Communicating with Family and Friends While Studying Abroad

Staying in touch can be tough while studying abroad. Here are 7 ideas to consider.

1. Stock up on pre-paid international phone cards.

International pre-paid phone cards are a cost-effective way to call home without depleting your bank account. When you purchase them, be sure that you are aware of the rate you will use it up when calling back to the United States from the country in which you will be studying. Also, be aware that you might want to wait to purchase international phone cards until you in at your destination. This is especially true in Mexico.

2. Realize that some countries (Mexico is one example) have a nationalized phone service; international calling cards you purchase in the United States may not work.

If you are studying abroad in a country that has a nationalized phone service, such as Mexico, you will want to wait to purchase international calling cards until you arrive at your destination. Quite simply, the international phone cards purchased in the Unites States will not work.

3. Makes good use of e-mail.

E-mail is a great way to keep in touch due to the fact that you don't have to worry about the time. You friends and family can read your e-mail at their convenience. You can also provide quick updates to everyone all at once. Also, the prevalence of Internet cafes in many countries means that it isn't difficult to access the Internet, in most cases.

4. Consider creating a blog in order to provide your friends and family with updates of your adventures.

Creating a blog to chronicle your adventures is a relatively new idea, but one that is gaining in popularity. While you will still want to contact your friends and family individually, creating a blog will allow you to concentrate on what is going on back home when you do call.

5. Consider purchasing a pre-paid cell phone in order to keep in touch with local friends and other program participants, especially if you are studying abroad in Europe.

Pre-paid cell phones have gained wild popularity all over the world, but especially in Europe. They are a wonderful way to keep in touch with other participants and local friends. When you decide to travel on the weekends, they allow you to easily make plans and coordinate itineraries with everyone. However, don't think that you can use it to call back to the United States. You will still need an international phone card.

6. Ensure that you have a way to contact your parents if you encounter flight delays on your way home.

Chances that you might encounter severe delays on your return home are better than you think. Make sure that you still have some US currency, your regular cell phone, and/or a US calling card in order to contact your parents in that event. You don't want to know the consequences of not being able to reach anyone once you arrive home.

7. Take this opportunity to revive the lost art of letter writing.

While it might not substitute for calling, e-mailing, and the like, writing letters home and making it known that you would love to receive letters is a great way to keep in touch, especially with older relatives who might not access e-mail much, if at all. Letters sent to you by your grandma while you were studying abroad will become treasure heirlooms.

Perhaps the best way to keep in touch during such a trying time is to use a combination of methods. However, study abroad provides a unique opportunity to revive the lost art of letter writing. In them, you can chronicle all of your adventures and preserve them for prosperity. It can also help you preserve the memory of all of those who wrote to you as well.