Study Abroad Tips and Packing

So for those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I am studying abroad in Buenos Aires for the Fall of 2013 semester!!!

But with traveling comes A LOT of preparation.

My mom, who used to be an avid traveler, is very knowledgeable about these kinds of preparations and helped me so much though this process.

To save you some research time, I made a list of important tips for traveling abroad and study abroad!

Health & Security

• Sign your passport and fill in the emergency info: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, visa (if required), and fill in the emergency info page of your passport.
• Leave copies of itinerary and passport: Leave copies of your itinerary/passport with loved ones at home so you can be contacted in case of emergency.
• Sign up for STEP through the State Department: This will help the US State Department contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S. or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.
• Check with your medical insurance about overseas coverage: If it does not apply overseas, consider supplemental insurance.
• Check with the CDC for any inoculations needed for the country which you are traveling: You might also want to go to an international travel medicine office to go over where exactly you will be traveling and when to go over the vaccines you may need. Note: the vaccines usually aren't covered by insurance.
• Do not be a target of crime! Don't wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. If you are bringing a purse, make sure it can be put over your body (not just on your shoulder) and has a zipper! No one likes pickpockets!

Money

• Look up any monetary conversion before you go: Make sure you do your math so it's not a surprise that 1 Indian Rupee equals 0.017 U.S. Dollar.
• Visit a bank/ATM in the country you're visiting: Conversion centers in the airport or around the city tend to be complete rip-offs. With the ATM or bank you won't be charged as many fees and the conversion will be exact.
• Receive local cash before you go: A few weeks before you leave make sure you stop at your home bank to order and exchange the foreign currency you will need. Not every place takes credit cards--especially trains or buses. Don't get out too much because usually the exchange rates are a rip-off.
• Bring lots of USD: At least in Argentina, you can get a much better exchange rate on the streets (called the "blue market") than through a cambio place. Ask around where you can change your money once you get to the country.
• Sign up for Xoom: Xoom will give you a better exchange rate than the cambio places will but worse exchange rate from the cambio on the blue market. It goes through a bank account or credit/debit card. All you have to do is sign up, put in how much money you want, then find a pick up location to pick it up. It's pretty simple. This way you don't have to carry thousands of USD with you to the country. Also- look up promotional codes for Xoom. I found one that allowed me to have my first transaction without any fees attached.
• Call your bank or credit card provider: If your bank sees sudden transactions happening in Copenhagen when you're from Philadelphia, they may think that fraud is occurring and will turn off your card as a security measure. Let them know where you are traveling and when.
• Check the country's entrance/exit fees: These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket and can range from $25 - $200. My entrance fee to Argentina is $160 but will last for 10 years.

Local Research

• Buy tickets now for places you know you want to visit: Buying in advance will avoid lines and you may find more deals.
• Get guidebooks: Guidebooks usually include maps, key words/phrases in the native language and will give you enough information so there is no need to purchase any other pamphlets.
• Download apps before you go: Avoid downloading charges from your wireless carrier.
• Research events going on while you're there: Make sure don't miss any events going on in the city like festivals, ceremonies and natural events. Also be sure to research national dishes to try so you can truly experience the culture!

Electronics

• Bring a charger adapter: Countries have different size plugs and voltage so if you want to use your iPod, make sure you can charge it.
• Check the voltage of your electronics: It would be a bummer if you purchased an adapter and still can't use your blow-dryer because the voltage isn't high enough for that country.
• Activate your phone's global capabilities: There is usually a charge in doing this but it is much less than roaming charges you'll get if you don't.  If you are traveling for a long period of time (like my 4-month study abroad trip) you might want to just wait until you arrive in the country to purchase and activate a cheap cell phone to use locally.
• Download the Travelzoo app: The Travelzoo app can help you find great deals in a variety of countries.

Packing & Luggage

• Pack extra clothes in your carry-on bag: You'll be kicking yourself if your checked bag got lost and all you have to wear is your decked out airplane apparel.
• To check a bag or not to check a bag: Make sure to look up your airline's rules about the number of bags that can be checked or carried on for free to avoid any incremental fees.
• Bring a duffle bag that can fold up: Most likely you're bags are going to be packed to the brim going abroad and you're going to buy tons of stuff while you're there. Bring a fold-up duffle bag so you can have extra room for your return home for gifts for yourself and others.
• Bring snacks! Eating in a foreign country is fun but it can be difficult sometimes. Bring snacks that will hold you over until you find that perfect restaurant or food cart!

Studying Abroad Specifically

• See if your school hosts study abroad programs: I go to Elon University and over 70% of students study abroad at least once.  Many students take advantage of my school's study abroad programs all around the world. It makes things (credit transfers, paperwork, etc.) easier when it is though your home school.
• Do research on other study abroad programs: I chose to go on a Non Elon-affiliated study abroad program because it was significantly less expensive. JUST DO YOUR RESEARCH! What classes do they provide? Does it include excursions or service learning trips?
• Check with your Registrar's office for credit transfers: Make sure you figure out what credits will transfer back to your home school before you leave because it'll be a kicker if you come back from study abroad and only a few credits transferred.
• Visit with your adviser: Your adviser should be your best friend, and if he/she is not, get a new adviser! Your adviser will be able to give you advise and make sure everything is lined up and will work out before going abroad.
• Get all of your meetings and paperwork done while you're on campus: It's a pain in the rear to try to communicate and get people to sign documents that are on campus if you already went home for the summer. Get as much as you can done before you go home!

The most important thing to remember is to be as informed and prepared as possible. The more informed you are, the better you'll feel leaving the country.  But as a good friend told me before I left, you won't feel fully prepared until the drive to the airport; and even then you'll probably feel like a dog forgetting her bone.