If you are planning to study Abroad in the near future, you are probably worrying how you will stay in contact with the people close to you. Studying abroad is a great way to meet new people, but it that doesn't mean it is easy to leave the old ones behind. If you want to keep in touch during your time spent far away from home, read on for some helpful tips.
Cover all the internet basics: instant messaging, social networking, and email. Make sure you have easy to access accounts for each of these basic forms of internet communication. Also make sure everyone back home has all of your contact information! On a day to day basis, these three things will be simple and quick to use. You probably already use them at home, and once you are studying abroad, that does not need to change.
Make sure you have a way to video chat. Even if you do not have the internet or computer capabilities to make video chat your default option for easy communication, you should still make sure you will be able to use it occasionally. Being able to see the facial expressions and motions can make you feel closer to your friends and family members than any other way to chat via the internet. Don't let yourself miss out on the chance to see the faces you most care about, even when separated by hundreds or thousands of miles.
Do research on various phone plans and providers. Many students who spend time overseas are disappointed by their inability to simply give people back home a quick phone call. You will most likely need to leave your current cell phone plan behind while you travel, because long distance rates will be extremely expensive. However, that does not mean you can not have a cell phone at all! If you take the time to find out what your various cell phone options will be while you study abroad, you will probably discover that making calls to home on a traditional cell phone can be expensive, but still affordable. In other words, you will not find a cheap "international" plan, but you will not have to bankrupt yourself to get a plan, either.
Take advantage of all the internet has to offer, but do not assume that it is always the best option. Social networking sites facebook, twitter email and even video chat can help you stay close to your loved ones while you study abroad. Although these options are great for day to day interaction and communication, but you should still look for other creative ways to stay connected. Snail mail, although a bit slow and a bit expensive too, is a perfect way to add a personal, heartfelt touch to your messages. Even though an email can be sent instantaneously, it is still more impersonal that a sweet "thinking of you" letter written by hand on a real piece of paper, or a gift package with containing presents, souvenirs or mementos.
Cover all the internet basics: instant messaging, social networking, and email. Make sure you have easy to access accounts for each of these basic forms of internet communication. Also make sure everyone back home has all of your contact information! On a day to day basis, these three things will be simple and quick to use. You probably already use them at home, and once you are studying abroad, that does not need to change.
Make sure you have a way to video chat. Even if you do not have the internet or computer capabilities to make video chat your default option for easy communication, you should still make sure you will be able to use it occasionally. Being able to see the facial expressions and motions can make you feel closer to your friends and family members than any other way to chat via the internet. Don't let yourself miss out on the chance to see the faces you most care about, even when separated by hundreds or thousands of miles.
Do research on various phone plans and providers. Many students who spend time overseas are disappointed by their inability to simply give people back home a quick phone call. You will most likely need to leave your current cell phone plan behind while you travel, because long distance rates will be extremely expensive. However, that does not mean you can not have a cell phone at all! If you take the time to find out what your various cell phone options will be while you study abroad, you will probably discover that making calls to home on a traditional cell phone can be expensive, but still affordable. In other words, you will not find a cheap "international" plan, but you will not have to bankrupt yourself to get a plan, either.
Take advantage of all the internet has to offer, but do not assume that it is always the best option. Social networking sites facebook, twitter email and even video chat can help you stay close to your loved ones while you study abroad. Although these options are great for day to day interaction and communication, but you should still look for other creative ways to stay connected. Snail mail, although a bit slow and a bit expensive too, is a perfect way to add a personal, heartfelt touch to your messages. Even though an email can be sent instantaneously, it is still more impersonal that a sweet "thinking of you" letter written by hand on a real piece of paper, or a gift package with containing presents, souvenirs or mementos.
