Parents
Parents and family members can be key supporters of student's education abroad experiences. The SAIIE staff hopes that by reading the information below and speaking to their student, parents and family members will better understand the education abroad process and can support their student accordingly.
The application process for all college students participating in our SAIIE study abroad program is through our partners in the US, the UW-La Crosse Education Abroad office. The application process itself is student-centered and communicates all essential information to students directly as they are the ones participating on the international experience. As such, students often already have access to information that parents may be curious about via their UW-La Crosse Education Abroad online application. Family members are encouraged to first approach their student with questions, and if the student does not have the answer, encourage them to contact the UW-La Crosse Education Abroad office themselves or the SAIIE program.
While the UW-La Crosse Education Abroad and SAIIE staff members are more than happy to speak to and meet with parents and family members to answer questions, in some cases, student-specific information cannot be shared because of the U.S. government’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Please note: The application process to our Athletic Programs that we offer to U.S. college student-athletes is directly through the SAIIE program.
The application process for all other programs (GAP YEAR & HIGH SCHOOL) are directly through the SAIIE program. Please contact the Program Manager, Sean Chipres at seanrc@saiie.com for more information.
As a backup and for family members’ peace of mind, it is helpful to prepare an “education abroad folder” with copies of all the essential documents and information for both the student and the family. It is suggested that copies of each of the following are on hand:
- Passport
- Visa and corresponding documents (if applicable)
- Banking account information (it is also recommended that a parent or other trusted family member be made a co-signer on the account while the student is abroad)
- Health insurance information (copy of the card and the policy)
- All flight information and itineraries
- Accommodation information (if the student is traveling before or after the program)
- UW-La Crosse International Education & Engagement office contact information only if studying through them on our SAIIE program
- SAIIE office contact information
Even though students are thousands of miles away, there are still ways in which parents and family members can support their student while they’re abroad:
Stay Informed
Parents and family members are encouraged to find out more about their student’s host country and to stay informed about current events in the country and region. Gaining more knowledge about the destination may help to answer questions and address concerns.
Communication
Online communication via e-mail, Skype, social media, etc. can be easy if both the family and the student have access to the internet. However, it is important to understand that internet access in Spain may not be as readily available as it is in the U.S. Furthermore, daily online contact is not always recommended; encourage students to limit their time communicating home and set a weekly “date” to Skype or e-mail.
Follow our SAIIE Social Media
You can follow your student’s experience through pictures and videos on our social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saiieseville/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saiiesevilla
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saiiesevilla/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAIIESevilla
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/saiie-sevilla
Student blogs: https://saiie.com/resources/blogs/
Visiting Students Abroad
For families who want to visit their student abroad, SAIIE recommends arranging visits to coincide with vacation times or after the program has ended. Then students do not have to make the difficult choice between academic work and having fun showing visitors their host country and culture.
Culture Shock
All students, regardless of maturity, previous experience abroad, or knowledge of the country in which they will be living, experience some degree of culture shock. Culture shock is a term used to describe some of the more pronounced reactions to spending an extended period of time in a culture very different from their own.
Culture shock can be characterized by periods of frustration, adjustment, and even depression. The worst homesickness often occurs two to three months after students leave home, and it is common for students to call or write home more during moments of low morale. Consequently, families often picture a more negative situation than actually exists. There is no one way to experience culture shock. It may be acute or barely noticeable. Parents may find it returns once again after they thought their student had already passed through all the stages, or may not even be aware that the student is going through culture shock or to what extent. Simply be aware that culture shock exists, that it will probably affect the student in one way or another, but that it does not last forever. Culture shock can be a very valuable experience, which can leave people with broader perspectives, deeper insight into themselves, and a wider tolerance for other people.
Although it may seem like a long way off, SAIIE suggests that parents start thinking now about their student’s return to the United States after the program ends. Students often go through a phase of “reverse” or “re-entry” culture shock when they return home, which can be sometimes more challenging than what they went through abroad. They expect to go through adjustments in foreign countries, but do not always realize that life has continued on without them at home and there may be changes for which they were not prepared. As with culture shock, one way to alleviate the difficulty of re-entry shock is to keep the student aware of what is going on at home. Students often go through periods of mild depression once they return home because of feelings that no one is interested in what they experienced in their time abroad.
Faced with questions such as “How was your time in…?” a student often can only answer “Great!” before conversation moves on to another subject. Encourage friends and family members to ask more specific questions like “What were the best things about living abroad? The most difficult? What places did you visit? Are people’s daily lives the same as in the United States? Do you have any pictures?” Have a party where the student can show off food, customs, and souvenirs from their travels. Not only will such questions and activities remind students they had a worthwhile experience and help them to readjust, it will help others in the community or family learn more about the world.