When the students arrive at their destination, they will probably have to travel from the airport to a train, taxi, or bus station, walk several blocks, and go up a few flights of stairs to the apartment or residence hall (elevators may not be available!). They must be able to do all these while hauling their luggage. We do not recommend bringing anything you and your student do not want to lose, i.e., valuable jewelry or family heirlooms.
There are now stricter government regulations about airport luggage. Please check with the airline about weight limits and the U.S. Department of State’s website about items that can be brought on board.
Here’s a test to see if the student has over-packed: have him or her walk around the block a few times with the entire, packed-for-travel luggage. If the activity becomes very trying after only a few minutes, they should take out a few items.
We advise students to not pack too many clothes and shoes. What’s fashionable is often different at the host country. Our study abroad alumni have admitted that they ended up buying a few new items while abroad to align with the local fashion/style. In many of our partnering locations, colors are more muted and less graphic prints, such as school logos and fraternity or sorority letters, are common. Pack comfortable, but appropriate, clothing options that work together with other items. This includes shoes and accessories.
What to bring?
A comfortable pair of shoes. Your student will do a lot of walking while abroad. They should pack clothes that can be easily washed and dried. Leave out the bulky and heavy sweatshirts and sweaters unless the local climate dictates their regular use. Layering and mixing-and-matching are key. Most things that are available in the U.S. are generally also available overseas. Thus, hairdryers, toiletries, linens, eating utensils, etc. are best purchased on site. Also, research what the electrical specifications are at your student’s host country before he or she packs any electrical items.
Your student might also consider bringing his or her overseas academic advisor, host parents, exchange student coordinator, or resident director a little souvenir from HPU. An HPU keychain, T-shirt, pen, calendar, and other small items are quite appropriate. A gift is a small token of appreciation and a gracious gesture that will establish goodwill between the student and his or her hosts.
Phones & Gadgets
We are frequently asked if students can use their regular cell phone abroad. The answer is: it depends. Students should talk with their current provider about their plan, coverage, and phone.
The best option is to have their phone unlocked by their provider so it can be used on all networks. Then, when departing the U.S., to turn off data. They’ll be able to connect through Wi-Fi in order to message home. Once abroad, they can purchase a local SIM card with a local number and pre-paid minutes to use in their phone, by swapping the new card with their current SIM card. Now, they’ll have their original SIM card that they can enter to use their U.S. plan (although they’ll be international charges) and their local SIM card with a local phone number that they can use to contact friends and university employees easier. Many onsite orientation programs will include instructions and assistance for purchasing a cell phone and/or a SIM card. For the most part, students pay as they go by “topping up” their minutes using a recharge card, which they can easily purchase locally or, even, do directly from their phone and pay with a credit card.
Students often think that using their current, U.S. plan, with an international plan upgrade will be the best course of action, but they should consider that new friends and staff at the host university would need to call or text an international number in order to contact them. If they have a local number, they’re more likely to be able to be contacted by local individuals. Then, they can use Wi-Fi in their residence to Facetime, Skype, text/iMessage, etc. with friends and family located in the U.S.
In addition to a phone, students should plan on taking their laptop computers unless their program has recommended otherwise. The AC adapter of most laptops today are dual voltage and can be used anywhere in the world with a plug adapter.
Handling Money
For the most part, students studying abroad secure cash by withdrawing money from an ATM using the debit or cash card they use in the United States, and paying for large purchases with a credit card in their name. ATMs are readily available all over the world and a student’s current debit or ATM card can be used abroad as long as the card is in a major provider’s network (i.e., Visa, or the Cirrus or PLUS network–check the logos at the back of the card).
Students are advised to inform their bank of their travel itinerary to avoid deactivation of the cards for irregular use. Students should also check with the bank to determine the daily limit of funds received. Many U.S. banks charge a transaction fee every time the card is used on a non-bank ATM. While each transaction may only cost a couple of dollars, if your student withdraws money a couple of times a week, the charges could add up by end of the term. Students are advised to withdraw more, less frequently.
When using credit cards, charges are immediately assessed for every withdrawal. Be aware that most banks assess a one percent or higher fee every time a credit card is used for purchases. If the student uses his or her card for every purchase, including items costing less than the equivalent of $20, these fees could mount!
For some students, opening a bank account while studying abroad has proven to be quite convenient and a money saver. Some countries, such as Germany, require this. In this case, students do not have to pay any ATM transaction fees within the host country, thus saving themselves a few hundred dollars in fees. Having a local bank account also makes it easier to make housing and other local payments.
If you decide on this route, the onsite staff should be able to assist your student in selecting a bank and completing the required procedure. For the initial deposit, the student can use traveler’s checks or withdraw money from an ATM.
If you are financing the student’s semester abroad, you could add funds to the account either by doing an international wire transfer or mailing the student a cashier’s check or bank draft by certified or insured mail. Your student will then deposit this check in his or her bank account. If you choose to do a wire transfer, we suggest doing large transfers occasionally rather than transferring smaller amounts more frequently. The latter will cost more as your home bank will probably charge a fee, usually about $40 per transaction.
The Frugal Student
Tips we recommend to students (and parents) on a budget:
Be frugal during the first few months. It is better to have a bit left over than to run out of money before your program ends. Purchase only necessary items during the first few weeks. Try not to immediately start shopping for souvenirs.
Eat out only occasionally. We applaud students who are enthusiastic about the local cuisine. However, rather than eating meals at restaurants all the time, buy supplies at a local grocery and prepare meals in the apartment or residence hall.
Explore the host city and country. Some students are compelled to visit as many countries as possible that they hardly spend a free weekend “at home.” Yet, there is much to discover and learn about the host city and country. The student’s semester abroad will be more meaningful when he or she starts feeling like a native. This won’t happen however if the student is traveling to another country or city every weekend. Also consider exploring the roads less traveled. There are many lovely smaller cities that are worth visiting and affordable. Neighborhoods and suburbs also offer a glimpse of daily life abroad.
Investigate free entertainment. Visit local parks, the city center plaza or the city’s museums. Attend open-air concerts, street festivals, and local fairs.
It is likely the one thought that makes you uncomfortable about your student studying abroad: safety.
The Office of Global Education takes our students’ safety abroad very seriously, monitoring political and environmental situations multiple times each day. Before departing for their host country, your student receives emergency contact information for their host country, which contains HPU emergency numbers, the 911-equivalent for their host country, and the location of the nearest US embassy or consulate. We also discuss safety and emergency preparedness at length during the mandatory pre-departure orientation session.
Students are required to download the International SOS Assistance App and log all of their travel (plane, train, boat, and long-distance drives) in the International SOS MyTrips system. Information on accessing this is in the students pre-departure materials. By logging all travel, International SOS will be able to push critical emergency information to their phones based on the location they are in at the moment. It also allows HPU to easily push messages and seek easy responses should an emergency occur in the student’s location. This allows us to not have to rely on phone numbers, but have emergency access should it be needed.
In addition, we encourage all students to register their travel itinerary with the Department of State’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program. Students in Global Experience Programs are enrolled by our office.
In the rare event of an emergency abroad, please note that students are encouraged to act locally first. Especially students and faculty on Global Experience or Maymester programs will work with local authorities, hospitals and the HPU Office of Global Education before family members are contacted about the situation. This may seem counter-intuitive, but the safety and well-being of the individual students and the group as a whole are of primary importance. HPU students on semester programs are encouraged to work with their local advisors, police, and on-site administrators who are best able to assist them in an emergency. If your student reaches out to you first, gently remind them to get help locally, as there is little you can effectively do from thousands of miles away.
In case of a serious accident or illness, students should contact the Assistant Vice President of Global Education, at the number provided on the emergency card after they have reached a safe location and appropriate treatment.
Insurance Coverage for Your Student
The medical insurance that covers your family is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs also do not cover medical services outside this country. Furthermore, doctors and hospitals abroad often expect immediate cash payments for medical services.
For these reasons, HPU has mandated that all students on study abroad programs have comprehensive insurance coverage which covers the students while outside the U.S. and is comparable to the coverage required for study at HPU.
For some HPU programs, insurance coverage is provided by the provider, host institution, or HPU’s insurance policies and the cost is wrapped into the HPU Health & Safety Program fee. Students on non-HPU programs are able to search out their own coverage, provided it meets the minimum coverage needs.