tips to get ready for study abroad

The other side of the grass is always green. There will come times when you will feel low on remembering your loved ones, disheartened at not attaining any of your goals, extremely nervy on being unable to adjust to the new environment but do not lose hope and curse yourself. Be determined and persistent. Failures and adversity are part (read the spice) of life. In some cases they are actually better than success because failures are more valuable teachers. Remember, the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Happy adjusting!

Not all study abroad programs are alike. Neither are student exchange programs. Start a file, on paper and online. Learn everything you can about the global exchange program. Check out the fine print. Compare program features with other student abroad or exchange programs. You want to make sure the program is well-established and has a good reputation with students and host families alike. A little bit a research goes a long way in making sure your world traveler is safe and secure on his or her trip.

Ask the right questions. How does this study abroad or exchange program enhance your son or daughters education and know how? What kind of enrichment will it provide? Is it a good fit academically, socially and otherwise? Are there other programs that would be a better fit? Just because a high school or college sponsors something does not mean the program connects to what your student needs in terms of global experience.

Well-administered programs offer fine-tuned descriptions of their programs, application requirements, timelines, cautionary notes, and more. These exchange programs usually have a sizeable web presence as well as well-organized, printed materials. Start a file and keep all the paperwork together. You'll be surprised how many times you refer to this material before and during the trip ahead.

Financing this expedition is more art than science. First, you will want to make sure that the cost of the program matches what other programs require. Skip programs that are run on a dime because steep discounts can mean big trouble for your son or daughter abroad. Pay attention to financial deadlines. Often, you can put deposits down on your student's study abroad or youth exchange program in advance of the travel itself. This really helps you and your student budget accordingly. Weeks before your student leaves town, figure out how much money your student needs to carry on the airplane. A nice combination of local exchange and US dollars is the best way to go. The student can always exchange the US dollars upon arrival in the host country. Skip Travelers Checks and invest in a debit card that can be used overseas. This may mean you will need to open up a savings or checking account especially for this card and overseas trip, but its well worth it in the end. Do not bother with international debit cards you can load and re-load. We tried this and had nothing but problems. The fees are excessive. Re-loading the card is problematic. And, many of these debit cards restrict use outside of the US. Stick with a US bank debit card and you'll be glad you did. Give your student a number of checks to cash along the way. Small denominations are best and are more likely to be accepted by host hotels and study abroad programs. Create a set of envelopes that will help your student organize his or her cash (or debit cards) on hand. Seal and label them according to their purpose (Departure Flight,Location 1,Location 2 Return Flight,Emergency Funds,Spending Money,Books,Meals, whatever applies) so that your student doesn't spend all this money at once.

Generally speaking, your student will need a passport to visit and study abroad. Depending upon how long your student intends to stay, a visa may also be required by the host country. A visa may also be required if your student is transferring planes within host country territory. Make sure your student signs the passport and provides the emergency information requested. Check with the global exchange or study abroad program for more details on what kind of travel documents are required. If your student is getting a passport for the first time, I would recommend that you order an expedited passport. It will cost you a bit more, but its well worth it in the end. Check out the US State Department and host country websites for more information and details. A little research goes a long way in making sure your son or daughter has the appropriate travel documents during his or her overseas trip.

If your students planning to travel in Europe, invest in a Eurorail Pass. Its a wonderful parting gift and will make transit between cities and countries that much easier for your son or daughter. Buying a pass is a more economical option than purchasing train tickets abroad. If your students planning to fly overseas, sign him or her up for an airline Frequent Flyer program. If your students planning to stay in hotels that are part of major hospitality chains, sign him or her up for the hotels Rewards program. Not only will these programs bring savings your way, there may be some perks and other benefits that will help ease the expense or hassle of travelling abroad.

Students who have access to computers and free or low-fee or program-affiliated WiFi networks may want to arrange calls home at predesignated times via Skype, Google Voice, MSN Messenger, or others. Smart phones can also help you to communicate, but international plans can be costly. The best way to keep costs down is to arrange for an international plan that places limits on voice and text messaging. And, its important for the student to turn off the data plan when travelling overseas or you'll be hit hard with the bill. Do your research and find out how other families organized their communications strategies when their kids travelled abroad. Whatever you do, plan ahead and evaluate your options. Do not go overboard and select mid-range plans that will allow for some contact but won't break the bank. Make your decisions and get your plans in place well in advance of departure.

You need to approach packing like a military operation. Rule of thumb? Less is more. Develop a checklist for what you absolutely-need-and-nothing-more. Distinguish what you'll carry onto the plane and what will be checked with the airline. For checked bags, put a limit on the number of pants, shirts, shoes, socks, and other items to be placed in the bag. Toiletries can be checked, but make sure everything is placed in a plastic or see-through bag to prevent spills. Include any gifts for the host country in this bag, but nothing that's breakable or delicate. If the student expects to bring home several items on his or her return trip, you can also pack a compressed duffel bag that can be checked or carried onto the return flight. For carry on bags, include reading material, medication (and RxPs for medication), OTC medication (like Tylenol or Advil, bandaids, anti-bacterial wipes, etc.) snacks, iPod or computer, among other items the student will need on his or her departure and return trips. REI has some great travel accessories that can be packed in the carry on bag, like mini pillows, blankets, and more. Passport, money and other travel documents (like a driver's license, student ID, etc.) should be placed in a bag (or card holder) that the student can wear around his/her neck.

Of course, you will hope this trip will be as routine as a car ride to the grocery store, but it may not be. So, plan accordingly. Make sure your student knows what to do if he or she (1) loses travel documents or identification; (2) gets sick; (3) needs more money, or, (4) experiences problems with the host family, school, etc. Your student should carry on an envelope that contains photocopies of all travel documents, identification, including drivers license and student ID, and insurance cards (health insurance and prescription drug programs). You should also maintain a file with photocopies of these items as well. Program contacts and chaperones will likely provide you with other information on how to troubleshoot these and other issues. Otherwise, have a discussion with your student on the importance of making good decisions while studying or living abroad. For example, its important that they do not go it alone, rather they should embrace the buddy system or stay with the group when venturing out. At a minimum, they will need to make sure that someone knows where they are at all times.