Social Wellness

Social wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live up to the expectations and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating a support network of friends and family members.

While this section is focused on social wellness, we encourage you to approach your global experience holistically -- or whole-istically.  Ideally your takeaways from the experience will impact all of the dimensions of wellness in some way.

Before you depart, do some research. Learn where you can connect with other students, locals, or resources so that when you arrive, you know where to do for information. Discover what major events or festivals are happening in the area while you’re be visiting. Read travel blogs. Listen to podcasts about the local culture to discover what exists off the beaten path. Exploring starts before you even step on a plane. 

Resources

Pitt Student Affairs General Wellness Tips for all Pitt Students* 

Pitt Student Affairs Social Wellness Resources*

Apps

Language Apps:

 

Articles and Blogs

Wordpress - Set up a free blog before you leave
Blogger - Another free platform to create a blog 
How to Write a Successful Study Abroad Blog - Basic tips on blogging during your travels 
5 Reasons You Should Blog While Studying Abroad - Practical reasons to blog while away

Pitt Business to the World student blogs - Student blog posts and reflections from a number of different locations are available 

 

 

 

Social interactions are incredibly important while traveling! They relieve boredom, improve cognitive function, and decrease levels of stress. You'll want to consult with your program manager(s) or study abroad provider or other students in-country for more specific resources. 

Below are some questions to consider in order to maintain social wellness while traveling:

  • Is there an activity board, newspaper event listing, or central resource on campus or in the city/town where you can learn what's happening and what there is to do in the area? If you don't know, then who can you reach out to to find this information (staff, program manager(s), other students, roommates, etc.)? 
  • Does your campus or site offer events or opportunities where you can connect with other international/visiting students or meet local students? Even events that sound cheesy or daunting can be nice and easy ways to make new connections.
  • Are you setting time to explore, meet new people, and invest in positive relationships while traveling?
  • Are there ways to volunteer or engage with the campus or community and meet new people? 
  • Are you asking questions?
  • Are you being present in the moment? Are you putting your phone down at times? If you’re eating a meal or sitting down in a coffee shop, is your head down staring at your phone, or are you engaging with the room? 

Resources

AirBnb – AirBnb is a great resource for experiences in the area you’re visiting.

Foursquare City Guide - Provides personalized recommendations of places to go near a user's current location based on users' previous browsing history and check-in history.

Keeping in Touch with Others at Home* - Tips on keeping in touch with others at home

Managing Relationships while Abroad* - Advice and resources on Pitt's Study Abroad website

Sexual Health and Safety* - resources on Pitt's Study Abroad website

Apps

WhatsApp - Reliable freeware, cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP service for chatting and communicating with others in-country or at home.

WeChat - Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app.

Google Translate – The app can translate phrases and basic sentences in real time. 

Ask a Stranger - Ask a question and it is then sent to people who have valuable knowledge about the relevant location.

Travello – Meet other travelers from around the world!

 

 

After your program, be sure to keep in contact with the friends you met, the faculty you've worked with, and any other connections you made while abroad. You all have shared experiences, and using WhatsApp, LinkedIn, or other social media apps make it easy to remain in contact.