MISTI strives to foster a diverse and inclusive community–on campus and abroad. There can be cultural, legal, political, religious, economic and social contexts that may impact your experience in different ways depending on your background and identity.
Your identity
As you plan your time abroad, consider the various facets of your identity and how it could influence the challenges you may face in a new culture as well as the new opportunities that may surprise you. Which facets of your identity may raise challenges in your host country?
To better prepare yourself for your time abroad, consider some of these questions:
- How is my ethnic or racial group perceived in my host country? Is there a history of or are there current hostile racial/ethnic tensions?
- Is there a possibility you will experience discrimination, racism, or classism? How will you handle it?
- How accessible are the areas in the country you are visiting?
- How do people perceive your religion? Is your religion legal in your host country? Is it safe to worship or wear religious symbols and/or clothing?
- What are the laws and cultural norms regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, including hate crime laws and laws of consent?
- Will you/can you be out and if so, are there safety concerns to consider? If not, how will this affect your day-to-day experience?
- Are there any expenses not covered by MISTI for which you may need to budget (vaccines, visas, weekend travel)?
- As an international non-U.S. citizen will you need a new visa to reenter the U.S. after your time abroad? Are there political disputes between your home country and the country you are visiting?
We encourage you to explore these questions, research your host country, and speak to your MISTI program manager to learn more.
Don't hesitate to contact your MISTI program manager and/or MISTI's DEI team at mistidei [at] mit.edu if you have any questions or concerns.