Going Abroad Communication | Communication |
|
|
Changing your mailing address with Ohio StateBefore leaving for your study abroad program, be sure to change your local address with Ohio State to ensure that any mail sent by the university will go to a U.S. address where a parent or responsible friend will take care of your affairs. You can change your address online through Buckeye Link at buckeyelink.osu.edu.E-mail communicationInternet access is fairly convenient around the world. Be sure to check your Ohio State e-mail on a regular basis, if possible, and keep your account cleared of unnecessary e-mail. You can access your Ohio State e-mail through web mail at webmail.osu.edu. OIA and Ohio State will communicate with you through your Ohio State e-mail account and provide you with important information, such as your registration information. Many host institutions or overseas residence halls will provide computer facilities with Internet access for study abroad students. In addition, you can access the Internet for a fee at a local cyber café.If you decide to open a web accessible e-mail account with an Internet provider, such as hotmail.com or yahoo.com, you will need to forward your Ohio State e-mail to your new e-mail address by visiting oit.osu.edu, clicking on the account management quick link and completing the online form. Be sure to inform your OIA Study Abroad coordinator of your e-mail address.
Communicating with the Office of International AffairsOIA looks forward to hearing from you while you are studying abroad. One of the first things we need is your address and phone number while abroad, which you can simply e-mail to your coordinator. We also appreciate letters or postcards, which include information on your latest adventures and accomplishments. If your program has a resident director, he or she will be in regular touch with OIA. If you have questions or concerns about the program, please ask your RD or host country contact, or contact your Study Abroad coordinator directly at: Office of International Affairs Telephoning from overseasWhen you make your first call overseas, you will need to learn a new telephone system, which will vary from country to country. Here are some options for phoning while overseas.1. Purchase a phone card for the host country phone system. While some countries may still have coin-operated telephones, most have telephones that operate with phone cards. You can buy a country-specific phone card for a certain amount of time at airports, train stations, newsstands, and some hotels. These phone cards are used as debit cards. When you insert the phone card into the telephone, you will get a dial tone and will be able to see how many units you have left to use on that particular card. Just direct dial the phone number you wish to call. The phone card will automatically deduct the cost of your call from the card. When making a local call, you may use only a few units on a phone call. Phone calls to the United States will use up a larger number of units depending on the length of the call. In the center of some cities, you might find phone stations. These stations are public phone rooms, which provide phones to use for a small fee. 2. Get a cell phone. You can rent or buy a cell phone in the host country you are visiting for the duration of your stay, or purchase a cell phone in the United States that provides international coverage. You should research cell phone options and rates on the Web. 3. Calling from a computer. There are increasingly more programs such as Skype (skype.com), which is available for download, that allow users to make calls for free to other users through the computer. It is also possible to make calls to landlines and cell phones from your account at a discounted rate. 4. Use an international calling card from a U.S. phone service company (e.g., MCI, AT&T, Sprint). This may not always be the most convenient or inexpensive option for some countries, but if you choose this option, shop around to see which U.S. phone company provides the best rates for calls from overseas destinations to the United States. The phone company you choose will send you an international calling card, billing instructions, and a list of country toll-free numbers for your particular phone service. Make sure to obtain the toll-free numbers for all of the countries you plan to visit before leaving for your trip. 5. Have family or friends call you overseas using a U.S. calling plan. Typically, phone rates for calls originating overseas are usually more expensive than the cost of overseas calls originating in the United States. Many U.S. long distance providers now have discounted or special international calling card rates for calls originating from the U.S. So, if you have access to a phone where you can receive incoming calls, it may be cheaper to have people call you directly. Blogs, Facebook, MySpace, and YouTubeWhen studying abroad it is appealing to create multiple sources of information about your travels abroad, one for family and one for friends. We encourage you to think carefully about what you post online regarding your trip. Future employers, family members and university officials could come across your more "social" identity which could have a negative impact on your future. Keep in mind that people in the U.S. are not the only ones watching these web sites. Posting revealing information about yourself could make you a target both in the U.S. and in the country you are visiting.You should always ask permission before posting videos/photos of your classmates, instructors, Resident Directors and tour guides, as well. Remember, when you are online, you are in public domain and while you may be comfortable with this, not everyone feels the same way. Please represent yourself, your classmates, your instructors, the United States and The Ohio State University respectably. |
