How To Stay Connected

Here are 10 steps to stay connected with family friends while abroad:

1.) AOL Instant Messenger: AIM or any other kind of instant messenger (yahoo, msn, etc.) is a great tool to download on your laptop or computer if haven't already. Something like this is particularly handy for study abroad students because of time differences, especially if you're looking for instant communication.



2.) Blog: Why not blog about your experience? You can send the link to all your friends and family, and update them on your life in a new country. As with this blog, you can do more than just use text-- try different forms of media. I'm sure everyone wants to see and hear about your new home away from home and your different adventures. Wordpress is another site for free blogging.



3.) International Pre-Paid Phone Card: If you use pre-paid phone cards as your main form of communication to call home, it is going to get rather expensive. Keep a couple around in case of emergencies, or if you go traveling for an extended period of time and need to touch base with your parents. You may need to call ahead of time (toll free number should be somewhere on the back of the card) to get a specific number to call from different countries and directions.



4.) E-mail: If you're like me, you're checking your e-mail constantly. Chances are, you're going to have internet in your dorm abroad, or at least at the university. You will probably get another school address from your host university that you may check more often, so remember to give everyone the new e-mail!



5.) Facebook: Like e-mail, it's something that I think almost everyone checks frequently throughout the day. Send a friend a message or write on their wall, and you'll get a response back pretty quick. Also, as I'm sure 99.9 percent of people know, it's a great way to share your pictures and links (if you decide to blog, this is a great place to put it).



6.) MySpace: Again, it's a similar concept to facebook except you can jazz it up with a more personal touch if you prefer.



7.) Skype: This was one of the best ways, in my opinion, to stay connected while you're abroad. It serves as a multi-purpose communication resource. It's part phone, part messenger, part web cam all in one. My favorite feature about it was that you could actually talk person to person with everyone and it's FREE! Also, international calls to landlines are super reasonable. As a side note: you may need to get a head set if you don't have one built-in to your laptop.

8.) Snail Mail: Who doesn't like to get a letter in the mail here and there? Or even a postcard. It's a nice change if you're looking to get away from technology. Just remember to look into the cost of postage, and how long it takes to get to wherever you're sending it to. Keep in mind it may take a while for them to receive it...I know I've gotten postcards from abroad and they've arrived after the person has already returned back home.



9.) Web Cam: These are fairly reasonable to purchase, either at home or abroad. You'll just need to download a program for it (skype, aim, yahoo), as will the people you plan on talking with.



10.) Pay-As-You-Go Mobile: Buying a pay-as-you-go phone overseas was one of the best investments I made. I didn't realize what a good idea it was to have one until they informed us at orientation that most students purchased them. The phones themselves are relatively cheap, and calls within the country are inexpensive, too. When you buy the phone you can get an international sim card if you're going to use it to call home occasionally. Also, I know my phone had a feature where I wasn't charged for incoming calls...so have people call you instead :)

Spring Break in Mexico

With spring break rapidly approaching, I found an article on the U.S. Department of State site containing some useful information to keep in mind if you're traveling to Mexico. This is extremely important to read with everything going on there. It's also a great resource for any other travel destinations, whether it's for spring break, study abroad, or even just a family vacation.

Here are some highlights:

• Entry Requirements: everyone is required to have a passport to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central & South America, Canada, and Bermuda.
• Mexican Law: any arrest or incidents will be under Mexican Law-this can make the legal procedures much more difficult.
• Alcohol & Drugs: many accidents are alcohol & drug related-this has led to serious problems with Mexican authorities.
• Safety & Security: Use common sense. Some things to pay extra close attention to are warning flags on beaches and illegitimate taxi drivers.

Click here to view the full article.

Why Study Abroad?

Studying In The Land Down Under With Cory C.

Q: Tell me a little bit about where you went, what semester, what your dorm was like, roommates- were they from QU?, and what kind of classes you took.

Cory: I went to Australia. I stayed in a tourist town called Manly, and it was a 15 minute ferry ride from Sydney. But, I was in the state of New South Wales, so if people asked where I was I said Sydney because we were that close. I went in the Fall 2008 semester. I had a single room abroad because we had the option to choose single, double, or triple. As many of my friends found out, I made the better choice with a single. Our school was called International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS). It was a huge castle, so our rooms weren’t very modernized like dorm rooms here are. My room had a single bed, a desk, a closet, a small set of shelves, and a huge window with a gorgeous view of the beach. I actually went abroad with my boyfriend, who is a Quinnipiac student; besides that there were no other QU students that went to the same school as us. I took 4 classes there because that was the maximum for study abroad students; I took Organizational Behaviour, Business Law, Retail Management, and Tourism and Consumer Behaviour.

Q: How did you prepare for going abroad?

Cory: I didn't do too much preparing for leaving. I attended the 2 hr. long study abroad session here at Quinnipiac that gave us some useful information about leaving the country. I made sure I had all my documents in order, and I made photocopies of everything just in case something got lost. I packed and unpacked and repacked several times to make sure I had room for all my things, and room to bring souvenirs back in my suitcases! I put my money into travelers cheques so that I could open a bank account when I arrived in Australia. The program I went through, AustraLearn, had us attend a phone chat where we could ask any questions about coming to Australia and our school. It was really helpful because we all had some of the same questions, and it was good to learn about what to bring and what not to bring.

Q: What was the best way to adjust living in a different country?

Cory: I really think the best way to adjust to living in a different country was making a good set of friends. As I previously mentioned I went through the AustraLearn program, and they had planned out an orientation for all the Americans once we got over to Australia. This orientation was located in Cairns, (pronounced Cans), where the Great Barrier Reef is located. Here we got to go scuba diving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, in addition to holding koalas and playing with kangaroos at this wildlife park we visited. In Cairns, 60 of us Americans lived together in a hostel, in rooms of 8 with one shower, where we all got to meet new people. This orientation only lasted for about 4-5 days, and by the time we arrived in Sydney ready to go to our school most of us had so many friends made already! I met a great group of girls who I still keep in touch with, and we spent our whole 4 months together. It was a great way to adjust to the country because we were all going through the same feelings and having the same questions; it was great to have someone to lean on when we were really home sick.

Q: Was there any useful advice you received before going that really helped? And, what advice would you give someone that was going?

Cory: I don’t really think I got any helpful advice besides what not to bring and what to bring. But what I would say to someone going abroad is to not be nervous because everyone there is feeling the same way. You should make as many friends as possible. In the first few weeks you should start researching and planning your trips. I wish someone had told me to plan my trips early in the semester. We had waited because we were unsure of where to go, and by the end there were so many things that I did not get to do that I wish I had done. I don’t have any regrets, but there are places I plan to go back to see sometime in the future that I didn't get to see the first time around. Also, you should experience as much as you can. Do things you have never done before, and would never do at home. I felt like a new person there. I did things that I would have never imagined myself doing, and I don’t regret a single minute of it.

Q: What were some of major differences between where you went and QU/home?

Cory: The biggest difference that I saw was that people were so much more friendlier than in the U.S. Everywhere we went people loved Americans and even if they didn't realize you were Americans at first they were still so nice to you. Everyone says hello to people on the street whether you know them or not and it just seemed like the whole country was in a positive mood all the time. No one ever let anything get them down and the Australians were always up for fun and trying new things. It was a laid back atmosphere and you just felt great being around these kind of people. Stress almost seemed to not exist in this country, and I know at home and at school us students tend to be stressed 24/7.

Q: Did you get to do some traveling, and if so where?

Cory: I did get to do travelling and I wish I could have done a lot more. I went to Melbourne (the capital of Victoria which is another state in Australia), the South Coast of New South Wales, Cairns, the Blue Mountains, and Auckland, New Zealand.

Q: What is your most favorite memory being abroad?

Cory: I have two favorite memories being abroad. The first was our weekend to the Blue Mountains, and as crazy as it sounds it was my favorite weekend. We went to the Blue Mountains which are mountains in Australia. To explain a little about the scenery, most towns and cities are at the bottom of mountain ranges while the hills are above them. In Katoomba, the towns were on the top of the mountains and the canyons were below. So we didn't climb up the mountains, we went down into the canyons, but we had to climb up to get back to the town. One day we went “canyoning” as they call it – which in simple terms means jumping off waterfalls in the canyons. We wore wet suits, helmets, and carried bags with watersafe bags inside for our food. Without harnesses we got to jump off waterfalls up to 30 ft. high into huge pools of water. We also got to slide down waterfalls where the water was creating a “water slide” on the rocks. It was the best time and I enjoyed it so much. The water was absolutely freezing because it is hidden by the rocks in the canyons so it never sees sunlight. I can say that I do know what Jack felt like in the Titantic, but no joke. It was the best time in the world and I wouldn’t change a minute. And my second favorite experience was going skydiving. I usually cry on rollercoasters, but skydiving was the greatest feeling in the entire world and I wasn’t the least bit scared! You feel like you’re flying and it is just amazing to see the country from that view, it was so beautiful and so worth the trip.

Q: Any other stories, advice, etc. that you'd like to share?

Cory: Other things that I did while abroad included climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, seeing an Australian Ballet at the Sydney Opera House, playing with kangaroos, going on a Ghost Tour of the Quarantine Stations where people were kept back in the old days who were sick with Tuberculosis and other contagious diseases, I went on a wine tasting tour in Hunter Valley, I saw one of the biggest blow holes in the world at the South Coast, I went to the Botanic Gardens, I went whale watching, and while in New Zealand I went on a tour of the Lord of the Rings movie set and I went to see a volcano. I suggest going abroad to any student thinking about it, it is one of the best experiences of your entire life and you might never get the opportunity to do it again!

Note: The 1st picture is a view of Cory's school from the beach, the 2nd is the view of the beach from her room, the 3rd is a picture of the 3 Sisters rock formation in the Blue Mountains, and the 4th is a picture of some of friends standing beneath a waterfall in the Blue Mountains.

Google Satellite & Sightseeing

Living in another country means learning new areas you may not be familiar with. Luckily, Google Satellite Map is not only a great resource for directions back home but also abroad. If you've never used it before, all you have to do is zoom in on the map to a particular location. Specific landmarks for instance, are already included in the map, so if you're living in a big city for the first time while you're abroad, Google Maps are a great tool for finding your way around.


View Larger Map

Sightseeing with Google Satellite Maps are ideal if you plan on doing some traveling. You can first select a country, then a certain region/city, and then a landmark that you may want to visit. This provides directions and an actual picture if you're curious to see what it looks like (if you don't already know).

How To Get A Passport

Incase you don't already have a passport, this video gives step by step instructions on how to apply for one:

What To Pack For A Semester Abroad

One of the biggest predeparture dilemmas is that tricky business of packing. First of all, what do you pack? Is it humanly possible to fit every article of clothing from you closet into two mere suitcases? Unfortunately, the answer to that is a simple, no. Trust me when I say, I tried with all my might to squeeze every little item that I could…and what resulted? Overweight luggage with a broken zipper. So, here’s my point: try not to treat this as a family vacation that you would normally overpack for because let’s be honest, you probably didn’t wear half the things you brought anyway.

First things first - something you may want to invest in is lightweight luggage due to constricting weight limits by the airlines. There are plenty of places to purchase them for a fairly reasonable price, like TJ Maxx, Kohls, Target, Burlington Coat Factory, and other discount stores of that nature. Or, if you think of this ahead of time, it might be a good suggestion for a birthday or Christmas present. Try not to wait until the last minute like I did, and have to make an emergency run to the mall 48 hours before leaving.

I took the initiative of asking around to see what students thought were most important to pack. Here’s a list I’ve compiled of must bring items:

• Paperwork/Important Documents – passport & student visa (and copies of them), proof of insurance, medical records, and acceptance letter from your host university and study abroad program – I cannot even stress how important the last two items are – I almost didn’t get back into the U.K. from France one weekend because I couldn’t find the papers in my bag - this is something that they can be sticklers about, specifically toward students (luckily I got through after being drilled with questions).
• Clothing – bring the essentials. Dark clothing that you can layer is the best – it doesn’t show the dirt and you can switch up your outfits. Try to leave your nicer things at home assuming you probably wouldn’t be a very happy camper if they were to get lost or stolen. I’m not saying you have to dress like a bum for an entire semester but rethink bringing expensive jewelry and designer labels. Don't forget comfy walking shoes, as well!
• Toiletries – this is more of a personal decision (girls might care about this more), but you may not be able to find your usual brands overseas, or they might be much more expensive. If you decide to bring them from home, just be careful to seal them up well – you don’t want a shampoo exploison in your suitcase.
• Small Duffel Bag - this will come in handy for those weekend trips or spring break adventures. Again, be cautious with weight limits - Amy Coyne, 21, a senior at Quinnipiac, studied at the University of Richmond, U.K. can attest to this from personal experience, "Here is a lifelong lesson I will never forget... RyanAir charges you per kilo for extra or overweight luggage... I had to throw out half of my clothes to save hundreds of dollars," she said.
• Money – go to your bank and request whatever currency the country is using - $100 is good to start with. While you’re there, let them know where you’re going, how long you’re going for, etc. to avoid any confusion (if you plan on using a credit card, let them know, too).
• Converters – use this for your laptop, camera, ipod, and so on. However, DO NOT use it for hair dryers or straighteners - buy those items over there because the voltages are usually too high. I don’t think the best approach to making friends at a new school is catching their dorm on fire the first week…
• Other Miscellaneous Items: small flashlight, money clip, journal, phone card, guidebook/maps, dvds, camera, extra memory card, and vacuum seal bags. Nicole Connelly, 21, also a senior at QU, studied in Australia at the University of New South Wales. She found the vacuum seal bags extremely useful, "Definitely invest in them (they're cheap)! They're awesome and save so much room, especially when you're coming back from being abroad and have a lot more stuff than you left with," she said.

Like the hair dryer, here are a couple of other things you will want to buy rather than bring yourself: cell phone (they’re pretty reasonable and pay as you go), bedding/linens, kitchenware, and school supplies.

For more information visit the Study Abroad Student Handbook. This site will provide you with a full checklist, predeparture planning, and other important tips about studying abroad.

More Ideas For Last Minute Spring Break Deals

Here are two great Websites to check out for spring break deals: Contiki and Student City. Both of these sites cater to young adults and college students.

Contiki offers something unique if you're looking outside of the usual Bahamas/Mexico kind of thing. Instead, they plan out trips to countries all over the world (many of them are multi-country tours), including a guide that brings you around to different places. Here are some cool things to know about Contiki trips:

• it's relatively cheap for the amount things included in the price (tour guide, transportation from country to country, some meals, lodging, daily itinerary, taxes/tips/service charges)


• it's only for a younger crowd, the age range is 18-35


• there's a nice balance of planned events and time to explore on your own (optional activities are available if you're not quite sure what to do with yourself or you get lost easily like I do)
  

Student City on the other hand, is definitely geared more toward students looking for a sunny getaway. For the most part, this is for those who need help in planning the logistics of a trip (flight and hotel) for a group, but once you get there, you're on your own. You do have the choice of getting a meal plan and/or party package to avoid any worry of spending too much money during your trip. Like Contiki, Student City also has some great advantages:

• you can make your stay all-inclusive to an extent - a meal plan would cover 2 meals per day, and the party package includes open bar, free cover, and express entry


• they offer "party cruises" if you prefer the open water to dry land


• they have a lot of last minute deals starting as low as $299 right now!

Last Call For Spring Break!

Okay, so say you're a senior now, you didn't get that chance to go abroad before graduating but you're still interested in traveling or going somewhere, anywhere really... Go away for spring break! There are plenty of last minute deals out there, and who knows when you'll get time off after entering the real world *sigh*

Try Websites like orbitz and expedia for all-inclusive (yes, unlimited drinks!) vacation packages.

The World Is Your Oyster

Studying Abroad is your time to go out and explore the world...do what you want to do, go where you want to go. The sky is the limit. Never been to Europe before? Well, a semester abroad is the perfect opportunity to go. Make sure to choose that ideal program and host univserity that's going to accomodate your needs.

Learn, travel and most importantly have fun!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

It's already been over a year since I left on my flight to London, England for a semester abroad. I can still remember trying to figure out how I could possibly fit 6 months worth of stuff into only two suitcases and my carry-ons. To this day, I can vividly recall all the different questions and concerns I had - anything from what to bring, what to expect, traveling, and all the other unique insider advice that only a true study abroader would know.

When the date had finally arrived for my departure on New Years Eve, I was filled with a mix of emotions...both anxious and excited all at the same time. There were so many unknowns that I wish someone had filled me in on ahead of time.

So here I am, back at Quinnipiac for my last semester of college, changed for the better upon returning home last Spring. I learned the ins and outs of one of the largest cities in the world, but also gained that knowledge to questions I didn't have before.

I hope with this blog that I can share my experiences and any helpful tips that I learned along the way. Studying abroad is an exciting time, but can be overwhelming. Expect to find suggestions from beginning to end - how to apply for a passport to return culture shock upon coming back home.