Guest Writer

Are you a former study abroad student or avid traveler wanting to share your experiences with the world? A Study Abroad Adventure is now looking for guest writers to provide visitors with additional information and travel advice! If that's you and this opportunity sounds like fun, comment below with your story. Just remember, keep it clean as inappropriate submissions will not be accepted. :)

Have Fun & Travel Safe,
Some Study Abroad Girl

Photographs

Just a word of advice, if you enjoy taking pictures, it is well worth your money to buy a larger SD or memory card for your camera before you leave. There were quite a few times while abroad that I wished I had more space. I finally caved toward the end of my stay and purchased a 16G. It was probably double what I would have paid in the United States and the cause of this was not just due to money conversion rates. I should also probably note, that unless your a local or really familiar with an area... these were a little difficult to find in some regions.

Smart Buy: The North Face Redpoint Quilted Jacket

The best decision I made before leaving for Europe was buying the North Face Redpoint Quilted jacket. It is perfect for both warm and cold whether and it is extremely versatile. During the super cold months, I paired it with my cozy North Face Osito Fleece zip-up. (Seriously, my jacket felt so warm and soft on the inside and was perfect for chilly nights!)

The North Face Redpoint Quilted jacket also has the zip-in feature. Meaning, if you own a larger North Face jacket with the same feature, this one will zip inside it. In addition, the coat is also water and wind resistant. (Note: It is not water-proof, but highly suitable for most of Europe). It also has a hidden pocket in the front, by the main zipper. I found this extremely useful as I was able to stash my passport, cash, etc inside without it being obvious. (Plus, it's proximity to my chest made it a little more pick-pocket safe as I'm pretty sure I would notice if someone tried to get in there.)

While there is no "perfect jacket" for everyone, this is the one I used and was extremely happy with. I almost didn't purchase it before leaving. Although, in hindsight, I don't know what I would have done without it. The jacket's features (especially the extra pocket) made my life so much easier when trying to pack light.

Both of these jackets can be found at www.nordstrom.com.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

A Note About Banking Abroad

Be sure to check in with your bank before leaving the country! Otherwise, your credit/debit/check cards may be taken away or become inactive while your abroad. Without an international phone plan, this problem may become very difficult to address. To avoid this, I recommend calling your bank and credit card companies to provide them with dates you will be gone.

Next, I would create a list for both you and your families. It should include the account numbers for the cards you are bringing abroad alongside a company number that you can call (world-wide) in the event of a problem. This will also make it easier for you or your family to cancel your card if it has been stolen.

October 16, 2009 Update:

Find the bank with the cheapest international withdraw rate before you go. Even if you only hope to use credit cards abroad, you will still need to withdraw money from an ATM at some point. My bank charges 4% on everything I withdraw, which I feel is pretty high. Had I thought about this before I left, I would have set up an account with another bank for when I was temporarily out of the country.

Moral of the story: Don't be like me. Do your homework before you leave and you will save yourself some cash!

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Don't buy DVD's Abroad

If you're from the Western Hemisphere, don't buy DVD's in Europe. They are not formatted to work with our DVD players. (So, they don't work!) I'm not sure why, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with piracy prevention. If anyone knows the technical reason for this, I'm sure some of us are interested. So, feel free to comment below!

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

The European Train System

So, I have a lot of opinions and information about the train system in Europe from an American’s perspective. So, bear with me because the thought process and structure of this paragraph may not be what you’ve hoped for. There is a lot you need to keep in mind here:

I am not a big fan of the train system for long trips here. It simply takes too long and is very confusing- especially for your first time. Unless you are visiting some place remote, or a city not traveled to by RyanAir or EasyJet, I would avoid them. That being said, I think they are the greatest thing for short trips! You can virtually get anywhere without using a car here and short trips also do not call for a lot of changes/layovers in general.

If you are having an extended stay in one country:

If you are staying for a long time in one country, you need to check out the different passes offered by that country. In Belgium, they offer something called the “go pass” which allows you to take 10 train rides anywhere in the country for only 50 Euros, high speed trains excluded. Other countries offer similar deals.

Keep in mind that if you purchase a pass, it usually only covers certain types of trains. If you want to go to any particular destinations, you will need to do your homework in detail before purchasing a pass. Otherwise, your trip from Amsterdam to London might not count because the trip is only offered by a high speed train, etc. If you are lucky, some passes will only make you pay a supplementary amount of such trips. Again, check this before you buy.

Reading your train ticket

Your train tickets will be printed in whatever language they speak at the time of your purchase. (For example: German, Dutch, etc.) If you only speak English, you will need to ask for help, especially if you have layovers. Some trains assign seats which are written on your ticket in another language, while some trains split. By split, what I mean is the train will literally split in half on the way to your destination. You may have gotten on the right train, but if you are in the wrong car, you are going to the wrong place. I have been here a month and I still can’t figure out how you know if the train splits. I have resorted to asking every time.

Your ticket may also request that you sit in a certain seat. How do you know if you have a reserved seat? It will say on your ticket. (I will go over that later in another post.) The seat numbers are generally listed on the sides of the car above your seat, similar to how they are listed on most airlines.

When purchasing your tickets online, the company will frequently ask you if you would like to pay an additional amount for a reserved seat. Here’s how I see this, if it is a short trip, do not pay the extra amount. The chances that every seat is reserved are very slim. However, if you are on a long trip (of a couple hours or more) on a particular train, I would say yes. In the off-chance that every seat has been sold, it would suck to stand or sit on the nasty floor. It’s up to you, but I would pay the extra buck.

Later on, when I get the chance, I will post an additional blog explaining how to read the train station’s tickets. Usually, they are written in another language. Thus, for us English only speaking people, there tend to be problems. Do not fear, I will highlight boxes for you and tell you what certain things mean so that you have an idea what you are looking at whenever you purchase one.

How do I know when to get off the train?

Some trains will tell you what the next stop is using a digital display above the car’s entrance. Older trains may not have this. Sometimes it’s written down, but generally you can’t read it anyways because it’s in another language. So really, you need to know which stops come before yours. I just ask. It sucks asking and being so dependent on others and it’s hard only speaking English sometimes, but I have never gotten on the wrong train (knock on wood).

When purchasing tickets.

If you would like to travel to other countries by train check out these sites and view the passes that they offer:

Great Britain:

http://www.britrail.com/?countrykey=DE&language=DE&gclid=CJSGscjgo50CFQM9ZgodNHAk1w

Belgium:

http://www.b-rail.be/

Germany:

http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

Other railway networks that go all over include:

http://www.thalys.com/

http://www.eurostar.com/

*Both of these are high speed trains.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Should You Buy a Eurorail Pass Before You Go?

What will save me the most money, buying a Eurorail (www.Eurorail.com) pass before I leave, or paying as I go once in Europe? I asked myself this question so many times before I left and the answer’s people gave me varied so much that I didn’t know what to do. My official answer is that it depends on what you are doing… so scroll down until you see a subcategory that fits you. Also, I highly recommend that you read my related posts pertaining to the European train systems and the European airlines.

I am an individual traveling for about 1-3 weeks across one country

I am traveling solo:

I would definitely purchase a rail pass because it will save you so much money!!! Check with the country your visiting to see what the best options are for you. In Belgium it is SNCB and they offer something called a “go pass”. In particular, this pass gives you 10 trips anywhere in the country for only 50 Euros. Thus, you could go five different places for 50 Euros, roundtrip.

I am traveling with 2 or more individuals:

Personally, I would still purchase a pass. This will at least allow you to get to and from the airport more cheaply. I know it cost me 18 Euros without a pass to get from Brussels to Hasselt, one way. By the time I would have paid to go back without a pass, it would have totaled 36 Euros. Why not pay the extra 14 Euros and go four other places. However, I think you should talk with your group first to see what their plans are. They may plan on traveling outside the country, which would majorly affect your decision on whether or not to purchase a particular pass.

I am an individual traveling for about 1-3 weeks across Europe

I am traveling solo:

Determine where you want to go. If it is in major cities, then I would go by plane. Check to see if Ryanair.com or Easyjet.com offers flights to your desired destinations. If not, then train is probably the best way to go. I would avoid the train if possible (if you are able to plan ahead). The train system here is much more confusing than the airline system and it can be much more costly. In contrast, flights when booked ahead can be much cheaper. For example, I am flying from Barcelona to Rome for only 5 Euros using Ryanair. Unfortunately, things are not so cheap when booked at the last minute. So, you will need to check your options and see which one (flying or train) is cheaper. Keep in mind that train travel takes much longer than air travel. What may take you 4 hours by plane may take you 11 hours by train. With this amount of time, I would stick to touring major cities and just going by plane.

I am traveling with 2 or more individuals:

Talk with your group to see what they want to do and where they would like to go. If possible, try to get a feel for what they can afford. Train trips can be expensive and not everyone may want to travel by train in your group. If you book your flights ahead of time, taking planes is definitely cheaper than purchasing a pass for the train at home.

I am an individual traveling for more than 3 weeks and I plan to travel the country I reside in:

At least purchase a pass for travel within your country. I would wait to purchase an overall “three (or however many weeks) pass”. You will most likely not travel by train every day. Thus, it will cheaper to find the right pass for you as the time comes and you won’t know what that is until you get there. If you’re going for vacation, disregard this. Plan ahead, if the train is cheaper than flying, book it before you leave at www.eurorail.com). Keep in mind however, that your pass does not cover you on every train. In fact, you may have to take a network of supplementary trains before you reach one that your pass will cover. You will be responsible for paying for these train rides and any additional fees necessary on your pass. For example, the Eurorail pass allows you to board any train in the Eurorail system. However, if you board a high-speed train, there is an additional fee which varies by country. Moral of the story, do your homework before you leave and read the fine print. If you have to call someone to talk to them about it, do it.

I am an individual traveling abroad for more than 3 weeks and I plan to travel across Europe…

I am traveling solo:

A would at least purchase a pass that covers travel within the country you are residing in. In regards to paying extra for a more global pass, determine where you want to go. If it is in major cities, then I would go by plane. Check to see if Ryanair.com or Easyjet.com offers flights to your desired destinations. If not, then train is probably the best way to go. I would avoid the train if possible (if you are able to plan ahead). The train system here is much more confusing than the airline system and it can be much more costly. In contrast, flights when booked ahead can be much cheaper. For example, I am flying from Barcelona to Rome for only 5 Euros using Ryanair. Unfortunately, things are not so cheap when booked at the last minute. So, you will need to check your options and see which one (flying or train) is cheaper. Keep in mind that train travel takes much longer than air travel. What may take you 4 hours by plane may take you 11 hours by train. With this amount of time, I would stick to touring major cities and just going by plane.

I am traveling with 2 or more individuals:

At least purchase a pass that allows you travel within the country you are staying at. I would do this when you arrive there. As far as purchasing a pass that will allow you to travel all over Europe, I wouldn’t do it. Plane travel is much cheaper. Plus, with the amount of time you will be staying within the country, you will be able to find cheaper rates upon your arrival. For example, I booked a month in advance and was able to secure plane rides from Barcelona, Paris, Venice, and Rome all for 102 Euros ($150 U.S. dollars at the time). I’m sure glad I didn’t spend the $1,300 I was thinking on spending on a three month Eurorail pass before I got here!!! See also my articles on train travel and plane travel as they will be of particular relevance to you.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Your Internet May Shift Languages As You Shift Countries

Upon connecting to the internet in Belgium, I noticed one major difference. My homepage (google) showed up in a different language. If I was not so familiar with Google, this may have been a problem. So, before you go be sure to visit your favorite websites and note where the language options link is. Otherwise, you may have a difficult time adjusting your settings back to a language you are able to read.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

The #1 Rule of Packing!

It should go without saying that you should never pack more than you can carry. For girls however, this is exceptionally hard. So, some of us tend to go with the phrase never pack more than you can roll (because let's face it, the rolling suitcases are REALLY nice). In Europe...don't go by this saying if you plan on riding the train anywhere. If you can't lift your bag...don't bring it! Look closely at the picture below. Note that the train and the platform are almost a foot and half apart.

Okay now consider that there might be steps beyond the door of the train. Can you lift 90 lbs of luggage across a gaping foot and a half hole and up four stairs at once? I couldn't and I was very fortunate to have a nice gentleman from the Belgain Army help me out. Don't count on being so lucky because it looked to me like the other five passengers boarding the train could have cared less whether or not I got my luggage on board.

That being said, you should still purchase a rolling suitcase if you don't already have one and make sure that every pound you do add in your suitcase is really worth it if your traveling alone.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Behold the Power of Skype!

There are so many communication options for study abroad students. Unfortunately, not all of them are affordable. Cell phones from home can be expensive, as many networks charge a small monthly fee and about $0.25 a minute. While the actual rate varies by country, the bottom line is that it adds up quick!

Purchasing a phone abroad can also be costly! SIM cards can cost over 50 Euros ($75.00 as of Sept 19, 2009) and limit you on minutes that you can use in that country only. The problem of saving money when calling home is not solved here. Although, it does make it easier to contact friends studying in the same country, the same problem is also present if your friends have not converted their phones to their new countries network yet.

The solution I recommend for this is Skype. With Skype, you can call others Skype users for free using their web chat service. With this service, both parties use a webcam to communicate. Skype also offers another free service for consumers where they can chat via typing, similar to that of MSN Messenger or AIM. 

The company also offers subscriptions for Skype users to make phone calls. For example, I can call any land line or cellphone in the U.S. using a headset on my computer. This feature only cost me $37.00 for three months service and my only real limitation is that I cannot exceed more than 10,000 minutes per month. Somehow, I don't think I will have a problem with that. Also, friends and family cannot call you, you have to call them.

For an extra cost, you can structure Skype so that friends and family can return your call. Skype can set it up so that you can answer their call on your computer or on your cell phone.

Skype also offers other features that may be right for you. You can visit their website at www.skype.com for more information. Personally, I chose not to pay the extra amount for my family to call me back. I am an e-mail junky. So, I generally leave a message if they miss my call telling them to e-mail me a time when they can talk. So far, this has worked out pretty well!

Travel Safe,


Some Study Abroad Girl

Time Zone Differences & Jet Lag

It's a good idea to buy a watch and change it to your arrival country's time before you board the plane. This way, you can start to acclimate to your destination's time zone before you arrive. If you can try and sleep when they normally would on the plane and stay awake all day until it is about 8 or 9pm their time. This will help out tremendously with jet lag!

A great website to use is http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/. The site lists the current time for various cities around the world. It might also be useful to add this to your home computer's favorites bar, so that it will be easily assessable to your family.

It's also a good idea to let friends and family know about the time differences before you head off. This way they won't be offended if communication occassionally becomes infrequent or if your calls occur during odd hours. Although I purchased a calling card, I could not find a pay phone in Belgium that would allow me to call using it. (Pay phones are a growing minority in Belgium). Furthermore, when I arrived at my dorm, I was told that I would not have internet access until the next day. This made getting in touch with my family and friends to inform them of my arrival nearly impossible.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Smart Buy: Philosophy's 3-in-1 Products

Everyone traveling abroad should pick up this product! It is a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash all in one produced by a company known as Philosophy. Even if your super picky, like me, and normally prefer to purchase a separate shampoo and conditioner, I still highly recommend this for travel- especially if you are limited on the amount of luggage you can take.

In particular, this is an extremely smart buy for three reasons:

1. It saves on luggage space and makes traveling between countries with liquids much easier!
2. It allows for quicker shower times. (One of the most common complaints against Americans from foreigners is that we waste too much water by taking showers that are too long!)
3. They smell wonderful and come in a variety of different scents/flavors. Note: You won't smell like these after getting out of the shower. It mainly just makes your shower experience wonderful with the scent of yummy foods!)

Some of the places (I am aware of) that you can purchase these are Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com) and Sephora (www.sephora.com). Be sure to speak with the sales associate before purchasing because not every Philosophy product is the 3-in-1 type.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Exchange Rates

If your wondering what the exchange rate is for the place your visiting, I recommend you calculate it using one of these two sites: http://www.xe.com/ucc/ or http://www.x-rates.com/. As far as converting your money goes, you will need to do your homework if you want save money, as these rates will change daily and every organization has a different fee for converting money.

First, you'll need to check with your bank to see what their currency conversion rates are. I know that US Bank will charge about 4% of the amount I convert when using ATM's abroad. This does not include the host bank's special fees for using their ATM. So, basically, I'm going to avoid withdrawing money abroad from an ATM whenever possible.

In fact, the best rate I was able to find for obtaining money abroad was actually on my Nordstrom credit card. In particular, I am only charged a 1% conversion fee whenever I use the card. However, if you decide to rely on credit cards remember that not every vendor in Europe accepts them. Also, some vendors/retailers may charge an additional fee for the convenience of using a credit card. This really will just depend on where you are.

Before leaving, I recommend having some money converted. This way, if anything were to happen upon your arrival, you will be able to address the situation immediately. I asked US Bank what their charge was for this, and it varied depending on the branch. I think it was a flat fee somewhere around $12.50. A friend of mine banks with Commerce and they did not charge her anything for the conversion.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Bringing Goods Back into the U.S.

You'll definitely want to check out this brochure if it is your first time flying out of and back into the U.S.. It talks about U.S. Custom's regulations and procedure for bringing non-U.S. merchandise through customs and back into the United States.http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/kbyg_regulations.ctt/kbyg_regulations.pdf

There is a lot to learn from this brochure. Unfortunately, for those of us who are visiting Europe, it is how high taxes are on goods which are purchased there. The good side of this is that you are allowed an $800 tax exemption. So, if you buy over $800 worth of goods over there...you are only expected to pay taxes on anything above that. Ex. (Whatever amount you spent - $800).

The bad news is that the tax is extremely high when the overall sum of your purchases exceed $800. In particular, the brochure says the tax can be up to 100% of the purchasing price. Yikes!! Specifically there brochure states: 

"Under what is known as its “301” authority, the

United States may impose a much higher than normal

duty rate on products from certain countries.

Currently, the United States has imposed a 100 percent

rate of duty on certain products of Austria, Belgium,

Denmark, Finland, France, The Federal Republic of

Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the

Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine.

If you should bring more of any of these products

back with you than fall within your exemption or flat

rate of duty, (see below) you will pay as much in duty

as you paid for the product or products."

Also, you can also ship "gifts" to people within the U.S. without paying taxes on them. The catch is that they have to be worth less than $100.00 and mailed to someone other than yourself. You can only do this once each day for any particular individual.

So, you could mail your parents and your grandparents $100 worth of merchandise each on the same day. You cannot mail your parents $200 worth of merchandise in one day. However, the merchandise can be divided into two equal shipments and sent out over a period of two days. I would highly recommend doing some homework before sending goods home, as the amount it costs to ship goods internationally is sometimes more than the amount you would pay in taxes.

If this is confusing and/or overwhelming to you, I really recommend that you skim through the brochure. It helps!

Bringing Liqueur Back to the U.S.

Here's the deal. In most countries you only have to be 18 to drink, legally. However, in the U.S. you have to be 21. So, if your underage, don't even try to bring alcohol back into the States. They will catch you at customs. If you are over 21 make sure to watch out for the taxes you will have to pay.

Specifically, the United States allows each traveler 1 one liter bottle tax free. Any additional bottles will be subject to a tax rate that is unspecified on the Boarder Patrol's website. According to Dr. Vino, the exact percentage is 3%. I'll confirm/deny when I find out for sure. But his website actually has a lot of really goods suggestions and tips for people wanting to bring liqueur back into the states. You can check it out here: http://www.drvino.com/2007/07/06/wine-you-can-take-it-with-you-when-you-go/.

The specifics on the amount of liqueur you can bring into the country also vary by state. Use the following link to find out more about liqueur laws as they apply to any states you are flying into. http://www.ttb.gov/wine/control_board.shtml

Also, do not try to pack your beverage in your carry-on. The airlines simply won't allow it. Instead, you will have bubble wrap it like none other or ship it home via a private delivery service (UPS, FedEx, etc). The later choice can be quite expensive because it is not only traveling a long distance but it will need to be marked "fragile" as well.

On a somewhat related side note. Don't try and ship any alcoholic beverages using the United States Postal Service, as it is illegal for them to do so.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Say No to White Shoes!

Just a word for the wise: Don't wear white tennis shoes when traveling in Europe! It is one of the quickest ways to let everyone know you are a tourist. Instead, pack shoes in neutral colors such as brown or black. This will also help with the increase the amount of potential clothing options you have while abroad. Try to avoid bringing only tennis shoes and pack a few nicer pairs as well.

Oftentimes, Europeans will judge you by what you are wearing. On occasion, you may even be denied entrance to a restaurant for wearing something that would be perfectly acceptable in the United States. With that in mind, pack lightly and efficiently.

Birkenstocks are always a comfortable safe option. However, keep in mind that it rains a lot in Europe. So, you will want something a little more water resistant as well. (Another reason you would want to avoid white shoes.) I personally bought black Puma running shoes.... but I'll let you know how well that goes over after I arrive.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Meeting Etiquette

When traveling and living abroad it is important to understand how the locals introduce themselves and greet others. While I am sure that the following procedures are not consistent throughout all of Europe, in Belgium the following standards apply:

• Briefly give a handshake to those you are meeting for the first time.
  
  
• AFTER you get to know the person better, air kisses are often used. (Start on the left, and "kiss the air" next to the other person's cheek. You will do this three times.)
  
  
• If you are a male, stick to the handshakes...straight men never air kiss one another in Belgium (or so I'm told).
  
  
• When going to another individuals home, it is customary to bring a gift. Flowers (in odd numbers, except 13) or high quality chocolates are the standard.
  

The list goes on and on for what is and is not acceptable in other countries. If you are interested in reading more about Belgian etiquette, check out this website: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/belgium-country-profile.html. They are great on providing all the essentials every Belgian traveler needs!

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Be Sure to Ask for Tap!

So, I just learned from my brother that you need to ask for tap water when dinning out in Europe. If you just ask for water, you will get carbonated water and they will charge you for it. Be aware that some restaurants may not be willing to serve you tap water, while others will charge you for it! Also, be conscience of where you are. If the water in that city isn't very good, I'd specify that you want it in a bottle.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

International Calling

If you haven't already done the research, an international calling plan is rather expensive. Not only do you pay an additional monthly charge, but you also pay for each minute of calling. For AT&T, the rate (as of yesterday) averaged about $5.00 additional per month charge for calls to Europe. An additional .20-.30 cents was charged per minute of phone usage depending on the country you are visiting. I also talked to a specialist from T-mobile who told me it would be cheaper to use Skype, long-distance calling cards, or to buy a phone when I got over there because the rates charged would depend on the country you are in and not your provider back home.

I looked into using skype.com and oovoo.com. These are both online video chatting networks that are free. All you have to do is sign-up, plug your web cam in, and your good to go. The only downside to this is that you are limited to who can talk to if your friends don't have a web cam or if their computer is too old to support one. Although it is relatively easy to figure out, it also limits you from talking to people who are not as technologically savvy.

On a personal note, I use Oovoo to talk with my boyfriend. I thought it was extremely easy to use after it was set-up. I'm sure if you set it up for your parents or whoever needs it, they can figure it out once it's installed. FYI: you might want to buy a decent web cam with a microphone. I think the one I got was from Wal-Mart and I only paid like $40 bucks for it.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Oh Airlines and their Limited Luggage...

BEFORE booking your flight on Orbitz, Expedia, or wherever be sure to check out the airlines luggage requirements. I booked my ticket for like $774 (if I remember correctly) through Orbitz. What I didn't realize at the time was that the airline I booked it through only allows one suitcase for free. I have the option to bring one additional suitcase for $50.00. Had I known this I may have gone with another option from Orbitz, which was $10 more but allowed for two bags of luggage. So moral of the story is that you should just be aware of this when booking your flight.

Also, you might want to check on weight requirements and their respective fines. Many airlines do not allow your luggage to exceed a certain weight. If it does, the fines are substantial and oftentimes it is actually cheaper to just pay for an additional bag of luggage. I don't know about you but I'd rather pay $50 for an additional bag than $150 in overweight charges. Just something to consider...

Here's some links to different airlines with their baggage allowances.

Delta Airlines:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.jsp

Southwest Airlines:

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

Northwest Airlines:

http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/

United Airlines:

http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1031,00.html?navSource=Dropdown07&linkTitle=baggage

Continental Airlines:

http://www.continental.com/WEB/EN-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

US Airways:

http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.aspx

American Airlines:
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/baggage/generalInfo.jsp&anchorEvent=false

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Oh Translation...

While abroad you'll most likely find that many of the websites recommended to you are not in English. If you don't speak another language, this is obviously a problem. I would recommend adding this page to your toolbar or as one of your favorites. http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en# . It's a translator that will convert any web page to English. The downside is that you have to hit translate every time you open up a new page. Although, I'm pretty sure that the benefits outweigh this because now you can actually read it! :)

Also, I included a small translation box at the bottom of this page for your convenience. While I highly recommend that you download the google translation tool and add it to your tool bar, it is extremely useful for translating straight text.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Save Space by Buying Fold-Ups and Miniatures

Although I'm spending more money than I probably should be, I found an adorable t-shirt that's great for traveling abroad. They come in miniature sizes. So, this t-shirt is literally folded up into a tiny package about the size of my fist. I bought mine at Cache (www.cache.com) for $29 each. They are normally $38 each. However, I got mine on sale. Plus, if you sign-up for e-mails at Cache.com they will send you electronic coupons. If you do that though, you'll have to wait a few days before you get a really good special offer!

Anyways, you can check out this company at www.t-box.com.tr. The website will initially come up in Turkish though. So, you'll have to look in the top right hand corner of the screen for a little button that says EN to change it to English.

By the way, I grossly overpaid for these at Cache and didn't realize it until I was doing my homework to give you guys more information about this product. Try finding these online by googling it.

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Also, I was told my host institution that they would be providing me with "linens". You might want to check with the school you are staying at to see what they are already providing you. Although I'm not sure what their definition of "linens" is, I'm bringing a pillow and extra blanket just in case. In fact, I'm going to try and make a pillow/blanket in one before I leave.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, check out this page: http://www.theblanketpillow.com/gallery.html. It will give you a visual of how it folds up. These would be great for travel!!!

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Don't break things by plugging it in!

For those of you who have never been to Europe, their power outlets are not the same. Thus, before you go, you will want to purchase a converter outlet. I bought two at Radioshack and they were about $9.99 each, if I recall correctly. I have heard that if you don't plug things in correctly you can blow up/break your stuff. So be careful. That's another reason I bought two converters. Plus, if something happens to one, everything will be okay.

Another word to the wise: be careful which converter you buy! Some can convert more power than others. So, if you buy the cheapest one there and it only holds so many watts don't plug your hairdryer into it. Hairdryers take up so much energy. In fact, I'm not even bringing mine. I plan on taking a shower at night, sleeping with wet head and/or letting it air dry, then straightening it with my Chi. Less stuff to pack, less to stuff to risk breaking....wala!

I cannot emphasize the importance of buying these before you go!!! When you arrive in Europe they will not sell these. If they do, they know you are screwed. Thus, they will charge you an arm and a leg for them. Don't pay $60 Euros for what you can buy here in the states for $9.99.

You should probably also be aware that your adapters won't work everywhere! For example, I've heard that Italy's adapters are different than the rest of Europes.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

I wake up how?

So...after doing some research, I've decided to purchase a cheap travel watch that has an alarm on it. Turns out, my phone won't work and/or keep time in Europe even if I wanted it to. Pretty much, the only thing I can use it for is an MP3 player. Seeing as how I can only bring two suitcases worth of stuff on the plane...I'd rather not waste my space with an alarm clock. So, I went to Target and purchased a cheap $9.90 watch with a comfortable rubber strap. Hope this works because I only bought two converter outlets to bring with me. Thus, I don't really have the converter space to plug in an alarm clock every night. Plus, I can wear this on the plane and it's one less thing I have to pack.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

The Goods Have Been Delivered

So, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed right now. This morning I woke up to an e-mail saying that I should have received a package with all the information about my trip a month ago!!! I am home from school for the summer. So, I was pretty much freaking out. Online it says that you have to be one of the first 50 people to sign up in order to live on campus. (Which with me still not having received my package a month later...I thought I'd be pretty much homeless.) After numerous phone calls, the package was nowhere to be found. Miraculously, it showed up damaged by the USPS that same day. In addition, about an hour before it was received, I got an e-mail from the Study Abroad Coordinator at my foreign institution telling me my room had been reserved.

Well, I never reserved my room and since they put that on their website...what am I supposed to think?!? While I wish that someone would have told me, my point is that you are going to get some serious curve balls thrown at you when your studying abroad. It is also going to get frustrating. What would normally take a quick phone call to cleared this all up, takes a few days because of long distance phone charges. No way was I calling Belgium to get put on hold at God knows how long per minute!

Anyways, in my packet was an acceptance letter from the school I am attending, alongside an informational booklet for study abroad students and a local town magazine (written in English highlighting things to do). Sounds great right?!? Well while it is all written in English, I still can't understand a good 1/4 of it. Thus, I am experiencing what I think is my first taste of culture shock. I would like to get involved on campus. However, when my options include organizations known as Mercurius and Erasmus Student Network, it is rather hard because I have no idea what either of those are.

Furthermore, I'm getting mixed signals on the language most individuals speak. So far I've heard Flemish, French, Dutch, German, and English. Seeing as how I only speak English, this could be a slight problem and I am going to be "that American" for some time.

While I am still slightly nervous, I am sure that everything will turn out just fine. I'll be sure to give you guys a heads up on how these things actually go once I get there. Also, if your going to start reading the blog...I would read it all the way through till the end. This will probably read more like a story when its done and I'd hate for you to be turned off from studying abroad because I was experiencing slight culture shock. I am confident that this will be the best experience of my life.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Hailing A Cab?!? --- I Think Not!

So, I was reading this blog at http://forums.studentuniverse.com/study-abroad-what-s-a-girl-to-pack-t75.html. It had an interesting note about hailing cabs which more or less said don't make the "dumb American" mistake by trying to hail a cab and getting mad when they don't stop. Evidently, you have to go to a taxi stand for them to pick up because they can't just do it right then and there in the street. Glad I read that or I would have felt like a huge idiot.

I'm not sure that this is the same throughout all of Europe because the blog mentioned Paris specifically.

Travel Safe,

Some Study Abroad Girl

Cheap Airfare

FROM THE U.S. TO EUROPE:

When booking my flight from the U.S to Europe,

I checked several carriers including:

www.Orbitz.com

www.travelocity.com

www.priceline.com

www.cheaptickets.com

www.statravel.com (They give out discounts to students and customers under the age of 26.)

www.fly.com

www.kayak.com

www.expedia.com

www.hotwire.com

Is it worth your while to double check with other websites? Sure, rates change and if its worth your time to save a few hundred dollars, by all means go ahead. One website I found that compares rates from several low-cost providers including Orbitz, Travelocity, etc, is http://vacation.away.com/plan-a-trip/compare-rates.html?type=air&utm_source=away&utm_medium=awayhomepage&utm_content=air&utm_campaign=comparerates.

TRAVELING WITHIN EUROPE:

From what I've heard Ryanair is one of the best budget-conscious airlines to use. http://www.ryanair.com/. The companies major competitor, EasyJet (http://www.easyjet.com/) is also reasonably priced. Italy also has a new airline provider, known as Lufthansa Italia which (at this time) provides flights between 8 major European cities. Another option is to take the high speed train using Eurorail. http://www.raileurope.com/.

A Note About Passports & Visas

After visiting the study abroad office, I've realized that I have a lot left to do. I've already got my passport which was super easy to do. But for those of you who don't and/or are still deciding on whether or not to get a visa, I've provided a little more information for you below.

FYI ABOUT VISA's: I learned that because I plan to stay out of the country for 90 days, I do not need a visa. If I were to stay in Europe for longer than 90 days I would need one. This requirement varies by country. So, you'll need to check with the U.S. Department of State. (There's a link above). Fortunately, my study abroad coordinator was able to talk to the director of the other school. Normally, my stay would have been 99 days (meaning I would need a visa). However, the school has agreed to give me my finals early so that I may study abroad without obtaining one. If you are in a similar situation, I highly recommend trying to do this as obtaining a visa costs over $400 and requires a thorough FBI background check, etc.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/americans/americans_1252.html

FYI ON PASSPORTS: For those of you who don't have a passport yet, visit the attached link for more information. You can get your photo's done anywhere almost, including Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Post Office. If you live in a town where the line at the post office is always long, I recommend getting your picture taken elsewhere to save on time. If I remember correctly the whole process of having my picture taken and my paperwork processed cost me around $130.00.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

The Mission

For those of you who are wondering, I have created this blog so that my friends and family could stay up to date with me during my stay in Europe. I also hope that it will help other students who are studying abroad to get a better idea of what the experience is like and prepare them for their extended stay. Lastly, if your on the verge of traveling or studying abroad... I hope that this blog will encourage you to do so. :)

Best Wishes,

Some Study Abroad Girl