UW Oshkosh

Study Abroad, Student Exchange, Teach Abroad & USA Summer Camp Family Orientation

For fall interim 2009 (Jan 2010), spring break and spring semester 2010 programs

All participants attend the FAMILY ORIENTATION on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 9:00 -1:00 in RU.

Anyone NOT traveling with a UW Oshkosh faculty member must ALSO attend on Saturday, November 14 from 2:00-4:30.

For spring interim, summer and fall semester 2010 programs

All participants attend the FAMILY ORIENTATION on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:00 -1:00 in RU 227

Independent Travelers ALSO attend on Friday, April 16, 2010 from 5:00-6:30 (This is for all participants who are NOT traveling with a UW Oshkosh faculty member EXCEPT USA Summer Camp.)

If you miss or can't attend the FAMILY ORIENTATION on Saturday, attend the make-up FAMILY ORIENTATION (independent travelers must still attend the independent travelers orientation)

  • For fall interim 2009 and spring semester 2010 programs attend on BOTH Tuesday, November 17 AND Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m in (room t.b.d.).
  • For spring interim, summer and fall semester 2010 programs attend on BOTH Tuesday, April 20 AND Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. Location to be determined.

Driving Directions & Accommodation

To Campus:
From highway 41, take the highway 21 exit east into Oshkosh (from the south, take a right; from the north, take a left).  After crossing the bridge, take a right onto High Avenue. Parking is available in Parking Lots 15 & 32 (available from High or Algoma) or Lot 34 (available from Elmwood). You can purchase a parking permit on campus (the parking office is accessible from Lot 15) or park only in lots with a meter. Campus Map

Accommodation:
Accommodation is available on the Oshkosh campus to students & family members. To make reservations, contact Gruenhagen Conference Center at (920) 424-1106. Be sure to reference the study abroad orientation when you call.

Resource List

All of the resources linked from these orientation materials and included in our orientation packet are listed on our downloads page.

You may be responsible for some or all of the following preparations. Know which ones you are responsible for, and then do them far enough in advance so that minor problems don’t keep you from your study abroad experience! You will certainly have other responsibilities which are not covered below.

Registration

We are expecting over 500 people to attend orientation. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before this event is scheduled to begin. Registration will close approximately 5 minutes before the first event.

Paperwork: taking care of business at UW Oshkosh

Application Status

Check your on-line application to be sure you have a seat or are on the waiting list for a program. Your application should show either "seatAssigned" or "waitlist" in the upper right-hand corner.

Course Enrollment (for courses taken during study abroad)

For programs which offer UW Oshkosh course credit , you will automatically be registered as late as a few weeks before the program departure date. All student exchange participants are registered in a placeholder course for the number of credits they plan to transfer back to UW Oshkosh. The credits associated with this placeholder course will not count towards graduation. Instead, these credits will be replaced with credits associated with the UW Oshkosh course equivalencies for the courses you took while abroad.

Residence Hall Contract at UW Oshkosh

If you plan to live in a residence hall after returning, contact Residence Life in advance to let them know that you will be participating in a semester-long study abroad program and/or that you will need a room when you return.

If you are already in a Residence Life contract for the time period you plan to be abroad, contact your Hall Director to let him/her know you plan to be studying abroad!!!

DPI Study Abroad Requirement for Foreign Language Teachers

College of Education & Human Services students planning to teach a foreign language after graduation must meet the DPI requirement for study abroad and must have a completed Certificate of Residency. For more information, see http://www.uwosh.edu/foreignlanguage/german/german-education-information/wisconsin-dpi-study-abroad-requirement-for-teachers or visit the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Office on the third floor of Radford.

Register for Courses while Abroad (semester- or year-long programs only)

If you will return to UW Oshkosh the semester following your study abroad experience, don’t forget to register for courses during the proper time! Wisconsin law protects student information from being shared with other persons. This means that course registration must be done by you, unless you arrange in advance for someone else to register for you. Know your registration date before you leave!

Talk to your academic advisor about registering for courses from abroad BEFORE you leave so that you have someone to contact who understands your situation if problems arise. It's helpful if your advisor knows where you are going, when you will be gone and what courses will be transferring back to UW Oshkosh.

TitanWeb is down every night - perhaps the middle of the day where you are!

Grades in Study Abroad Courses

In many cases, study abroad program dates do not conform to regular university academic course schedules. When classes run past the end of a semester or session, your grades will be reported outside of the normal academic cycle. THIS MAY AFFECT NOTATIONS ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT. In addition, if you need official transcripts immediately following a study abroad program, be sure that you don't request them until you have verified that the grades have been posted to your academic record by checking on Titan Web through the "View My Grades" option.

Dean's List and Honor Roll

To qualify for Honor Roll/Dean's List, a student must have completed at least 12 credits (full-time status), not including "P" grades (e.g. INTRNTL 333). The Dean's List and Honor Roll process is run the day grades are posted at the end of the official semester.  An "I" or "blank" grade (grade not yet recorded) in any class for the term automatically disqualifies a student for Honor Roll/Dean's list.  If your course ends after the official semester end date, you will not be included in the award processing but you may request that the notation be added by visiting the Dean's office for your College.

Incompletes

A student may not graduate if an Incomplete appears on your transcript. All incomplete grades must be recorded as a final letter grade before the official end of the term in which the student wishes to graduate. The student may request that an Incomplete be converted to an F grade in order to be allowed to graduate. AFTER GRADUATION, NO GRADE CHANGE IS ALLOWED.

Transfer Courses & Grades

If you are transferring coursework back to UW Oshkosh (as opposed to having enrollment in a specific course at UW Oshkosh while you are away), current course transfer rules at the University do not allow for transfer of grades.

Send Your Transcripts to UW Oshkosh (for TRANSFER credit only)

Just before you return...

After you have successfully completed your study abroad experience, you will need to have your transcripts sent by your program sponsor or host school to the Transfer Student Coordinator in the UW Oshkosh Admissions Office. You cannot receive credit at UW Oshkosh without the official transcript. When transferring coursework, only course equivalencies and credits are recorded at UW Oshkosh; grades are not.

If you are enrolled for courses directly through an institution abroad, request your transcripts from that institution BEFORE leaving the foreign country. If you enrolled in courses through a U.S. university, you will typically need to request your transcripts from that university after returning home. Check with the U.S. university in advance so that you know when to request transcripts.

For students studying in Germany for a full semester:

Make sure that for every course you take, you arrange to earn/receive a "Scheine". This is proof that you have completed the course requirements and are entitled to credit. A Scheine can be obtained by writing a paper, taking a test, doing an oral report, etc. How you earn a Scheine will vary by instructor--make sure you ask and be proactive with professors. They are typically not as "forward" in assisting students as US professors--a cultural difference. Toward the end of your semester, you must collect your Scheine from each professor and then submit them to the International Office in Germany. You will then need to have the Auslandsamt print out a transcript for you and send both it and the Scheine to the UW Oshkosh Admissions office to complete the credit transfer process.

BE AWARE!!!Transcripts in Germany can only reflect what is in the “Scheine”.  If you do not earn or collect “Scheine” AND submit them to the International Office, your courses WILL NOT appear on your transcript.  Issuing a “Scheine” after you have returned to Wisconsin is impossible.  

All transcripts and related documents must be sent directly to:

Transfer Student Coordinator
Admissions Office
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
U.S.A.

Study Abroad and the Effect on Your Graduation Date

If you plan to study abroad during your final two to three semesters before graduation, meet with your academic advisor or a graduation examiner to ensure that you will meet UW Oshkosh graduation requirements. Two important things to consider are listed below. Other issues may also arise.

Course End Dates

Study abroad program dates often do not conform to regular university academic course schedules. If you plan to graduate at the end of your study abroad experience, ensure that your study abroad program has an end date ON OR BEFORE the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Official Graduation Date listed in the Academic Calendar.

The Official Transcripts which list the courses you took through your study abroad experience (your UW Oshkosh transcripts if the course is run through UW Oshkosh or transcripts from the organization running your program) MUST LIST THE END DATE FOR THE COURSE/S YOU ARE TAKING AND the end date must be ON OR BEFORE the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Official Graduation Date. For non-UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs, if the transcripts you receive do not list an end date, you must request an official cover letter from the organization issuing your transcripts which gives the official course end date.

All courses IN PROGRESS during your final semester, including courses you are taking abroad which you DO NOT NEED in order to graduate, MUST BE COMPLETED by the Official Graduation Date. There are no exceptions.

15 of your final 30 Credits

Fifteen of your final thirty credits must be earned in coursework taken at UW Oshkosh (coursework offered through UW Oshkosh-sponsored study abroad programs is considered coursework taken at UW Oshkosh for this purpose). If you study abroad THROUGH A NON-UW OSHKOSH-SPONSORED PROGRAM during one of your final semesters, the number of credits which you can transfer back to UW Oshkosh may be limited. You may need to balance this limit with the credit minimums required to use financial aid for study abroad.

 

Your Program

Program Web Page & Itinerary

For faculty-led programs, you will find the following information on the web page for your program:

  • information on transportationto/from the U.S. airport
  • the flight schedule
  • the program itinerary
  • accommodation & meals
  • estimate of expenses
  • emergency contact information
  • pre-travel class dates

All updates to these schedules are posted immediately. You will receive notification by email only when your departure time (or in rare instances, the departure date) is changed.

For independent travel programs, you will find the following information on the web page for your program:

  • information on getting to your destination abroad
  • academic calendars & international student orientation
  • accommodation & meals
  • estimate of expenses
  • emergency contact information

Accommodations & Meals

Check your program web page for accommodation details.

Hotels

If using hotels, check the link from your program web page to the hotel web page, when available, for hotel amenities and location. In general, and especially in large cities in Europe, rooms are extremely small. It isn't unusual to have very little space around the bed, shorter beds, only a few inches for a closet pole, tight showers and/or buildings directly outside your window. In less developed countries, the water will be ok for a shower but not for drinking.

Host Families

If staying with a host family, information will either be emailed or shared with you by your faculty leader approximately two weeks prior to travel. You should bring either one gift for your entire host family to share or individual gifts for host family members (if you know something about them in advance). You don’t need to spend a lot of money; give something made in your local community, something which represents the U.S., a picture frame that says “family” (take a picture of you with your hosts) or crafts which you or a family member made.

Meals

All, some or none of your meals may be included in your program fees; know the budget estimate for meals for your program and bring enough money with you. Check the web page for your program for details.

Roommates

Participants on faculty-led programs with accommodations in double or triple rooms may request roommates by editing their on-line study abroad application. Those who do not make a request will be assigned a roommate. In some cases, participants may also be able to elect a single room for an extra fee.

Emergency Contact Information

Use the emergency contact information listed at the end of each program’s web page, available from http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/destinations/all.php.

Program Withdrawal

You are subject to the withdrawal and refund policy which you signed when you accepted participation in a UW Oshkosh-sponsored study abroad program. Because this is a financial contract between you and the university, it is in your best interest to read this if you haven't already!

Program Cancellation by UW Oshkosh

If a program is cancelled by UW Oshkosh, you will receive a full refund.


Financial Planning

Program Fee and Total Cost

Look for the estimates for YOUR program on your program's web page. Be sure you know BOTH the program fee estimate AND the total estimated expenses for your program.

Paying Your Program Fee

Program Fee due dates

See http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/fees.php for details.

Did I pay on time?

See your on-line study abroad application for information specific to you.

Access Financial Aid

When will I receive my financial aid award?

Until about one month prior to the final study abroad fee payment deadline, program fees are still tentative. This is because final fees depend on the exchange rate at the time that the program actually occurs and, for group programs, on the final number of students participating. Financial Aid is paid in one lump sum (rather than in installments).  It may be transferred to your account before study abroad fees have been added, in which case you will need to save any change check you may receive to pay your fees at a later date.  Likewise, it may not be transferred to your student account to pay any of your study abroad fees until after the final payment deadline.

Financial Aid awards cannot legally be paid out until the beginning of the UW Oshkosh term during which a study abroad program takes place (Pell Grants must be held for an additional two weeks before they can legally be paid out). If you will be leaving for abroad before the UW Oshkosh term begins, you will need to make arrangements with the Cashier's Office to complete paperwork to have your money disbursed into a personal bank account or, if you don’t have a bank account, to allow someone other than yourself to receive your financial aid change check on your behalf.

The earliest date on which you can expect financial aid money to be available AT UW OSHKOSH is on the first day of classes (Pell Grants will not be available until two weeks later). Check in the Student Accounts office for the exact dates. If you request that your funds be directly deposited to your bank account or mailed to an address in the U.S., you should expect a delay of 3-7 days before you will have access to your funds.

Direct Deposit to a Bank Account
To have your funds deposited directly to your bank account after your check arrives at the University, log onto TitanWeb, select "Finances", and select "Direct Deposit" in the column on the left. Select "Direct Deposit" again. (ALERT: If your Pop-up Lock is on, you will not be able to select "Direct Deposit" a second time. Turn off your Pop-up Lock and then select "Direct Deposit".) Then, select "continue" and follow the instructions to enter your bank routing number and bank account number. Be sure to print a confirmation page for your records. Complete this process BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Call Student Accounts at 920-424-1332 if you have questions.

Release Form
If you choose to have your change check direct deposited or mailed, you will also want to complete a "Release" form to allow someone other than yourself to access information related to your financial aid and student account in the case that, for example, it does not arrive on schedule or the forwarded amount is incorrect. You must request this form IN PERSON from the Student Affairs office in Dempsey 148.

Non-UW Oshkosh Students
If you are not a UW Oshkosh student but are using financial aid from your own institution, be sure you check with your financial aid office/student accounts office to find out how & when your funds will be disbursed.

How can I apply my financial aid award to my study abroad program fees?

If you are studying abroad through a UW Oshkosh-sponsored study abroad program and you are a UW Oshkosh student, your financial aid will automatically be applied toward study abroad-related fees on your student account at UW Oshkosh. If you are a student elsewhere, you will need to pick up a change check from your home campus, cash the check, and send payment to UW Oshkosh.

Faculty-led Programs (applies to UW Oshkosh and non-UW Oshkosh students)

Students paying all program fees with financial aid must turn in a Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad form directly to Student Accounts in place of payment by the first payment deadline.

Students who plan to cover some costs on their own and remaining costs using financial aid must make their payment by the first payment deadline. They must also turn in a Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad form directly to Student Accounts by the first payment deadline (or by the second payment deadline if they have covered the first payment in full).

Once your "Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad" form has been filed, a "positive service indicator" will appear on your record indicating that financial aid will be paying your study abroad program fees.  This should not prevent you from doing anything except printing transcripts.

Non UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs

Your financial aid award will be transferred to your student account rather than to your program provider or host school. You will be able to pick up a change check from the cashier's office, after which you are responsible for making payments to cover study abroad fees and associated costs.

 

How Do I Access Loans/Grants which Exceed Costs Billed by the University?

At times, the amount awarded in loans and/or grants exceeds the costs directly billed by the University. This may happen if housing costs, passport costs, meal costs, etc. are not included in fees paid to UW Oshkosh for your study abroad program or if you are participating on a non-UW Oshkosh-sponsored program. Loan and/or grant money which exceeds costs billed by UW Oshkosh will be available at the cashier's office in the form of a change check.

There are times when your change check may not be available before you leave for your study abroad program. If arrangements are not made in advance, the money you receive may be withdrawn from your student account and may be lost permanently. See "When will I receive my financial aid award?" above for details.

At other times you will receive a change check even though you have not paid all of your study abroad fees. This occurs when financial aid is processed before the OIE has added the final program fee to your student account. In this case, take your change check from the cashier's office to student accounts. You will be able to apply the change check to your "future" study abroad fees if you indicate that this is what you would like to do.

Covering Personal Expenses (Bringing Money Abroad)

In addition to advertised program fees, you will be responsible for other expenses. The budget estimate for your program is based on an average person's expenditures and takes into account pricing for goods and services at the destination. It is unreasonable to think that you may spend significantly less than the estimates for your trip. If you enjoy shopping or plan to spend evenings out, bring more than the budget estimate! Official exchange rates are available from the Currency Converter at http://www.xe.com.

Cash (foreign currency)

It is least expensive and recommended to purchase foreign currency once you arrive at the international airport at your destination unless you are traveling to Japan or Mexico, where currency exchanges & ATMs may be closed (Japan) or extremely unsafe (Mexico). You may also purchase most (but not all) foreign currencies before traveling from a currency exchange outlet at an international airport or by ordering through your local bank or credit union. For up-to-date locations and hours of operation for Currency Exchange at O'Hare Airport, see http://www.flychicago.com/aboutus/OhareFAQs.shtm.

Traveler's Checks

Purchase enough traveler’s checks at your bank or credit union to cover you when a credit or ATM card cannot be used or is stolen. PROs: given increasing credit, debit and ATM card fees, traveler's checks may be less expensive. CONs: traveler's checks can only be cashed at the airport, in banks, at money exchanges and in SOME hotels. Expensive hotels tend to give bad exchange rates for traveler's checks. If there is an American Express office in the city you plan to visit (and you are on a program with a flexible enough schedule to conveniently get there), cash your traveler's checks there. American Express will not charge commission.

Credit, Debit & ATM Cards

Plastic is extremely convenient in some parts of the world and useless in others. Use your guide book to determine whether this type of currency is accepted at your destination. You'll be charged a percentage of each transaction; this fee is "rolled" into the exchange rate and can be the daily rate of exchange plus 2.5% or higher. You may also be charged per transaction by your bank and/or by the foreign bank (owners of the ATM machine).

In order to use your cards abroad, you must let your credit/debit/ATM card company know you plan to travel abroad. If you don't, it's quite common, even for regular travelers, to find that their card has been red flagged and cancelled by the issuing bank's computer system. In addition, for security reasons some cards are not validated for overseas travel and may be confiscated by a machine even after entering the correct PIN. *At least one area Credit Union has cut off all access to ATM's from abroad due to fraud.

Global VISA ATM locator
Global MasterCard ATM locator
Global American Express ATM locator

Credit Cards: Bring VISA or MasterCard only. American Express may be used at American Express offices. PROs: credit cards typically offer protection against unauthorized use provided you follow the company's reporting policy. CONs: numbers are often stolen; credit card cash advances are extremely expensive and require a PIN. *Know your credit card limits--charging over the limit is an arrestable offense in some countries. Paraphrase from a US State Department Consular Information Sheet: Credit card fraud is on the rise in many countries, and both theft and 'number skimming' are common. Retain all your credit card receipts and check your accounts regularly to help prevent unauthorized use of your credit cards.

Debit Cards vs. ATM Cards: In the U.S. we typically use debit cards rather than ATM cards. Debit cards allow users to withdraw cash using a PIN or make purchases WITHOUT using a PIN. In other countries, because of the high incidence of theft, ATM cards are are better choice because they always require a PIN. PROs: In developed countries (except Japan) ATM cards are typically the most convenient way to access money. CONs: Your account can be emptied if your numbers (or numbers and PIN) are stolen. You should keep only the money you plan to spend on your trip in your account; remove overdraft protection. To protect your PIN

  • never access cash from machines visible to other people
  • always shield both your hand and the PIN pad to protect against cameras planted near ATMs
  • avoid ATM machines which require you to swipe your card in order to open the door to the ATM booth
  • Paraphrase from a US State Department Country-specific Information publication: avoid using debit cards for point of sale purchases, as a skimmed number can be used to clean out an account.

Money in an Emergency

Sending Money by Wire Transfer

To send money by wire transfer, you will need the following information from the institution/organization/individual you are paying:

  • Name of the institution/organization/individual
  • Address
  • Phone Number
  • Account # (at the bank)
  • Fax Number (optional)
  • Email (optional)

You will also need the following information from the bank which will receive the money. The institution/organization/individual you are paying will give this information to you.

  • Bank Name
  • Bank Address
  • Bank phone
  • Bank Fax
  • Branch Number
  • ABA
  • Sort Code
  • Swift

When requesting a wire transfer at your local bank or credit union, present the information above and ask that the bank "cover the wire transfer fees at both the sending and the receiving banks." If you don't cover the wire fees at the receiving bank, your payment will be reduced by the amount of the fee and you will end up still owing.

When you order the transfer, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the transfer has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the wire transfer in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the transfer).

Wire transfers typically take 3-5 days to process. Be sure that you make payments by wire transfer far enough in advance of payment deadlines.

Bank Drafts in Foreign Currencies

To make a payment in a foreign currency by check, you will need to order a "bank draft" in that foreign currency through your local bank or credit union.

When you order the draft, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the draft has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the draft in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the draft).

Be sure that you make requests for drafts far enough in advance of payment deadlines. Bank drafts take at least several days to process before being mailed to the bank and then to you. Plan for an additional 10 days to mail the draft to a foreign country.

Study Abroad, Tuition and your 1098-T (tax credit)

UW Oshkosh may include only qualified tuition paid to UW Oshkosh for enrollment at UW Oshkosh on 1098-T's issued to students.

Qualified tuition is tuition for academic credit which a student must pay to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution.

Academic credit is credit awarded by an eligible educational institution for the completion of course work leading to a post-secondary degree...

An Eligible educational institution is a ... university ... that is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as in effect on August 5, 1997, and that is eligible to participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs.

Financial Administration of Study Abroad Programs (UW System). In order to increase student access to UW study abroad programs and minimize the cost of student participation, study abroad programs will be financed on a cost recovery basis. Students studying abroad will be exempt from paying the Board of Regents' approved academic fees... One-for-one exchange students will continue to pay regular Regents' approved academic fees on behalf of the incoming exchange visitors who carry UW courses.

This means...

  • For study abroad with course enrollment at UW Oshkosh, no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. If no tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
  • For study abroad with NO course enrollment at UW Oshkosh (except a "placeholder" used to keep your registration at UW Oshkosh active), no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. Your program fee may include tuition from an ineligible educational institution abroad. If no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
  • For student exchange programs, students pay tuition to UW Oshkosh. This tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
  • For tuition paid directly to an institution abroad, check with that institution to see whether a 1098-T can be issued. It is my understanding (and I may be wrong - check with your tax advisor on this!) that while some foreign schools do participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs (making them eligible educational institutions), students must also be completing course work leading to a post-secondary degree at that institution for the 1098-T to be issued.

 

Health, Safety & Security

Emergency Contacts

In a life and death emergency ABROAD

U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center (1-202-647-5225) will relay messages to the foreign Embassy. Embassy personnel may try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.

To reach your student directly

If your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program. The Office of International Education cannot give out private residence or homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we will contact your student for you in an emergency.

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)

  • Office of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
  • Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
  • Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300

To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours

University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216

Health Insurance

Do I have insurance for medical and emergency services while studying abroad?

UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs

YES! UW System requires all participants on UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs abroad to purchase insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This insurance is included in your study abroad program fees; your coverage will begin on the first day on which you are required to be in the host country and end within a few days of the last day on which you are required to be in the host country. If you plan to arrive early or depart after your program has ended, you can purchase additional insurance by following the link above. UW System does not allow for the exemption of any student for any reason.

Iin addition to CISI, all students studying through an Australian university or university in New Zealand are required by the foreign government to carry health insurance purchased in Australia or health insurance purchased in New Zealand. You will receive instructions and the necessary paperwork to obtain your insurance card at your host university’s orientation.

Iin addition to CISI, all students studying in Fiji or completing an internship or short course through AustraLearn will be covered under an AustraLearn-purchased health insurance policy.

Non-UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs

You will not have insurance which covers medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation or emergency medical reunion unless you purchase this on your own or your sponsoring program purchases this for you. It is highly recommended that you purchase this if your sponsoring program doesn't offer it; these benefits are not found in domestic policies.

How do I access information about my CISI coverage?

You can view your CISI insurance policy, your Security Evacuation Benefit Rider and your ACE Travel Delay Benefits (coming soon). You can also print your personalized insurance ID card through the CISI Participant Portal.

  1. Go to www.culturalinsurance.com
  2. Enter policy number 4835256
  3. Click on "Click here to print your personal ID Card"
  4. Select your policy number next to the word "Policy".  If more than one policy # appears, select the set of dates which contain your insurance start date.
  5. Enter your First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY format)
  6. Click on "Print Preview".  
  7. Print the personalized ID Card and/or store the PDF of this card to your computer files.

Can I use my personal health insurance plan without purchasing additional insurance for travel abroad?

UW Oshkosh-sponsored Programs

No.

All Other Travelers

Sickness and accident coverage while in a foreign country may be included in your personal health insurance plan, but it is rare for personal health insurance plans to cover medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation or emergency medical reunion. BEFORE you travel you should be familiar with the type of coverage you have and the steps you need to take in order to use your policy abroad. If you are not satisfied that you have sufficient coverage abroad, you can purchase a temporary policy.

My insurance company requires me to be a full-time student. Will study abroad affect my ability to keep my health insurance?

Most insurance companies require you to be a full-time student in order to stay on your parents’ health insurance policy. IF you are NOT enrolled in classes at UW Oshkosh for a full semester (i.e. you are transferring credits back to UW Oshkosh at the end of your study abroad program), AND you are NOT enrolled for full-time credit through another accredited U.S. institution, this may affect your eligibility to remain on your parents' insurance. Information on your enrollment status is automatically extracted from UW Oshkosh records and sent to a Clearinghouse, which many insurance companies monitor. You will show up in the Clearinghouse as “not enrolled” at UW Oshkosh IF you are not enrolled for courses AT UW OSHKOSH, and your eligibility may be affected.

In order to avoid problems, contact your insurance company BEFORE leaving for your study abroad destination. Your insurance company will either give you a form or a list of information which they need. You can fax this form/list to the institution abroad for verification of full-time status while studying there.

Please note that if you are on Academic Leave of Absence, you are being reported by UW Oshkosh as "not enrolled."

What are some insurance alternatives?

At $22, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a popular option for students. The ISIC can be purchased on line; policy details are available from https://www.myisic.com/MyISIC/Travel/Main.aspx?MenuID=5004.. To call STA Travel: 1-800-329-9537 (menu option “Student, youth and teacher identity cards”). A second option is to search on the internet or contact your local travel agent. There are many other insurance companies that will cover you during your time abroad.

What are medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation and medical reunion?

Medical evacuation, security evacuation and repatriation benefits cover the insured when the insured is moved to a location outside of the host country or returned to the U.S. because a medical condition cannot be treated locally, because of a security risk at the site abroad or because of the death of the insured. Medical reunion benefits cover a family member who travels to the location where the insured is undergoing medical treatment. If you have medical reunion, identify one or more family members who have a valid passport as your emergency contact. Anyone not holding a valid passport will need to apply for one before being able to take advantage of emergency medical reunion.

Is the insurance offered through CISI sufficient?

CISI insurance is not comprehensive. It is each participant's responsibility to review the policy for sufficient coverage. If you feel that coverage is insufficient, purchase additional coverage through your insurance agent. Do not cancel your health insurance policy in the U.S. while you are gone! In most cases, your international policy will cover you while you are gone and/or bring you back to the U.S., but once you return, your domestic policy will need to provide coverage.

Do I need trip cancellation insurance or baggage insurance?

Because the UW Oshkosh OIE runs all programs on a cost-recovery basis, it is not possible to make exceptions to the withdrawal and refund policy for any reason, including withdrawal for medical reasons or family emergencies. To protect yourself, purchase TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE. If you choose not to purchase trip cancellation insurance, study abroad fees assessed by the OIE will be your responsibility regardless of your reason for withdrawing. Trip cancellation insurance may provide reimbursement for CERTAIN financial losses UNDER A LIMITED SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. Read policies carefully and shop around. Not all policies cover pre-existing conditions.

Baggage insurance typically provides coverage related to lost or delayed luggage. Because there are fairly low limits on the claims you can make, you may also need to purchase insurance riders through your home insurance policy to cover items such as digital cameras or other expensive equipment.

Consider Liability Insurance for Student Teachers

According to the SWEA representative in Madison, student teachers are covered with liability insurance when abroad as long as they are participating in an experience that is sanctioned by the IHE and leads to certification or completion of their education program. The cost is $29 per year with the "year" starting on September 1. You can apply with a credit card on WEAC site (information is valid as of 2006)

Consider Insurance for Loss, Theft or Damage of Personal Property

If traveling with valuable personal property such as cameras, laptops or equipment, your (or your parents') rental or homeowner's policy may provide sufficient coverage or you may need to purchase a rider to cover specific items; items normally covered without a rider may not be covered while traveling.

Consider Security Evacuation Alternatives

If traveling to parts of the world which are difficult to reach or are considerably less safe than you are accostomed to, you may want to consider purchasing additional insurance to cover security or medical evacuation (above and beyond what is provided by the university insurance or by your own insurance). Two options are International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com/en/) and Global Rescue (https://www.globalrescue.com/).

Check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Site for Immunization Information

The Center for Disease Control provides health information on specific destinations, information about specific diseases that can affect travelers, immunizations recommendations, tips on avoiding illness from food or water and more through it's web site. For information specific to your destination/s, see http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.

Visit the Student Health Center or Your Healthcare Provider

The student health center offers the most frequently used immunizations, and can get others on order with advance notice, at lower fees than travel clinics and other healthcare providers. Make an appointment with the student health center (424-2424), a Travel Health Clinic (listings for Aurora available through International Travel Clinic) or your healthcare provider at least 6 weeks before leaving for a foreign country. Some immunizations must be administered over time in order for them to be effective. You will be asked to provide information on your specific destination/s (within each country), date of departure, length of stay and childhood immunizations (bring a copy of the actual record, if possible) either when making the appointment or during your visit.

Travel to an unfamiliar environment can increase stress levels; honestly evaluate your mental health in relation to support systems you can reasonably maintain while studying abroad. If traveling to a developed country, consider setting up an e-mail and phone-support system with friends and family before you leave. Keep in mind that some study abroad sites have very limited means of communication.

The Student Health Center can also provide certification of physical and mental health if needed to apply for a visa. Take care of all dental work, eye exams, and other things which may be offered at a different level of quality or standard of care efore you leave for abroad.

Put Together A Personal Medical Kit

Many prescription and over-the-counter medications available in the U.S. are not available abroad or cannot be found in the same form or at the same quality. Carry all prescription medications AND a letter from your doctor describing your condition and your prescriptions (using both the generic names and the drug name which appears on the prescription container) in your carry-on luggage. All prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs must be carried through customs in original containers. Consider bringing a medical ID bracelet if you have allergic reactions.

For those who wear glasses or contact lenses, carry an extra prescription or extra lenses. Not all countries use the same scale for determining prescriptions, so arrange to have someone send a replacement pair in an emergency. Contact lens supplies can be rare and expensive, so bring saline and cleaner or wear glasses.

Find English-speaking Doctors

U.S. embassies often maintain lists of English-speaking doctors by city. For a list specific to your destination, find the embassy or consulate nearest your destination city using the link above, click on "American Citizen Services" and look for a "medical" list.

Check State Department Country-specific Information, Travel Alerts & Travel Warnings

The U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs regularly publishes country-specific information, travel alerts and travel warnings. Country-specific Information includes health conditions and crime and security information. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security. Travel Alerts describe short-term and/or trans-national conditions related to danger, security or instability. Alerts may be issued due to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, election-related violence, or major international conferences or sporting events. Travel Warnings describe longer-term conditions related to danger, security or instability.  These may also be issued when the U.S. Government closes an embassy or consulate or is operating on reduced staff.

View Country-specific Information, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings (http://travel.state.gov/)for your destination.


Check State Department Travel Publications

Read relevant Consular Affairs Brochures , available for free at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_brochures.html. These should answer many of your questions about traveling abroad.



Emergency Response Plan

Each program participant should develop a reasonable family communications plan that includes contingencies for emergency situations.

UW Oshkosh has Emergency Response Plans in place for its faculty-led programs.

Register with the U.S. State Department

U.S. State Department Travel Registration is a free service which allows you as a U.S. citizen to record travel details which help the embassy or consulate locate you when you need them the most. Complete your registration at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. The UK, Canada, New Zealand and Japan have similar systems for their nationals.

Faculty Leader/Host School Responsibilities

For faculty-led programs, your faculty leader is responsible for the activities of your group for the entire program. For student exchange programs, your host school is only responsible for activities such as course registration and orientation. In either case, your faculty leader, program sponsors or host school:

  • cannot guarantee or assure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environments.
  • cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
  • cannot assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for participants.
  • cannot assume responsibility for the actions of persons not employed or otherwise engaged by the program sponsor for events that are not part of the program or that are beyond the control of the sponsor, or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a participant to disclose pertinent information.
  • cannot assure that home country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.

Student Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for preparing academically and personally for their experience abroad. All participants must understand that the orientations offered by the OIE and by faculty offer only an INTRODUCTION to issues related to travel abroad and cultural/language differences you will encounter. We do our best to cover the most important topics, but there is absolutely no possible way that we can tell you everything you will want to know or feel you need to know before your trip. You can prepare by reading resources suggested to you at orientations, by exploring on the internet, by knowing your itinerary and checking out your hotels on-line, and by reading books and articles related to your destination. The more you know before you go, the steeper your learning curve will be while abroad.

You also signed a statement of responsibility which you will be expected to abide by. Faculty leaders and host school liaisons have the right and responsibility to remove any participant from the program for disruptive or unsafe behavior.

 

Travel

Purchase a Travel Guide

Purchase a travel guide for your study abroad destination for current information on money/currency, customs & duties, staying healthy, public transportation, travel tips, telephones, sending mail, tipping, and a lot more. Choose the guidebook which fits your needs, and make sure it is current for the year in which you are traveling!

Get a Valid Passport (Driver's Licence for DOMESTIC programs)

Passport forms and instructions are available at http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/studyabroad/handbook/passport.php.

Visas & Residence Permits

What is a visa?

A visa is an endorsement or stamp placed by officials of a foreign country on a U.S. passport that makes it possible for the bearer to visit that foreign country. In some cases, U.S. citizens and citizens from other countries can enter a foreign country without applying for a visa in advance, instead receiving their visa at the foreign airport. In other cases, U.S. citizens and citizens from other countries must apply for a visa in advance.

Do I need a visa to study or teach abroad?

To check whether you will need to apply for a visa in advance, check the web site of the foreign embassy. You can access these web sites from the U.S. State Department list of Foreign Embassies in the U.S. Once you are on the web site of the foreign embassy, look for their "consular services" or "consular information." You will find information pertaining to visa applications there. Very often the information presented on these sites is more confusing than clarifying. Stop in to see staff in the OIE or call the embassy/consulate directly if you have questions.

Most countries do not require U.S. citizens to obtain a visa before entering as a tourist for a short time, and some do not require visas for unpaid teaching or for study of one semester or less. If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact the OIE immediately so that we can determine whether or not you will need a visa for the country you plan to visit.

Faculty-led and Student Exchange Programs

Visa requirements, if any, are listed on your program's web page.

Student Teaching

Educators Abroad (EA) will let you know whether you need a visa for your program. It is your responsibility to apply for the visa if needed.

How do I get a visa?

If you are on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored faculty-led or student exchange program and you need a visa to study abroad in a particular country, the Office of International Education will make the forms and instructions for applying available to you via the web page for your program. Getting a visa can take anywhere between 24 hours to three months. Applications are always done through the foreign country's local consulate or embassy, generally located in Chicago or in Washington D.C. Sometimes, individuals must travel to the consulate in person to obtain a visa. Other times, individuals can apply by mail. Information on applying for a visa is always listed on the web pages of the Foreign Embassies in the U.S. .

You will need, among other things, a valid passport in order to apply for your visa, so be sure to apply for your passport early!

Residence Permit

A residence permit entitles foreign nationals to the right of residence within the issuing country.

In some cases, U.S. citizens and citizens from other countries can remain in a foreign country without applying for a residence permit. In other cases, U.S. citizens and citizens from other countries must apply for a residence permit either before traveling or after having arrived in the foreign country.

Faculty-led and Student Exchange Programs

Residence permit requirements, if any, are listed on your program's web page.

Student Teaching

It is your responsibility to know, before traveling, whether you need to apply for a residence permit. It is best to check with the Office of International Education to confirm and to ask staff in the OIE to check your residence permit application (if applying before traveling) and other required documents before sending the application to the appropriate consulate or embassy in the U.S. Keep in mind that if you must apply after traveling, you will need to arrive in the foreign country with all of the proper application documentation.

To check whether you will need to apply for a residence permit in advance, check the web site of the foreign embassy. You can access these web sites from the Foreign Embassies in the U.S. list. Once you are on the web site of the foreign embassy, look for their "consular services" or "consular information." You will find information pertaining to residence permit applications there (often under the "student" visa section). Very often the information presented on these sites is more confusing than clarifying. Stop in to see staff in the OIE or call the embassy/consulate directly if you have questions.

Find Out Whether You Need to Carry Proof of Legal Entry & Stay

In some countries, foreigners are required to provide proof of legal entry and stay to authorities upon request. This means that foreigners may be required to carry their passports (e.g. in the Netherlands or Japan) or identity documents issued by the foreign government (e.g. Japan if staying for a longer period of time) at all times. Check the Entry/Exit Requirements section of the U.S. State Department's Country-specific Information (http://travel.state.gov/) for your destination for details.

Purchase Your Airline Tickets

If you are responsible for finding and purchasing your own airline tickets, monitor priceline.com for awhile so that you know what a reasonable price is for the route you want. Then, check the web page of the airline offering the low-fee ticket; you may find the same route to be $10-$20 cheaper when purchased on-line directly from the airline. When purchasing your ticket, remember that the first and last names on your airline tickets must match your name as it appears in your passport EXACTLY. If your credit card includes travel insurance, consider purchasing your airline ticket using your credit card. When you receive your tickets, check the dates and times listed on all of your tickets to be sure they are accurate. Also check to make sure that the first and last names on your airline ticket match the first and last names in your passport EXACTLY. Middle names shouldn't matter.

If you are not responsible for finding your own ticket, the OIE may purchase your ticket for you or you may be asked to contact the travel agent holding a block of airline tickets for your group to pay for the ticket directly.

Faculty-led Programs

If you have a faculty leader who is traveling with you on a bus to the airport, your faculty leader will hand out airline tickets when you board the bus. For other groups (or if you won't be on the bus with the group), you will be asked to stop in the OIE to pick up your ticket. You must pay your entire program fee IN FULL BEFORE you will be issued an airline ticket.

Wisconsin in Scotland

If you are departing with the WIS group, a representative from Carlson Wagonlit Suntime Travel, LLP will meet you at the appropriate ticket counter at the Minneapolis St Paul International Airport with your ticket. If you are not traveling with the group, your airline ticket will be mailed to you.

Pack

Check with your program leader or program director to find out what to pack and what the dress requirements are for your program.

Identification

Bring a student ID to take advantage of student entry fees. Make sure you have both your passport and a second official form of identification (e.g. driver’s license), especially if hiking the Inca Trail (you may be asked to present your ORIGINAL DRIVER'S LICENSE to enter the Inca Trail).

Electricity

Avoid bringing electrical appliances if possible; buy adapters (plug shape) and a converter (to change voltage) if necessary and use both. Try to AVOID purchasing an UNFUSED adapter (otherwise the charge goes either into the appliance or into the wall if it blows). For more information on adapters and converters, go to http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/wwelect.htm.

Dalkeith House: Unfused adapters are prohibited. You will be asked NOT to use any adapter you've purchased before travel and to purchase an approved adapter on site instead.

Pack to Stay Safe!

For you own safety, follow this simple rule: Don't bring anything that someone else may want. Don't pack clothing or accessories that will make you a target for theft. Leave name brand clothing at home and don't wear any jewelry. Empty your wallet or purse before traveling. Remove extra credit cards and other items you won't need.

Pack to Walk!

You will walk a lot. Codes pertaining to the height and depth of steps, sidewalk conditions, the height of signs (this is for you tall people!) etc. may be different. Avoid foot and ankle injuries by packing appropriate shoes, socks and lots of bandages!

Luggage

Limit yourself to one reasonably-sized check-on piece of luggage and one small carry-on. Leave extra space for things you buy abroad to avoid paying fees for going over luggage limits on your return. Label every piece of luggage both inside and out and buy TSA-approved locks (so that your locks aren't removed during airport inspection) for use at hotels. If you can't carry your luggage (all of it at once) up and down the block, you have probably packed too much. Check the web site for the airline you will be flying for luggage limits.

International flights can take anywhere from several to fourteen hours. Generally, passengers are offered food and beverages, movies (depending on the airline and length of the flight) and music channels & headphones. If you think you might require other entertainment, you'll need to bring it with you.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security's list of prohibited items

Packing List - Sample

Packing List - USA Summer Camp

Packing List - Wisconsin in Scotland

 

Depart

How will I get to the airport?

Some UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs include transportation by bus between UW Oshkosh (university parking lot 6 on the corner of Wisconsin and Pearl) and the departure airport, and others do not. Details are available from your program's web page. If your group is traveling by bus and you do not plan to ride the bus, you must inform the Office of International Education in advance. If you are to meet at the airport, it is your responsibility to arrange for transportation between your residence and the airport and to arrange to meet the group. For airport maps, terminal information, parking information, etc., check the appropriate web pages below:

O’Hare: http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/home.asp
Milwaukee: http://www.mitchellairport.com/
Minneapolis/St. Paul: http://www.mspairport.com/MSP/
Outagamie County (Appleton): http://www.atwairport.com/

Can I park my car on campus while I am gone?

Students with a valid UW Oshkosh parking permit may park in university parking lot 6, on the corner of Wisconsin and Pearl, for the duration of the study abroad program if the program occurs during summer break or interim. Students without a valid permit may purchase a temporary permit from Parking Services, located in the lower level of Blackhawk. Check the expiration date on your parking permit to be sure that it is valid for the duration of your program.

Fly

Procedures at U.S. International Airports

Arrive at a U.S. international airport (O'Hare, Minneapolis, etc.) a minimum of 3 ½ hours early so that you complete your check-in 3 hours early. Passengers who show up later to check in on planes which are oversold don’t always get a seat assignment. Go through security immediately after checking in; if you run into trouble with security you may still have enough time to get cleared and make your flight. You must be through security a minimum of ½ hour to 45 minutes (the exact timing depends on the airport) before your plane is scheduled to BOARD. If you aren't, you may not be allowed through security and you will miss your flight. Boarding times are typically 30 to 45 minutes before scheduled take off. Anyone who is not flying will not be allowed to pass through security.

Customs Declaration Form

While on the flight, you will receive a customs declaration form; request the form for U.S. citizens (unless you are a citizen of another country) written in English. Complete this form—front and back—before the plane lands. You will need this form to go through customs (explained below).

If traveling as a group, remain with your group

Whether you've navigated foreign airports on your own or not, please remain with your group while exiting the aircraft and going through immigration, baggage claim and customs. Your faculty leader will appreciate your help with students who haven't traveled and, if you happen to be pulled aside at immigration or customs, will want to be right there with you to offer assistance.

Immigration

When you go through immigration, officials inspect your passport and may ask for your hotel/host family address and telephone number; it's a good idea to carry this information with you. If asked what you will be doing in the host country:

  • short-term programs, “I'm here to sightsee.” Do not say “to study” or "for international business."
  • exchange student/study at a university or language school, “I'm here to study at X university/language school.”
  • USA Summer Camp, “I'm here to participate on a language camp.” Do not say "to work at a summer camp."
  • Wisconsin in Scotland, present a letter to immigration officials (included in a packet sent to your permanent address before departure)
  • Even if you hope to find a legal job later, do not mention working.

If you say “to study,” "to work," or “for international business" when you are not studying at a university or getting paid for work, you will confuse immigration officials, who may assume that you then need a special student or work visa.

Photographs and Fingerprinting

Just as the U.S. does with foreign nationals entering the United States, you may be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry in the foreign country. Data collected may be checked against a database of international terror and crime suspects, checked against domestic crime records and/or used for other purposes. The U.S., Japan and Brazil are photographing and fingerprinting.

Customs

After immigration, you will go to the baggage claim to get your luggage and then head through customs. At this point, officials will decide whether or not to search through your luggage. In general, you cannot bring meat or agricultural products across borders. These items will be confiscated. For more information on customs regulations, see the U.S. State Department's Country-specific Information (http://travel.state.gov/) for your destination. If you are traveling to Japan with prescription drugs, it is extremely important that you understand Japanese Customs Regulations.

Arrival Abroad

Faculty-led programs

Your faculty leader will bring you to your destination.

Traveling on your own

You will either be met by someone associated with the program or you will need to take public transportation or a taxi to your residence. It is your responsibility to know which options are available to you and to pre-plan your route using a travel Guide or orientation materials sent to you by your host. Check with the OIE to ensure that your transportation plan sounds reasonable. Information is also available from the following web sites:

Canada - Greater Fredericton Airport

England - Heathrow (London)

Germany - Frankfurt; Munich

Italy - Fiumicino (Rome)

Japan - Narita (Tokyo); Haneda (Tokyo); Kansai (Osaka); Hakata (Fukuoka)

Mexico - Benito Juarez International (Mexico City)

Peru - Jorge Chavez International (Lima)

Scotland - Edinburgh

Spain - Barajas International (Madrid)

Luggage Delivery Service (Japan only, except USA Summer Camp)
Once you leave customs and enter the arrival lobby, look for the ABC or Kuroneko (Black Cat) service counters. You should mail all of your luggage, except relatively small items which you can easily carry, to your apartment before trying to take the subway and train.

For USA Summer Camp, a greeter carrying a sign which says “USA Summer Camp” will be waiting for you as you exit customs in Narita airport. The greeter will help you check in for your connecting flight. You will be met by staff from Guy Healy, Japan when you arrive at your final destination airport. You may spend the first night in a hotel. In this case, the following day everyone will go by bus to the camp facilities for the USA Summer Camp orientation.

Jet Lag

To avoid jet lag on flights where there is a large time difference, it is best to immediately adopt the sleeping schedule of your destination; this means either attempting to sleep or to stay awake according to the time of day (or night) it is at your destination before arriving. You should begin doing this at the front end of your trip (i.e. while riding to the airport if someone else is driving or immediately upon take-off on the first leg of your trip).

If there is a large time difference between Wisconsin and your destination and you arrive at your destination during the day, DON’T SLEEP! If you can manage to stay awake on the first day, jet lag will be less difficult for you during the days to come. You're going to be extremely tired either way, so it’s best to fight it at the very beginning of your trip so that you can enjoy the days to come!


Being Away

Develop a Family Communications Plan

Develop a reasonable family communications plan that includes contingencies for emergency situations. Use the Emergency Communication Form to record important information; leave a copy of this form, your itinerary and other important information with someone back home.

Upon Arrival (this could take more time than you had planned!)

It's not so easy to contact friends and family upon arrival! By the time you get off the plane, go through immigration & customs, travel to your accommodation, purchase an international calling card, learn how it works and locate a public phone or an internet cafe, all when you're jet lagged and dealing with a new environment, you may not be able to call or email until the next day.

Email

You may or may not have easy access to reliable email from hotels, internet cafes or universities, depending on your study abroad site. In some countries where crime and computer theft are problems, internet sites may be protected by guards. In this case, avoid sites which are open to the street or are not guarded.

Snail Mail

Sending mail to the U.S. can take two to several weeks, depending on your location. Choose DHL to ship important items and USPS for regular mail. If staying in hotels or hostels, you will not be able to receive mail and you will not have an address abroad. If staying with a host family, your address will be the same as the host family's address, but ask friends and family to use both your host's name when addressing the envelope. At USA Summer Camp, you can send mail from some camp sites but not from others. If possible, buy stamps in Japan before you get to the camp. Mail should be sent to your host family's house rather than to the camp so that it can bereturned to you if you are no longer in Japan when it arrives.

Telephone

  • It's best to use pre-paid phone cards purchased in your destination country. If you purchase these in the U.S., call the customer service number on the back of the card before departing from the U.S. to get the access number from your destination country!
  • Avoid using an international phone card tied to your phone number in the U.S. It’s very easy to rack up a $100-200 phone bill in just a few nights.
  • Do not make international phone calls from your hotel room, even with a calling card or pre-paid calling card, without asking the hotel desk clerk whether or not you'll be charged by the hotel for time spent on the telephone line! Hotels are notorious for charging for time spent on the phone, regardless of how you are paying for the actual call.
  • Never call the U.S. from your host family's phone without a calling card. This is expensive, and it will be difficult to pay the family for the calls after you return to the U.S.
  • Wisconsin in Scotland: international prepaid calling cards purchased in the U.S. do not work on the phones in Dalkeith House.

A Little Advice (from us and from you)! 12:00 - 12:30

For getting through the tough times and the culture shock ups & downs...

It isn't better. It isn't worse. It's just different.

Learn to accept -- not to expect. False expectations can lead to disappointment.

Don't be afraid to ask directions.

Don't be afraid to get lost. Getting lost can lead to wonderful discoveries!
(But stay safe.)

Be flexible -- tolerate ambiguity.

Talk to the locals as much as you can.

Remember that you are a guest who has traveled to learn about cultural differences--not an intruder who has come to make a difference.

Work hard to find the positive in everything you do and see--this will have a tremendous effect on your own attitude and, in turn, on the type of experience you have.

Take lots of pictures and keep a journal.

Don't worry about what's going on back home - just enjoy where you are!

Know about your own country before you go.

Learn to budget your money before you go.

Be practical with your packing.

Have fun and enjoy the time that you are there. You will be gone before you know it!

Return Home

Know how early you must arrive at the international airport in order to get through security in time; every airport has its own rules. If traveling on a faculty-led program, your faculty leader will let you know what time your group will meet to leave for the airport.

Airport exit fees are often, but not always, included in the cost of your airline ticket. Know whether you must pay these at the airport and in what currency so that you don't exchange all of your money back into U.S. dollars too soon. Check your guidebook or the US State Department's Country-specific Information for your destination for more information.

 

 

This page was last updated on: March 24, 2009 .

 

 

 

March 24, 2009