Goals and Intentions
We at CGIS intend for this guide to serve as a helpful start to the discussion of how students or other travelers have had their identities received in different regional contexts around the globe. It is not intended to be an all-encompassing guide or a “master tool” for understanding the complexity of diversity in various international contexts as that would not be possible without intensive and holistic anthropological work in these countries. We also do not have information and/or resources for every possible identity, but we intend for this to be a living document. We will continue to add to this, and hope that faculty and students will share their experiences as well in order to make this as robust a resource as possible.
Additionally, we do recognize that many of our quotes or examples have negative experiences or observations embedded within, even in the reflections that are mostly positive. We are acutely aware of how these comments can and have affected the perceptions and realities of other nations and wish to exercise caution and balance in providing an outlet for the perspectives and narratives of students and faculty. We are always available to discuss some of the narratives and examples discussed here with students or concerns they have during their pre-departure and on-site experience, and we encourage you to email CGIS should you have any questions, concerns, or would like an opportunity to contribute to the conversation.
