You may not be considered an ethnic or religious majority in the United States, but by going abroad you become, in a sense, a minority. There might not be a lot of U.S. students studying in the area you will be, so, in that sense, you are a novelty—someone new and different who stands out from the locals. In some cases, your outward appearance can also make you stand out, especially if the country’s population is very homogeneous. Sometimes the locals’ curiosity, interest, ignorance or misunderstanding of you can be unpleasant. If a comment offends you, try to be tactful with your response, or if you are very upset, leave the room. Remember that cultural and ethnic sensitivity is not as strong abroad as it is in the United States, and some comments are simply made out of ignorance, not malice.

Political turmoil or lack of tolerance can make some ethnic and religious groups a target for mistreatment or even violence in many countries. Political rallies and certain dates like anniversaries of historic events also often spur ethnic and religious conflicts in many countries. Certain hate crimes may not even be considered crimes in your host country. With regard to religion, the risk or censure you attract depends on your level of religious involvement abroad. If others where you will be studying have been attacked for practicing the religion you practice, any signs of your religious affiliation may put you at risk as well.

Ethnic or religious issues shouldn’t be a negative factor of your study abroad experience. That’s why it’s important to do a little research ahead of time to survey the national sentiment and current events of your host country.

Internet resources for further study and research (some of these sites contain useful scholarship opportunities:

• All Abroad Mentor Advice – Asian/Pacific American Students
• All Abroad Mentor Advice – Advice for African-American Students
• All Abroad Mentor Advice – Advice for Native American Students
• All Abroad Mentor Advice – Advice for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
• Glimpse Abroad On-Line Magazine - student written articles about "Race & Identity"
• The World Is In Your Hands Student Guide: African-Americans Speak Out and Share Their International Experiences – published by the University of Pittsburgh
• Reflections of Asian-American Students – compiled by Columbia University
• Top 10 Reasons for African-American Students to Go Abroad - TransitionsAbroad.com
• Brown University: Diversity Issues in Study Abroad – a collection of quotes by university students about their experiences abroad addressing ethnicity, heritage, sexual orientation, religion, minority/majority issues, physical appearance, and language.
• UC Davis Cross Cultural Center
• Multicultural Students Study Abroad – University of Minnesota
• Information for Multicultural Students – Michigan State University
• BlackVoices.com: Life & Style: Black Travel