EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTpreparation booklet

WHAT?Ok, you’re about to travel. So what? Let’s plan the journey!Budgeting-check the country’s standard living costs (www.numbeo.com)-plan your money according to how long you’re staying-prepare some emergency money just in case-make sure there are ATMs to use your bank cards, otherwise take cash, but not too much (it’s better to take cash for the first two weks of expenses)-take into consideration: accommodation, food, extraactivities (fun)

-don’t forget to pack things for Global Village! (basically Lebanese souvenirs or food to showcase your culture - flags, costumes, scarves, jewelry, shisha etc.)-how to pack like a pro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIk8v__Osm8-check the weather of the country where you’re going, and pack accordingly-don’t pack fuly, because you might come back with other things that you bought or received as gifts

-passport, ID, visa (if the case)-ISIC card (if you don’t have it, contact us)-Travel Insurance (if you don’t have one, contact us for a discounted one)

-make sure you know who is waiting for you at the airport and you have their contact-check if you can get an address to your final destination, just in case-take medication, from flu treatments to diarheea pils (no jokes implied)

Packing

Documents

Other important things

HOW?How will the whole journey look like? How should you behave?AIESEC Cultural Shock-as a very diverse and international organisation, AIESEC has its own organisational culture, which meansthat we like to dance “:rol calls” and sing and shout our own country motto’s. We’re weird, but we like it.-don’t be surprised if you see a lot of people wearing AIESEC shirts, bracelets etc. You might receive one as a gift:)

-please remember you’re going in a place where people don’t do or act the way people do back in your country-the whole point is to get out of your comfort zone and TRY - try to UNDERSTAND, TOLERATE, ASK-keep in mind the phases of the Cultural Shock

General Cultural Shock

HOW?How to manage the hardships?

Yourself :)

The country, the people

RESPECTRESPECT

“See cultural diversity as a challenge and a chance to develop yourself by accepting others, while not losing your identity as well.”

HOW?How to represent Lebanon?

Tell them

Show them

Don’t forget about our own Be a Lebanese Ambassador Challenge!You can win a free-of-charge exchange again :)If you don’t know what’s this about, ask us!

-people have no idea what Lebanon is or where it is - don’t treat themas stupid, tell them, and explain our history-try to break their own stereotypes about MENA region or arab people

-try to bring food, if you can (hummus, halua, sweets, peanuts etc.)-have a Lebanese flag with you -if you can wear a traditional costume, it’s best-show them our dance, music, show them videos with Beirut-and anything else you can imagine! :)

WHY?What’s the purpose behind?

Global Citizen’s purpose

AIESEC’s leadership development model

Leaders who are self-aware

Leaders who are solution-driven Leaders who are solution-driven

Leaders who empower others

Leaders who are WORLD CITIZENS

potential”“peace & fulfillment of humankind’s

WHY?What’s the purpose behind?We develop the four fundamental blocks of leadership by designing eachof our programs with a specific personal development process.

Part of the exchange program, there’s the inner & outer leadership journeythat the Exchange Participant goes through.Outer journey - is represented by the challenges of the external environment Inner journey - is represented by the self-reflection process, before, during, after

WHY?What’s the purpose behind?Elements of the Outer journey

Individual responsibility and goals

Challenging role and environment

Interaction with multiple stakeholders

Support system

WHY?What’s the purpose behind?

Elements of the Inner journeySet personal goalsInner Leadership journey starts with understanding where you are currently and setting goals for what youwant to get from the experience

Reflect on your experienceGoing through self-reflection exercises to understand how you are achieving personal goals, changing throughoutthe experience, and capture your learnings and realizations.

Understand your personal valuesBy living the experience and going through inner journey you realize the fundamental things about yourself – yourvalues and how it impacts your everyday life.

Reinvent yourselfCapturing the learnings from this experience to use it in the future;Understanding your „new self”.

Why do you really, truly want to take part in this opportunity?

What would you like to learn about the place or the community you’re going into?What is exciting to you about this?

How are you going to overcome the challenges that may occur?

What new skills or knowledge do you want to develop?

How can this experience help you in your future plans and goals?

WHat do you want to learn about yourself?WHat do you want to learn about yourself?

How will you know you have reached your initial goal?

You cannot do this again, in the same way, with the same people,with the exact same you.

So what will make it worth it in the end?

Why is this important to you?Here are some questions to help you reflect on this upcoming journey.

AND IN THE END just don’t forget...

AIESEC in Lebanon will always be there for you :)

Wish you the best, the amazing, the tasteful!