Pre-Departure Workshop #3: Biases and Assumptions

Wednesday February 12, 2025

Updates and To-DOs:

• Pre-Departure Logistics Form: due Friday, February 14th

  • This form is for submitting the following:

    • Emergency contact information

    • Flight Information

    • Passport Information

    • Roommate Selection

    • Accommodation Requests

• Review:

  • Emergency Action Plan: Japan

  • Emergency Action Plan: UAE

• Next Week: Pre-Departure Workshop #4

  • February 19th, 2025, 5:30 - 6:30 PM

  • In-person with Dr. Devin Walker

  • Location: The University of Texas at Austin Campus, RLP 0.112

reflection: biases and assumptions

Having biases is part of being human- and recognizing the biases you may have is an important part of building cross-cultural intelligence. Take some time, either with a journal or a walk to reflect alone or get together with a friend to discuss the following topics.

Free-Write: Journal Prompts

1. Talk about the community you grew up in?

2. What's a stereotype about your community or people in your community? How true or untrue is it based on your experience?

3. What biases / stereotypes have you had to navigate and resist?

4. What's a value you learned in your home or community that you cherish to this day?

5. What biases and stereotypes have you heard about Japan / UAE as well as the people of that country? Where did you learn these biases / stereotypes? Media? Friends? Family?

6. What did you learn about this country and people in your community?

Reflection:

1. What stood out to you when writing the free write?

2. How do you think these narratives have influenced you?

3. How might they shape or influence your experience?

4. How do you resist stereotypes?'

5. Why is it important to unlearn stereotypes? What does that even mean?

6. How will you ensure Western biases and assumptions won't overly influence your experience abroad?

Student Questions

The following questions were asked by students during the workshop. See what was on your peer’s minds!

• What will weather be like in Japan and the UAE?

  In Japan it will be springtime/, the start of cherry blossom season, but it will not be like Texas Spring! Pack warm clothes and layers- the sun will come out during the day, but it may even get cold enough to snow in the mornings/evenings. Double check the forecast when packing.

  The UAE will be hot! Think desert. Pack long sleeve and long pants options for when we are visiting the grand mosque and other respected establishments, including a pair of close-toed shoes. Ladies bring a headscarf as well. Otherwise, pack as you would for any other summer vacation.

• What is the plan for the airports?

  As long as you are arriving at Haneda or Dubai airport on March 14th, World Walker will organize your transportation. Fill out the pre-dpearture logistics form (linked above)- we need to gather your flight information so we can plan out the bus transportation.

  Likewise, we will arrange for your airport drop-off, as long as you have booked your flights out of the airports listed above on March 22nd.

• How much free time will we have?

  Most evenings and the free days- refer to the tentative itineraries in the student portals. These are frequently updated and provide you with an idea of when you will be able to explore on your own.