Education Abroad is a life-changing experience for college students, personally, academically, and professionally. However, we often notice that it is sometimes hard for parents to cope with the fact that their child seems so far away, and they may worry about how they will stay in contact with their student while they are abroad. Luckily, it may not be so hard after all! Check out these ways to stay connected with your child while they are overseas without going broke!
Care Packages
Consider sending your child a care package with some of their favorite things from home! You might also include simple toiletries or foods, for example, that your student may not be able to find in their host country. Wise Bread recommends sending your package the slow way to save money. Just make sure to plan ahead and send your package well in advance!
Social Media
Social media permeates our daily lives, particularly the daily lives of young college students. Using social media while your student is abroad is a great way to keep in contact with your student and to see what they are doing abroad. Not to mention, it’s free! Consider the traditional platforms such as Facebook or Twitter, but also keep in mind that these platforms are not accessible in some countries. In that case, consider other platforms. There are many social media sites available, just be sure to set this up with your student before they depart. You might consider asking your student to start a blog. This will be a great way for your student to share their experiences and record their memories, and also a great way to keep other family members in the loop!
“Snail Mail”
Consider mailing a letter to your child! While this method of communication is certainly dying, it may be fun for your child to receive a handwritten letter in the mail from you. Alternatively, you can send postcards or emails to your student (some students also consider this “snail mail” nowadays!) Perhaps you could arrange with your student to send some type of letter, electronically or not, weekly.
Phone Calls: Use Skype!
If you are not familiar with Skype, be sure to check it out via their website. Skype is a service that you can download on your computer that will allow you to “call” another Skype user on their computer. If you and your student each have a camera on your computer, you will also be able to videocall and see one another! In addition to this free service, Skype also has other services for a small fee that will allow you to do things like call mobile phones or landlines internationally, usually for a much cheaper price than you would find elsewhere.
Itching for a trip overseas? Go visit your student!
While this may not necessarily be the most money-savvy way of keeping in contact with your student, there are definitely ways to travel savvy. There are many airfare alert websites you can sign up for, which will alert you when flights are on sale. We also recommend if you do not have a passport to get one before your child departs should you need or want to travel to see them.
Article adapted from Camilla Cheung’s article, “Kids Going Abroad? 8 Ways to Stay in Touch without Going Bankrupt” published on “Wise Bread: Living Large on a Small Budget.”
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