Things to remember

Money, Money, Money!

You may wish to purchase a small amount of foreign currency prior to departure to ensure that you have some funds for use upon arrival in your host country.

A credit or debit card may be the most convenient way to pay for items while abroad. Most countries accept these cards, and they often provide the best rate of exchange. 

It is a good idea to have more than one way to access funds:some cash, credit card, traveler’s checks.

Contact your bank or credit card company to be sure that your card is valid outside of the U.S. and to inform them of the countries you will be visiting. 

Keeping in Touch While Off-Campus

Lake Forest programs—as well as many others—require students to have cell phones that work in the host country. Always carry this phone with you and keep it on except during class.

Remember time differences when calling friends and family at home. A pre-arranged time for calling will ensure contact.

Email and services such as Skype make staying in touch easy. Even if you do not take your computer with you, cybercafés can be found in just about any city. Prices for these services will vary according to location.

If you are not studying abroad but are in the United States, you will still want to keep in touch with family and friends via phone or email. But be sure to consider your domestic program as an opportunity to make new friends and to enjoy new experiences even if they are not abroad.

Mail

unless you inform the mailroom otherwise, all first-class mail will be forwarded to your home address in the U.S. for American students or abroad for international students.

Internal Revenue Service

If you will be gone in the spring and need to file a tax return, you must either file early or request an extension form.  These may be available online.

Voting

If you are eligible to vote and will miss an election, you can request an absentee ballot (from where you are registered to vote) and carry out your civic duty. If necessary, your ballot may be notarized at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  Visit http://www.fvap.gov for more information.

Other

You may want to make advance arrangements for these items, especially if you will be gone during your senior year:

    submissions to College publications (Collage, Tusitala)

    resume and internship assistance (Career Advancement Center)

   applications for graduate/professional school

TRAVEL TIPS

Know the Unsuspected Risks of Travel

After illness, road accidents are the second leading cause of death for Americans abroad. Consular information sheets contain reports on road safety in countries of the world.  Other resources may be accessible at the following internet addresses:

Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) - www.asirt.org Kroll Associates—http://www.krollworldwide.com/

Airports

Allow plenty of time to make your flight since increased security measures may significantly increase check-in time. Respond to all questions asked by security personnel seriously and honestly. Don’t joke about terrorism or hijacking, or you may find that you are the object of unwanted attention.

Be aware of items you may not carry on board. Make sure that medications are properly labeled. Put your name and address on the outside of each piece of luggage. Bright or fluorescent string or tape around your luggage will make it easier to identify. NEVER carry packages or letters for strangers and NEVER leave your bags unattended.

For further luggage rules,visit:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Traveling by Train and Train Stations

Most European countries offer railway passes for unlimited travel within their borders. It is a good idea to purchase these passes if you plan on doing a lot of traveling in your host country. Do some research so that you find the best pass for your travel needs.

For short day trips, many stations provide lockers to store your bags, but for longer periods you may want to use the luggage room (consign). 

Remember that foreign transportation systems often run on a 24-hour clock, so be sure to confirm times of departure.

Most importantly, when sleeping on trains, make sure your U.S. passport, nonrefundable rail pass, money and other valuables are on you at all times (belt or necklace wallets worn under the clothes are convenient for these items).

Tips to keep you and your possessions safe

If you are abroad, simply being a foreigner will make you more susceptible to theft. Keep these things in mind:

  • An American passport is a valuable document and may be worth a lot of money to thieves. Carry it and all documents in direct contact with your body or store them in a very safe place—not a suitcase.
  • Before leaving, remove from your wallet all credit cards that you will not be using.
  • Do not carry anything of value in back pockets, a backpack, a fanny pack, or anything that could be snatched from behind.
  • Always tell someone where you will be and when you will return.
  • Always carry some change for a phone call or cab fare.

Handy items to pack

Compass: Handy for hiking, driving, and coming up from a subway station! 

Converter and adapters for electronic devices. 

Camera, film/digital storage and extra batteries or digital card.

Lightweight, packable rain poncho. It can double as a sit-upon.
Travel Guidebook with map: Useful for pointing out interesting sights and events that you might not know about.

First Aid Kit: Health supplies can be hard to find in foreign countries, and even pharmacies in big cities won’t have the brands and medicines you are accustomed to. Be prepared with Band- Aids, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, and an ace bandage. If you are susceptible to colds or headaches that aspirin won’t cure, be sure to bring along enough of your usual medicine, even if it isn’t prescription. You may not be able to find it abroad.