards?

Food

1. What kinds of foods are eaten?
2. Are you expected to eat all foods?
3. Will you be expected to drink the local beverage?
4. What is the social protocol when invited to dinner?

Newspapers and Media

1. Which newspapers are most popular? Is censorship a practice?
2. Are all subject matters of books available? In what languages?
3. What is the government’s attitude toward the media in general?

Health

1. What medical facilities are available? Is it socialized or not?
2. What preventative measures are necessary to maintain good health?
3. What are the hygienic standards?

Attitudes Toward You

1. What is the relationship between this country and the US? Presently? In the past 10 years? In the distant past? What is their projected future attitude?
2. Are people from the United States liked? Disliked? By whom? For what reasons?
3. Is there a large US expatriate community?
4. What do you expect will be their attitude towards you?
5. What is yourattitude towards these people? Do you feel superior? Inferior? Why?
6. Can you anticipate some potential misconception problems?