Whether it’s traveling to another country to study, or pursuing a course that involves research across the globe, studying abroad has a way of bringing new experiences, cultures, and opportunities. Of course, it is not at all easy to keep in touch with family and friends, or even classmates when away in a foreign country.
Sometimes, with networks in a foreign country, ensuring the best possible mobile plan, while keeping the cost of communication reasonable, can be very difficult. Here are a few easy ways to stay linked while studying abroad.
Select Suitable Mobile Plan
When one moves to a new country, utilizing the home country’s phone plan may become expensive due to roaming charges. One of the key things to do as soon as possible is to find a mobile plan that suits an individual’s needs and budget. One shall do this as follows:\
Research Local Providers
Each country has more than one mobile service provider. They all have various plans at a wide range of prices. Make sure to get one with good coverage in your area and doesn’t charge too much for calls or data usage.
Europe has the most international students because of the good quality education that the continent has been known for. With this, students are far away from their home country and families making them miss their family more. However, with the help of eSim, they can easily connect with their loved ones at home.
The innovation in technology allows for the production of esim europe, this makes it easier for students to use it for searching, connecting, and communicating with their families back at home.
Prepaid vs. Monthly Plans
Prepaid is preferable for some students since you pay for a certain number of minutes or data to avoid overspending. If you will be having a lot of calls or much internet browsing, the monthly plans may be better. Be sure to ask if they have a contract and what’s their deal with you leaving the plan early.
Student Discounts
Sometimes, the company offers discounts for students. Look into student plans from the local mobile providers that come with extra data and minutes to spend at a lower rate.
Leverage free Wi-Fi
And Wi-Fi can be a lifeline if you want to keep down the costs of data use. Most universities, cafes, and libraries abroad offer free Wi-Fi so it is possible to stay in touch with family and friends without racking up your mobile data, and here’s how.
- Download Offline Content: Download any content you might need for classes, such as lecture notes, study materials, or videos, so you can access them at a later time via a Wi-Fi connection.
- Use Apps for Communication: Make voice or video calls. This is convenient for international calls that can be costly over the mobile network.
- Download Maps for Offline Access: Some apps enable users to download maps for offline access. This, in turn, will save you a lot of money in mobile data should you opt to explore some new region.
Get a Local SIM Card
A local SIM card will make a huge difference in terms of price and connectivity. A local SIM will enable you to be on a local network at local rates, which will be way cheaper than what you are using your original SIM card for, considering your roaming charges. Here’s how you do it:
Unlock your Cell Phone
Before exiting the home country, check to see whether your cell phone is unlocked. This enables one to utilize the SIM card from any provider other than the native country provider.
Buy a SIM Card When You Arrive
Most airports, convenience stores, and even many other outlet stores sell prepaid SIM cards specifically for tourists and visitors. You can determine which card is available with enough data, call, and text that you will need and has excellent coverage in the area where you are staying.
Safekeeping of Home SIM
If using a local SIM, save your original one in a safe place. You will need it upon your return to your country or perhaps if you want to use it for a short time before switching back.
Use Cloud Storage for Easy File Sharing
You will also frequently need to share whether it’s a report, picture, or presentation studying with friends or family abroad. Some applications make it relatively painless to store and share files without using any space on your device.
- Keep Important Documents: Keep backup copies of essential documents such as the passport, visa, and health information in a cloud. Then you’ll have access to these important documents from any device.
- Share with Classmates: Sharing group project files could get much easier if everything is kept in one cloud so all participants could check in and out of the files and edit anything that needs it.
- Backup Your Photos: Cloud storage can even back up your travel photographs, so they remain safe even if something happens to your phone.
Set Up International Payment Options
International students may often have to bear the expenses of foreign currency while abroad. With mobile payment apps now, the procurement of international transactions has become less complicated. Here’s how you can ensure an easy payment method:
Find International Options
Mobile payment apps are some of the most sought-after for sending as well as getting money across countries.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
In some cases, apps or credit cards collect fees for processing foreign transactions. Instead, choose such options since they charge low fees and no regularly incurred charges.
Protect Your Data and Private Life
Public Wi-Fi is convenient but not very secure. Data protection is a habit that will save your private life. Here are just some easy ways you can be safe:
- Use VPN: For that added security when you’re on public Wi-Fi, just use a VPN. With a VPN, your data will be encrypted, and it is possible to find free options, but be sure that they come from a good provider.
- Avoid Transactions on Public Wi-Fi: Try to avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi, unless you are connected via a VPN to access them.
- Two-Factor Authentication: You can amp up security with two-factor authentication for some of your important accounts, like email or bank apps. These applications request an alternative secondary form of verification text message code-to log in to the application.
Pack a Portable Charger
When you are wandering about in a foreign country or campus, you don’t always have an outlet to charge your phone. You can literally be saved with a portable charger that will allow you to keep your phone powered up.
Choose a Lightweight Model
There are so many lightweight portable chargers that won’t add much weight to your bag.
Charge It Before You Go
Charge your portable charger before you leave so that you have reliable power in the places you need it.
Watch Your Battery Usage
Beyond optimizing your phone’s battery, turn down the brightness of your screen and close applications you are not using.
Download Local Pragmatic Apps
For each country, many applications prove useful for various reasons; to get around, to communicate through the right words to say, or to know what to eat. Here are a few examples:
- Translation Apps: There are apps that might help you decipher signs, menus, and other write-ups in a foreign language.
- Transport App: Depending on the city that you go to, public transport apps that help navigate trains, buses, and also taxis abound. Some provide real-time schedules and updates.
Set Your Communication Boundaries
Just because you’re staying in touch doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your boundaries, too. Make sure you’re making the most of your time abroad. Here are some tips for doing just that:
Set a Routine for Catching Up
Schedule a regular time each week to catch up with your family or friends back home via video call. This can keep you connected without your constant attachment to your phone.
Live in the Moment
Focus on what’s new here, what you’re experiencing, and whom you’re getting to know. Too much screen time keeps you relating to folks back home, a bit at the expense of native culture.
Limit Social Media
This is so easy to end up spending hours on social media, but balancing your time can really make your experience there richer and more fulfilling.
Conclusion
Staying in touch while studying abroad does not have to be difficult or expensive. Now go ahead and make the most of your study abroad experience, knowing you have a reliable means to stay linked to everyone who matters.
FAQs
- How do I stay in touch with family while abroad?
Use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype for free calling and messaging on Wi-Fi.
- What is the best way to avoid high phone bills while abroad?
Obtain a local SIM card or utilize Wi-Fi for communication and data to keep prices low.
- Do I use public Wi-Fi on travel?
Good for travel, however always make sure that you are using your VPN whenever you are on public Wi-Fi.
