In the U.S. because of Skype, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, Smart phones, cell phones, etc., you will have the ability to stay connected with your family and friends 24/7; however, be aware that this may change while you are abroad. Access to communication and e-mail abroad may not always be as readily available as it is in the U.S., even in parts of Western Europe where you would expect access to be comparable.
The Office of International Studies Abroad STRONGLY recommends that students have a cell phone while abroad. Below are some options:
Purchase a Phone Upon Arrival to International Site
This is the most affordable option as calling within country is charged at the local rate. Many study abroad providers will give guidance to students upon arrival regarding the recommended vendors to consult. These typically operate on a pay-as-you-go system.
Rent a Phone/SIM Card Prior to Departure
By renting a cell phone or SIM card prior to departure students will have their international number in-hand prior to arrival to the international site. Students in the past have used Cell Hire and have been satisfied with this service.
Bring Own Phone
Most standard U.S. cell phones will work outside of the United States, but you should check with your current cell phone provider as international roaming fees can be expensive. You may find that they can temporarily upgrade you to a tri-band phone that is capable of receiving service abroad, allowing you to use your current phone number abroad. Be sure to discuss rates and fees, though, as they are likely to be higher than what you pay for domestic service, and have more restrictions.
Other Affordable Ways to Stay in Touch:
- Google Voice: Free to call computer to computer, very cheap calls from computer to phones
- Skype Free to call computer to computer, very cheap calls from computer to phones
- Viber Free texting using wifi
- WhatsApp Free texting using wifi
- FaceTime through iPhone
In general, local and long-distance telephone usage is much more expensive in foreign countries. Calls made directly through U.S. long-distance companies are the least expensive way to call the U.S. – simply dial the access code for the country from which you are calling (Country Codes), plus the U.S. country code (always “1”), followed by the appropriate U.S. area code and local number. You may find that local phone cards work better, but it is still advisable to bring a U.S. card.
Many public phones abroad require phone cards instead of coins. The cards are inserted into a phone slot and debited as you place calls. You can purchase them at post offices, grocery stores, and other locations for varying fixed prices.Avoid expensive calls from hotel phones – there is usually a surcharge.
If you are living in a home stay, ask about phone use. Most families will object to your use of the phone, even for local calls, because they are not free. Since your family may not discuss this situation in advance, it is important to ask what is expected in order to avoid conflicts.
Be aware of the time at the other end of the phone. Even if you call at a reasonable hour where you are, it may be the middle of the night elsewhere! And if you promised to call your family upon arrival, remember to do it!
Mail can easily be sent internationally, but will take longer than mail within the United States. Letters should be marked “air mail” to ensure prompt delivery. If it is not marked, mail may be sent by surface mail and can take up to three months to be delivered. Mail sent internationally must include the destination country as a final line in the address to ensure delivery. Prior to departure, you will receive an email with your contact address and telephone number abroad. It is advisable to leave a copy of this information with family members.
You will be responsible for knowing the information that USD sends to you through your USD email account. If you are using a different email account, be sure to forward all USD email to any commercial email account you may be using. NOTE: USD will only send email communication to students’ USD email account.
- Establish a communication plan with your family. This plan may need to be altered once you have settled into a routine.
- Always have a secondary way of communicating. Students and parents should both have a list of emergency contacts with them at all times, including contacts at USD’s International Studies Abroad Office and on-site, the student’s address while abroad, etc.
- Telephone, e-mail, Skype, prepaid telephone cards, instant messaging, blogs, etc. are some of the communication methods that you can use.
- If you use Skype, make sure your family knows your screen name. You may also dial phones in the U.S. directly from an internet café or computer lab abroad. Check out Skype for more details.