History

This project started when a group called Business for Diplomatic Action, Inc. (BDA) realized that America's favorability in other countries was decreasing. In a search for answers there was a huge listening exercise with people all over the world participating. BDA reached out to the world and here at home to find out what U.S. travelers of all ages should know before they leave the country.

Four root causes of anti-American sentiment surfaced in all that listening and they are: our U.S. public policy, the negative effects of globalization, our popular culture and our collective personality. The negative stereotypes about our collective personality are something we travelers can help to change. Every year an estimated 170,000 college students from the U.S. study abroad. That's a lot of potential ambassadors who can make a change simply by being good world citizens.

The World Citizens Guide was put together by students for students to use when going abroad. To make this little guide, five students in the Temerlin Advertising Institute at SMU in Dallas, worked with our professor Dr. Patty Alvey. We reviewed everything BDA collected, and asked students their opinions about studying abroad, before and after their trips. Then we spent weeks researching everything published in hard copy and online about traveling abroad. We took all that and made a guide we hope you find useful.

Due to the success of the original World Citizens Guide, a business guide was created as well. A new team of students have updated this website. We're working on a second edition of the Student Booklet. Furthermore, to expand our market of foreign travelers, a kid's version has evolved to meet the demand for our young adventurers.

Happy travels to you all...