I, Too, Am Study Abroad – Navigating Race and Ethnicity Abroad on Feb. 27 will make students aware of the culture shock some experience when studying in another country. Education Abroad and the Intercultural Diversity Center are partnering in an effort to help students navigate matters of race when studying abroad.

Who: Education Abroad and the Intercultural Diversity Center are hosting the event

What: I, Too, Am Study Abroad – Navigating Race and Ethnicity Abroad

When: Wednesday, Feb. 27

Where: Noon – 2 p.m.

Why: Education Abroad Advisor Raven McKenzie said that going to study other cultures abroad can be shocking for different ethnicities, since other cultures may not be familiar with seeing different ethnic groups.

“The purpose is just to get people thinking about how their race plays into their identity here and how it might play into their identity while they are going abroad,” McKenzie said.

The event will consist mainly of a Q&A. A panel of students will discuss their experiences with race while studying abroad and proceed to answer any questions.

“Just come with an open mind,” McKenzie said. “It is not that we want students to go abroad thinking this, this and this is going to happen, or being prepared for that moment when someone says something. It’s just that we want students to be aware of the spectrum of possibilities and to be able to feel prepared that if they do deal with something or come up against a situation that might make them feel a certain way, whether that’s positively or in a negative way, that they are ready to be prepared, deal with those feelings and move past them.”