C e n t e r     f o r     International  Academic  Programs

Pre-Departure Handbook

Jet Lag

Try to relax and save energy on your long flights. You have probably heard of "jet lag" which is as much a physical as a psychological phenomenon. Your body, through long years of habit, has become acclimatized to functioning in accordance with its own physiological clock based on a particular daily cycle. When you arrive at your study abroad location, your clock is going to be automatically out of sync with the local cycle because of the time difference. If you are arriving in Luxembourg at noon, for example, your body, which still is functioning in accordance with the cycle to which it was accustomed to in the CST zone, will be telling you that it is just about time to wake up, while the sun outside your aircraft window will be telling you that the day is half over. It will take your body a few days to adjust (some bodies take longer than others), during which time you can expect to feel quite tired and run down. This fatigue, in conjunction with the strange surroundings, customs, and language, may produce a temporary sense of depression and "homesickness." Be prepared for that during the first couple of days: it is a perfectly normal reaction.

Back to Contents

Where in the World are YOU Going?

University of Missouri-Kansas City Center for International Academic Programs 5325 Rockhill Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 USA Phone: 816.235.5759  Fax: 816.235.5610 Email:  international@umkc.edu àHow to get to CIAPà