Office of Study Abroad Library

Cross Cultural Memoirs

Lost in Translation by Hoffman, Eva
When her parents brought her from the war-ravaged, faded elegance of her native Cracow in 1959 to settle in well-manicured, suburban Vancouver, Eva Hoffman was thirteen years old. Entering into adolescence, she endured the painful pull of nostalgia and struggled to express herself in a strange, unyielding new language. Lost in Translation is about her transition from Poland to Canada to the US, culturally and linguistically.

Study Abroad: Sigo Buscando el Duende by Warsteiner, Mateo
Have you ever dreamed of traveling to a distant foreign land? Have you ever thought about studying abroad overseas? Have you ever wished you could be immersed in a different culture and language? What’s holding you back? This book is about Warsteiner's time studying abroad.

Tales from Nowhere
Many places can feel like nowhere: a desert, an isolated village, even the middle of a bustling, impersonal city. And then something happens: an adventure, a revelation, an experience that changes the whole landscape. The discovery the every place is the centre of the world to somebody and has its own riches and wonders. This book is a collection of stories from personal experiences abroad.


Etiquette

Behave Yourself! by Powell, Michael
Did you know that if someone crosses his arms and closes his eyes while you are talking in Japan, it is a sign that he is considering your words carefully? Or that the Dutch eat everything with a knife and fork, including pizza? This book, which is organized by country, includes plenty of such useful travel tips.

Do’s and Taboos Around the World
The third edition provides information on protocol, customs, and etiquette; hand gestures and body language; tipping, a chapter on gift-giving and gift-receiving customs.

Gestures: The Do’s and Taboos of Body Language Around the World by Axtell, Roger
Before you raise your hand to signal the waiter, extend your thumb to hitch-hike, or flash the “O.K.” sign with thumb and forefinger, STOP! Think of where you are and exactly what you are trying to say-otherwise you could create an international incident. Remember when President Bush though he was flashing the “V” for Victory sign to cheering Australians? This book goes into detail about gestures and their meanings in different parts of the world.

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands by Morrison, Terri and Wayne Conaway
With countries such as China and India taking on a more significant role in the global business landscape, you cannot afford not to know the practices, customs, and philosophies of other countries.This book is your must-have guide to proper international business protocol.   

Japan made easy: All you need to know to enjoy Japan by De Mente, Boye Lafayette
This book contains essential information, practical advice, and hundreds of dos and don'ts that will help you get the most out of your trip to Japan.

 

Reference

The Art of Crossing Cultures by Storti, Craig
Adjusting to a new culture and getting along with the local people challenge everyone who lives and works abroad. Whether in business, diplomacy, education, or as a long-term visitor abroad, anyone can be blind-sided by a lack of international knowledge and experience and be caught at a disadvantage. This book with help you deal with culture shock and cultural misunderstandings.

The Atlas of the Real World
This Atlas doesn't simply show countries. It shows global statistics on topics such as “Natural Resources and Energy,” “Wealth and Poverty,” “Housing and Education,” and “War and Crime”.   

The Packing Book by Gilford, Judith
Fully updated for the 21st-century traveler, this definitive packing guide will empower overpackers to throw down their brick-like suitcases and become carry-on pros. The Packing Book reveals the secrets of packing efficiently, with time-saving tips, techniques, and technologies. Packing consultant Judith Gilford describes her framed Bundle Method step by step, so that every carry-on hopeful can achieve wrinkle-free, space-saving perfection. This edition also addresses new carry-on security concerns and guidelines, including what you can and cannot take on the plane.

The Smart Traveler’s Passport
The Smart Traveler’s Passport is a collection of 399 of the best travel tips you’ll ever read, compiled from the pages of Budget Travel magazine.     

Survival Kit for Overseas Living by Kohls, L. Robert
This book goes into how to avoid stereotypes, how to explore the mysteries of culture, and how values and different ways of thinking influence behavior.

Teaching English Abroad by Griffith, Susan
Written by the world expert on finding work abroad, this best-selling guide is essential reading for anyone considering teaching English in a foreign country.

Tips for the Thrifty Traveler by Pagana, Theresa
Whether you’re going somewhere for the first time or for the fifteenth time, the tips in “Tips for the Thrifty Traveler” will help you save money and avoid hassle. They will ease the anxieties of first-time travelers and give experienced travelers ideas on how to improve.

Tips on Tipping by French, Carole and Reg Butler
Bradt’s Tips on Tipping is the definitive guide to navigating this cultural minefield. Offering no-nonsense advice, organized by country, on what and how to tip, as well as guidance on local social etiquette, this is a book for tourists and business travelers alike.

Travel As a Political Act by Steves, Rick
There’s more to travel than good-value hotels, great art, and tasty cuisine. Americans who “travel as a political act” can have the time of their lives and come home smarter—with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of today’s world and just how our nation fits in. Steves shares his stories on how his travels have affected his political ideology and his perspective.

Vagabonding by Potts, Rolf
Vagabonding is about taking time off from your normal life-from six weeks to four months to two years-to discover and experience the world on your own terms. Veteran shoestring traveler Rolf Potts shows that anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel.

 

Safety

Safety and Security for Women Who Travel by Swan, Sheila and Peter Laufer
Through their own stories and advice and the insightful anecdotes of traveling women, Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer show you how to take care of yourself in the post 9/11 world and feel as good on your journeys as you do at home.

Staying Safe Abroad by Lee, Edward
…is about thinking and behaving proactively in an increasingly uncertain, turbulent and perilous world. Staying Safe Abroad will not scare you, but rather, educate you on the threats you may face, and empower you with solutions that will minimize personal risks while traveling internationally.

Travel Wise by Leki, Ray
In an age when international travel is as easy as it is unsettling, people need a variety of skills to cope with the unknown. Simple country-specific information about a destination is not enough. You need cultural competence as well as a clear understanding of your own tolerance for risk. Travel Wise offers insight and practical advice to help you adopt the right attitude, the right training and the right approach for a successful journey.  


Study Abroad

Becoming World Wise: A Guide to Global Learning by Slimbach, Richard
This book will help you make the most of your international experience. It will show you how to broaden your cultural horizons while also making a contribution to your host community. Learn how to make your international encounter rewarding, authentic, enriching, and learning-oriented!

The Global Classroom by Lantis, Jeffery and Jessica DuPlaga
This book is about preparing students to meaningfully study abroad—to view the preparation for overseas study, participation in an academically rigorous program, and the return home as parts of a holistic intellectual and emotional journey. By drawing on prominent theories of learning and cross-cultural education, the book builds the discussion around a contemporary academic development approach to contextualizing knowledge about study abroad.

Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience by Dowell, Michele-Marie and Kelly Mirsky
Written by a study abroad coordinator and a faculty director from a foreign language department, Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience is designed to maximize the quality and impact of this unique experience!

Study Abroad 101 by Williamson, Wendy
This book, written by EIU's Director of Study Abroad, presents everything US College students need to know about Education Abroad, from before they select a program to after they return, through 101 easy-to-navigate sections. It is highly recommended for education abroad students, advisors, faculty, orientations, and courses.

 

Travel Guides

Africa
IIEPASSPORT: Study Abroad in Africa & the Middle East [Institute of International Education]
Innovation Through Education: Building the Knowledge Economy in the Middle East [Institute of International  Education]
South Africa [Lonely Planet]

Americas
IIEPASSPORT: Study Abroad in the Americas [Institute of International Education]
Central America [Lonely Planet]
Costa Rica [Let’s Go]
South America [Lonely Planet]

Asia & Oceania
IIEPASSPORT: Study Abroad in Asia & Oceania [Institute of International Education]
Australia [Lonely Planet]
China [Lonely Planet] 
New Zealand [Lonely Planet]
Southeast Asia [Lonely Planet]
Thailand [Let’s Go]

Europe

IIEPASSPORT: Study Abroad in Europe [Institute of International Education]
Europe [Lonely Planet]
Language Survival Guide: Greece [Harper Collins]
Language Survival Guide: Portugal [Harper Collins]
France [Let’s Go]
Germany [Let’s Go]
Great Britain [Let’s Go]
Greece [Let’s Go]
Italy [Let’s Go] 
       Florence [Let’s Go]
Sweden [Rough Guides]