Banking
Many credit cards, debit cards and bank cards can be used for cash withdrawls at ATM machines and usually with good exchange rates. American Express also offers many services to travelers including quick and easy replacement of traveler's checks and the cashing of personal checks, if you are a cardholder. By having an ATM card with you, you can withdraw funds as well as make arrangements to have persons in the state supplement your funds.

It would be very wise to carry at least one credit card with you in case of an emergency. You may even carry two, i.e. American Express and Visa, but put them in two different places. In this way if you are robbed at any time, you will have a "Plan B."

Some large banks and American Express offices provide foreign currency traveler's checks. This service can alleviate high conversion fees, waiting in lines and are protected against loss and theft. Once you have opened a bank account overseas, it is possible to deposit the traveler's checks directly into your account, avoiding the cost of wiring money and the wait time usually attached to U.S. bank cashier's checks.

Wiring Money
You could receive money from home within hours, but most banks worldwide will charge you to receive the money. In addition, most banks charge to send money. Charges at either end can be very high. For information about wiring money through Western Union, call
(800) CALL-CASH

Your first urge will probably be to pack everything you own, aside from the kitchen sink. After all, you are going away to college for an entire semester, and you always bring everything you own to school. This seems logical, unless you are going to college overseas and you have to carry, all by yourself, everything you bring. Not to mention, most airlines prohibit you from checking in more than two bags and airlines have very strict weight limitations (check with your specific carrier).

One piece of advice - Pack everything you THINK you will NEED one week before you leave. Then, the day before take off, unpack exactly half of it and leave it at home.

The moral of the story is to PACK LIGHT. U.S. students tend to want to wear something different every day of the week. You will find that in most every other country, this is not the case. Usually no one cares if you wear the same thing two or three days in a row. A good supply of socks and underwear are the main things you will need. It is not necessary to buy tons of new things that you think you will need for your trip. Purchase them there and TRAVEL LIGHT. You will probably want to buy some new clothes in the local fashion when you arrive anyway. Bulky things can usually be mailed ahead of time. Comfortable, water-resistant shoes are a must. You will most likely be doing a lot of walking - wherever you go.

Be aware of how people treat you according to your dress, and then dress according to how you want to be treated. For example, dressing to advertise that you are from the U.S. may make you less approachable by the natives and more of a target for thieves. If you want to assimilate into the culture, and speak the language as much as possible, be aware of the cultural nuances of clothing, dress, and style.

Your new host country friends will probably enjoy seeing where you live - bring a postcard from home, or a picture of your house. A small map of the United States will help you explain where Pittsburgh or your home is located. A few of your favorite pictures of your girlfriend, boyfriend, family, dog, and/or friends, could also help you with those moments of homesickness. Keep a travel journal or diary even if it is the first time you have ever done this. Students report that they have forgotten events, people, places that they were certain they would not just a semester later.

• The Internet. Right at your fingertips is perhaps the most up-to-date source of information for your country. Check out www.state.gov/www/background_notes/ for current information on the people, history, government, and economy of a country.
  
• The library - Check out the Suggested Reading List in Appendix C. Read old articles from major newspapers and magazines, such as The New York Times and Newsweek to catch up on the current events of your host country and the U.S.
  
• Professors in the History/ Anthropology/ Literature/ Business/ Art/ Architecture/ etc. departments. Many professors have lived abroad and/or can advise on books to read.
  
• The Study Abroad Office has some evaluations of former participants. Contact someone who has studied in the country and even on the same program to which you are headed.
  
• The Office of International Services (OIS) and also the Study Abroad Office assist many students from other countries who study at Pitt. Both offices may be able to put you in touch with these students.
  

Some helpful websites for country-specific information
www.escapeartist.com/
www.fodors.com/
www.lonelyplanet.com/
www.ricksteves.com/

Recommended Reading List:

Travel Guidebooks:

• Bayse, Jennifer; The Air Courier's Handbook – Travel the World on a Shoestring; Big City Books,; 7047 Hidden Lane; Loomis, CA 95650 (not available in stores)
• The Courier Air Travel Handbook (no other information available.)
• Monaghan, Kelly; The Insiders Guide to Air Courier Bargains; (most highly recommended, no other information)
• The Lets Go... series has books for practically every area in the world, the passages are written by student travelers. Harvard Student Agencies, INC. (Available at Pitt's Book Center).
  The Rough Guide series. Travel books for every budget. Available at Pitt's Book Center and online at www.travel.roughguides.com
• Lonely Planet Travel Guides www.lonelyplanet.com

Cross-Cultural Issues:

• The Art of Crossing Cultures. Stori, Craig. International Press Inc.,1990.
• The Survival Kit for Overseas Living. Kohls, Robert. Intercultural Press, 1979.
• Do's And Don'ts Taboos Around the World. Axtell, Roger. Benjamin Books, NY, 1990.
• All You Need to Know About Living Abroad. Pierce, Elanor. Doubleday, NY, latest edition.
• Their Heads are Green and Their Hands are Blue. Bowles, Paul.
  

For Women:

• International Places of Interests to Women. Ferrari, Marianne, ed. Ferrari Publications, 1991
• In Another Dimension: A Guide for Women who Live Overseas. Piet-Pelon, Nancy and Barbara Hornby. Yarmouth, ME, International Press Inc., 1985
• Our Sisters' London: Feminist Walking Tours. Chicago, Chicago Review Press, 1990
  
• Gutsy Women: Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road by Marybeth Bond. Travelers' Tales Inc. 1996 Go Girl! The
• Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure by Elaine Lee, editor. (Information, Advice and Encouragement and 52 Tales of Travel by writers Audre Lord, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, and others) Eighth Mountain Press, 1996.
• Active Woman Vacation Guide: True Stories by Women Travelers Plus 1001 Exciting Adventure Tips by Evelyn Kaye, Blue Panda Publications, 1997.
• A Journey of One's Own: Uncommon Advice for the Independent Women Traveler by Thalia Zepatos. Eighth Mountain Press, 1996.
• More Women Travel: Adventures and Advice from More Than 60 Countries Natania Jansz and Miranda Davies, editors. A Rough Guide Publication, distributed by the Penguin Group, 1995.
• A Foxy Old Woman's Guide to Traveling Alone by Jay Ben-Lesser, Crossing Press, 1995.
• Handbook for Women Travelers by Maggie and Gemma Moss, Piatkus Books, 1995.
• Without a Guide by Katherine Grovier, Hungry Mind Pub, 1996.
• Solo: On Her Own Adventure Susan Fox Rogers, editor. Seal Pr Feminist Pub, 1996.
• Season of Adventure Jean Gould, editor. Seal Pr Feminist Pub, 1997.
• Traveling Solo by Eleanor Berman, Globe Pequot Press, 1997.
• Safety and Security for Women Who Travel by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer, O'Reilly & Assoc, 1998.
  
  

For LGBTQ Students:

• Likosky, Stephan, ed. Coming Out: An Anthology of International Gay and Lesbian Writings. NY: Pantheon Books, 1992
• Miller, Neil. Out in the World: Gay and Lesbian Life from Buenos Aries to Bangkok. Ithaca, NY: Vintage Books, 1992.
• Hendriks, Art. The Third Pink Book: A Global View of Lesbian and Gay Liberation and Oppression. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1993.
• Herdt, Gilbert. Same Sex, Different Cultures: Gay and Lesbians Across Cultures. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1997.
• Van Gelder, Lindsay and Pamela R. Brandt. Are You Two Together? A Lesbian Travel Guide to Europe, NY: Random House, 1991.
  

Telephone
Calling home from other countries can be very expensive; often more expensive than calling from the U.S. to these countries. Several companies such as AT&T, MCI, and Sprint offer calling cards which can make calling home easier and less expensive. Consult your telephone directory or the World Wide Web for information about these cards. In addition there are often prepaid calling cards available in foreign countries. The rates vary widely, but some students have found that this method is more cost effective.

In some countries, you may be able to find a reasonably-priced short-term cell phone plan. Additionally, students may be able to estalish student cell phone plans through their program providers. These usually carry additional fees, but can be less expensive than trying to activate your American mobile phone for use overseas.

Parents/guardians are anxious to know that you have arrived safely in your host country. A phone call upon arrival is typically much appreciated and money well spent.


Computer
Students may also wish to communicate with messenging services, email, and online telephone services such as Skype: www.skype.com. These services can be very inexpensive (sometimes free) but do require the internet and a relatively fast server speed for best quality.

One caution about personal computing while overseas: this quick and inexpensive way to keep in touch with everyone at home can be very tempting. And while it's important to keep in touch with your friends and family, be careful not to spend all of your time in front of a computer! Get out and experience the country that you are in and spend time with your new friends. After all, isn't that why you're there.

Absentee Voting
Before you may vote from abroad, you must be registered to vote at home. Check with your local city or town hall to obtain information on procedures for voting by absentee ballot. Remember to make note of your party, ward, district and voter registration number. If necessary, your absentee ballot can be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Or:

The Overseas Vote Foundation also provides all of the information you will need to register to vote, to obtain an absentee ballot, and complete and submit that ballot. Please visit their website for details: www.overseasvotefoundation.org/

Income Tax Information
Attention: Year Abroad and Spring Semester Program Participants - If you have earnings which require you to file federal and state income tax returns, you must remember that you will be out of the country between January 1 and April 15. Persons temporarily living abroad may normally request an extension on the deadline for filing federal income tax. The extension is usually until June 15. The best advice is to contact the American Consulate or Embassy in your host country for information on your tax obligations; they may have 1040 forms and may even be willing to help you with questions. You can file from abroad if you make arrangements with your parents to send you necessary state and federal forms and other documentation. The Study Abroad Office cannot provide this service.

Power of Attorney
If your signature will be needed for any official or legal documents, such as financial aid papers, you should make arrangements for a power of attorney to be held by an appropriate person to act in your behalf. You can do this by writing out in detail the specific duties that the person you choose will execute. Take this to a notary and have it notarized.

Property Insurance
Student travelers should consider having insurance to cover any loss of money because of trip interruption or cancellation as well as loss of baggage and personal effects either while traveling or living abroad.

Property loss/theft insurance - Note that many homeowner's insurance policies contain a clause about this coverage extending worldwide. Normally a copy of a police report filed at the time of loss or theft will be required by the insurer before any claim will be considered.

Next: Staying Healthy and Safe While Abroad