Phone calls

Phone calls can be expensive, so plan ahead. Generally, it is considerably cheaper for you to call your son/daughter, rather than your son/daughter to call you. Two suggestions are:

• Calling Cards for international calls: It is advisable for you to obtain a calling card from one of the U.S.-based telephone companies (such as AT&T, MCI, SPRINT). In order to dial out, you will be required to have the country code, the city code, and the actual number you wish to reach.
• Many U.S. carriers will offer special packages for overseas phone calls. To get the best rates, call your telephone company to set up a long distance deal to a specific country instead of a general international plan that covers the whole world.

Mail and e-mail to family and friends while abroad:

Airmail generally takes seven to ten days to reach most first-world destinations.

In many cases, your son/daughter will have access to computer labs at their host institution. However, you should not expect that they will have unlimited, 24-hour-a-day access to all computing facilities. Email is a great way to stay in touch. One recommendation is to have your son/daughter send short journal entries to family and friends via group email. It is important to strike a balance between the time your son/daughter spends communicating with friends and family at home and the time spent in the host country.

Families play an important role in helping a student study abroad and your support of their endeavors is indispensable and appreciated.