While Abroad

For Colby students currently studying abroad, please refer to the academic policies and resources below before contacting the Off-Campus Study Office.

Pre-Departure Handbook

 
Don't forget:
  • Review your Colby email account during your semester abroad via Colby Web mail 
  • Since registration and housing information will be sent by email it is very important that you check your Colby e-mail account while you are away, even if you are in a remote location.
  • Registration is completed on the Internet and the Registrar will try to contact you via e-mail to determine if you are able to register on the Web. The curriculum, course descriptions from the catalogue, and registration materials will be on the Web.
  • Housing information will be sent directly from the Dean of Housing at Colby College via email to your Colby account. If you have questions regarding housing procedures, please contact housing@colby.edu.
  • The Colby Echo is sent to Colby programs abroad and is available on-line for all Colby students abroad.

 

COLBY CONTACTS
Off-Campus Study Office, Colby College
4500 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
Phone: 1-207-859-4500, Fax: 1-207-859-4502
Email: offcamp@colby.edu

Registrar
859-4620
registr@colby.edu

Dean of Students
859-4250
dosoffice@colby.edu

Student Financial Services
859-4132
sfs@colby.edu

 

STUDENT TO STUDENT ADVICE - Going Abroad!

Get out there!

  • Living in a foreign country is difficult at first, give yourself a chance to adapt.  Feeling worried, nervous, or homesick at the beginning, or anytime, during your program is normal.
  • You really just need to laugh at yourself sometimes, whether it is not being able to understand things at first or saying a wrong word for something, getting lost, or just feeling out of place.
  • Orientate yourself to the city or other area you are living in, find out about local events/fun things to do.
  • Get a cell phone if available.
  • Start a quasi-journal at the beginning of your trip and track cool things you do, how you're feeling; it will be interesting to look back at what you've accomplished.


Homestay Families

  • Can sometimes be the trickiest part of living in a foreign country at the beginning, try to engage in family life (aka don't stay in your room or be out all the time), and be respectful!
  • Even if you're nervous about your language ability, keep speaking, most families are very understanding, act things out if you don't know a word.
  • Bring lots of photos of family, friends, Colby, hometown; it will make for great beginning conversation.


Friends

  • Make them not only in your program with other Americans, but ALSO in the local culture.  Homestay brothers and sisters are a great resource.  This is key in getting to know the ins and outs of a city, your learning experience, and developing better (becoming fluent) LANGUAGE SKILLS
  • Bring small gifts with you from the U.S. (CDs, candy, Frisbees) that you can give to a child, or special person you meet.


Work/Play

  • True, you can learn a whole lot in a library, but some of the best learning experiences you will have while abroad are getting outside your comfort zones, traveling, going out with friends, having NEW experiences you would not have in the U.S.
  • Although we are all proud to be American in our different ways, try to avoid speaking English really loudly with your friends or traveling in large groups of Americans, this can make you a serious target for theft or anti-American sentiment.
  • Don't flash your valuables around, be aware of people and things going on around you, especially at night.

Compiled by: Lucy Hitz, Naomi Branz, Chris Hoffman, and Lindsay Snyder