Read country-specific materials. It is helpful to read as much as possible about where your friend or family member is going in order to gain some perspective about the experience. This could include reading guidebooks, foreign and international newspapers and magazines, novels, plays, poety, and political and economic analyses. You may also want to talk to international students, past participants, and veteran travelers who have been where your friend or family member is going. Read about Culture. You may also want to read, and encourage your friend or family member to read, about culture in general and how it affects our behavior, beliefs, customs, and how we view the world.
