Education
Abroad
Orientation
Summer 2015
Presentation
Topics
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Pre-Departure Planning
Safety
Health Abroad
Laws Abroad
Register for STEP
Money Matters
Getting There
Presentation
Topics
• Communicating with loved ones
• Advise from Alumni
• Packing
Pre-Departure
Planning
The key to traveling safely is: PREPARATION!
• Research your country
• The US State Department is the best place to find
information about your host country.
• GET A GUIDEBOOK! Learn a few phrases in the
language of the country
Travel Mantra #1:
Know where your
embassy is!
Pre-Departure
Planning
Your Insurance Company: Trawick International
For Claims and questions:
http://students.trawickinternational.com/
CSUMB SCHOOL ID: 95
Toll free: 877-916-7920 • Email: claims@gbg.com
Pre-Departure
Planning
• Have copies of the following with you in a secure
location separate from the originals:
– PASSPORT: This is the MOST IMPORTANT document you will
have with you! A person without a Passport is a person without a
country!
– Insurance Card
– Flight Information
– Contact information for bank/credit card
Pre-Departure
Planning
• Leave copies of the following with your primary
emergency contact in the U.S.:
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Identification documents (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.)
Insurance Contacts
Medical Information
Flight Information
Your contact info while abroad & contact
information for bank/credit card
Important
Information
Upon Arrival & Throughout Your Stay
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Find the nearest U.S. consulate – travel.state.gov
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Visit the website for the State Department & Center for Disease Control (CDC)
frequently to check for Travel Warnings and Public Announcements:
travel.state.gov & www.cdc.gov
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Keep your study abroad/health insurance current for the entire time you are
away (i.e., if you extend your stay, be sure to extend your insurance policy until
the date you return) – Very Important
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Please check your e-mail daily or as often as possible, in case we are trying to
reach you. If your e-mail address changes, let us know immediately.
Safety
• Remember to register your travel plans with the US
Embassy. It’s fast and easy!
• The US Department of State
– provides the most accurate and current information about your
host country as well as helpful information for US citizens abroad.
• Though airports are full of security, you still need to
watch your luggage at all times.
• Prepare a personal Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
– Writing down what you will do in an emergency before an
emergency happens can save you time and help you deal more
efficiently with an emergency situation.
Safety
• Don’t travel alone at night or on long trips.
• Don’t invite strangers to your room.
• Notify someone of your travel plans.
– Tell them your expected travel dates,
arrival, and return times.
• Register all side trips with STEP
• Excessive drinking can be an invitation for disaster.
– If you are drunk, you are more likely to become a crime victim.
• Feel free to email or call us if you think we can be of
assistance, but remember that we are thousands of
miles away and may not be able to respond as quickly
as you need.
Safety
The U.S. Embassy
WILL NOT:
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Serve as a travel agent
Act as an interpreter
Get you out of jail
Arrange free medical
or legal service
Safety
Tips to keep your
laptop and private
information safe
• Limit personal data to what is needed for
travel purpose
• Encrypt and/or password protect data
• Back up all data before leaving home
• Ensure antivirus software is current and
working properly
• Ensure all software patches are applied
Safety
Tips to keep your
laptop and private
information safe
CELL PHONES CONTAIN:
Signs your phone was cloned:
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Personal data, bank and credit
card account information
Intellectual property
Calendar information
GPS – Geotagging – photos can
give away your location
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Do not post photos on Facebook
while traveling
A unique factory setting serial
number
Scam artists can reprogram
(clone) phone to charge calls and
texts to your bill
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Phone calls and texts not received
Incoming calls go straight to
voicemail
Cell phone battery suddenly drains
Do not allow strangers to use your
cell phone
Consider purchasing disposable
cell – provide phone number
Health Abroad
• Check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the
US State Department for the most up-to-date
information regarding health issues and/or
vaccination requirements in your host country.
• Meet with your physician before leaving the US.
• If you take prescription medications, make sure you
have a sufficient supply to last you for the entire
time you are abroad. It may be a good idea to have
a copy of the prescription with you
Health Abroad
• Anticipate your health requirements. If you have an
allergy to something, be sure to communicate that
with your host family/program provider.
• Practice “common sense” health habits: safe sex,
washing your hands, going to a doctor if you feel
flu-like symptoms, etc.
Laws Abroad
• You are bound by the laws of the country to which
you are traveling.
• Drug abuse will NOT be tolerated and could land
you in jail.
• Drinking, while perhaps an important part of the
local culture, is oftentimes subject to the same laws
and restrictions as in the U.S.
• Alcohol abuse in any country is a recipe for
disaster.
• If you find yourself in jail, CSUMB will not be able to
assist you.
– Even the US Embassy in your host country may have
limited authority to assist you.
STEP
Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program
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Whenever you travel outside the U.S. you should register
your information online in the U.S. State Department STEP
program.
This will allow U.S. Embassy staff to send you security
updates and information about the countries you are visiting
and to locate you in case of a natural disaster or other
emergency.
STEP
Smart Traveler
Enrollment Program
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Go to step.state.gov/step/
Create an individual account and log in
Fill out profile information
Fill out trip dates and locations
You should receive confirmation email
You will receive updates and warnings
from the nearest consulate
Money
Matters
• “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Carry a combination of
a debit card, credit card and cash/traveler’s checks. Consult
your bank for the best way to use money abroad.
• ATMs generally work just fine everywhere in the world. If
you’re not sure if ATMs are readily available in your host
country, ask your bank for advice.
• Don’t carry a large amount of cash on you at one time.
Take out only what you need for a day; you can always get
more later.
Money
Matters
• Call your bank and credit card companies to alert them that
you’ll be traveling abroad. Make sure you can increase your
withdrawal limit should you need to use your credit card for
an expensive emergency.
• Be sure you understand your currency conversion rates or
bank fees associated with overseas withdrawals and
consider changing a small amount of money before you
leave (most banks can do this).
Money
Matters
• Before you go, figure out how much money you will need
for incidentals not included in your program fee.
• Research your host country’s and city’s costs of living and
exchange rate.
• You can check daily exchange rates for your host country
online at oanda.com or xe.com.
• Determine how you’ll be spending money abroad —
consider cost of entertainment, restaurants and regional
travel.
Getting There
by Air
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CSUMB study abroad participants recommend
the following sites for discounted airfares:
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www.studentuniverse.com
www.sta.com
www.mobisimo.com
www.kayak.com
www.sidestep.com
www.vayama.com
www.flycheapo.com
www.cheapoair.com
Around the World Tickets (ATW)
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Most American students are unfamiliar with ATW tickets, but it is worth
looking into If you are planning on doing some major traveling.
Most ATW tickets will grant you a full year to travel to three or more
continents and can be quite reasonable in comparison with the price
of other tickets.
Requirements
for Entering
Your Host
Country
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Passport
Student Visa (Not needed for summer)
Round-trip Itinerary
Proof of Housing
Proof of Adequate Finances
Communicating
with Loved Ones
in the US
• Technology is a great tool to keep in touch with loved ones
back home while you’re abroad. However, be careful not to
spend so much time communicating with loved ones back
home that you are missing out on great experiences in your
host country.
• Social media is an easy way to stay connected with your loved
ones. Be careful not to spend too much time on social media,
as it limits your opportunity to connect with your host culture
and may increase homesickness.
• Web and smartphone apps such as Google Hangout, Skype
and Facetime make it easy to video chat with friends and
family in the U.S. for free.
• Other apps such as WhatsApp and Viber are also popular
choices among students.
Communicating
with Loved
Ones in the US
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Stay connected and be open-minded
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Share your stories with those at home to put
new experiences in perspective
Keep contact with home in check; find time for
new friends abroad
Respect the communication conventions of
your host culture
Seek help locally if you need it
Make a record of your thoughts and feelings to
help you reflect
Communicating
with Loved Ones
in the US
• As you go through the cultural adjustment, you
will have to find a balance between
communicating with loved ones back home and
finding your place in the host location.
• Be strong! You can make it just fine in your new
surroundings!
Advice from
Study Abroad
Alumni
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Be flexible; do not have too high of
expectations – everything won’t be perfect
Keep an open mind & be prepared to learn
Get out, make friends, & learn the language.
Do not hang out only with Americans!
Take time to adjust in the new environment
Budget for souvenirs for yourself, family, or
friends.
Control your temper.
Do not go if you’re going to complain about
how much you hate the host country.
If you choose to drink, do so reasonably: your
drunken stupor will reflect badly upon yourself,
CSUMB, and America as a whole.
Packing
Travel Mantra #2:
Pack Lightly!
When planning your travel, not only do you have to leave
your emotional baggage behind, you also need to leave
non-essential items at home, too!
Packing
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YOU and ONLY YOU are responsible for your luggage.
Don’t take more than you can carry!
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Don’t pack anything you don’t want confiscated.
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Don’t forget prescription meds! Keep all prescription
and over-the-counter medications in their original
containers.
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Know your airline’s baggage restriction policy (weight,
liquids safety, extra charges, etc.)
Packing
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Have a plan for bringing back those souvenirs.
(You really do not have to buy something for everyone!)
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Believe it or not, clothing, laundry facilities,
soap, shampoo, and other toiletry items are
readily available in just about any country. –
There might be something you can pick up
once you arrive so that you can lighten your load now.
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Although unfashionable, a broken-in pair of sneakers is
your best friend. New shoes mean blisters and a BAD
start to your trip!
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As the Scouts say: “Be Prepared!” Take a small first-aid
kit along with you.
Packing
Remember: 3-1-1
Airline guidelines for carry-on luggage:
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3.4 ounce bottles for liquids
1 quart-sized clear plastic, zip-top bag
1 bag per passenger placed in a screening bin
Safety, Health
& Emergency
Everything in one spot….
http://studentsabroad.state.gov/
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Lost or Stolen Passports
Visas
Emergencies
Health Emergency
Embassies
Stay in Touch
GOOD LUCK!
Thank you for completing this Pre-departure
Orientation.
We hope you have a safe, healthy and
thoroughly life-altering experience while away
from CSUMB.
As always, should you have any questions,
issues, concerns, want to vent, or simply want
to brag about being outside the U.S.,
don’t hesitate to contact us!
RESOURCES
Government Websites
• Department of State travel information for students:
studentsabroad.state.gov
• Department of State travel registration:
step.state.gov/step
• Passport services and information:
travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html
• Foreign embassies in the U.S.:
state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco
• Foreign entry requirements:
travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html
• Department of State travel warnings:
travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html
• Overseas Security Advisory Council: osac.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov
RESOURCES
Culture and Travel Websites
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What’s up with culture?: pacific.edu/sis/culture
Lonely Planet: lonelyplanet.com
Exchange rate information: oanda.com & xe.com
Electrical outlets abroad: electricaloutlet.org
Student Universe: studentuniverse.org
STA Travel: statravel.com
Worldwide hostel listings: hostels.com
Hostelling International: hihostels.com
Thank you!