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Mentor Advice

Question

Any advice on the best means of keeping in contact with your child while he/she is abroad?

5 Replies from Mentors

  • mentor picture Audrey
     
    Audrey
    Parent of Study Abroad Student
    Loyola Marymount University
    Email is the best way to keep in touch with your child, as long as they have access to the...
    Email is the best way to keep in touch with your child, as long as they have access to the internet in the country that they are studying in. Plus, the internet is the cheapest way to keep in contact. You can exchange emails, pictures, or converse on an audio chat program online.
  • mentor picture Danilo Bonilla
     
    Danilo Bonilla
    International Programs Counselor
    UCLA Education Abroad Program



    Hear this mentor discuss how communicating overseas has become easier and less costly.
  • mentor picture Isabel
     
    Isabel
    Junior Year Student
    Loyola Marymount University
    One of the best resources I discovered while studying abroad was an internet-based service called...
    One of the best resources I discovered while studying abroad was an internet-based service called Skype. It is a relatively new program that allows you to talk to anyone in the World for close to nothing. All you need to begin using Skype is a computer with internet access and a microphone headset. There are two ways a parent can communicate with their child using Skype. First, if both the student and parent have Skype downloaded on their computers, they can talk to each other for an unlimited amount of time free of charge. However, if the parent does not have access to a computer, the student can call them on any landline for merely 2 cents a minute. I found Skype to be the best way to keep in contact with my parents while I was abroad.
  • mentor picture Olivia
     
    Olivia
    Parent of Study Abroad Student
    Loyola Marymount University
    The best means of contacting my daughter in China was either through the use of international...
    The best means of contacting my daughter in China was either through the use of international calling cards (bought at Costco), or Skype.com, in which I could speak to my daughter endlessly at no cost. All I needed to purchase was headsets with a microphone. With a webcam, we were also able to see each other while speaking. The only problem with Skype.com was that the connection would occasionally be lost, and I would have to reconnect with my daughter. Also, the sound quality was not as good as when I used a telephone. Other than that, Skype.com was wonderful!
  • mentor picture Janeth
     
    Janeth
    Junior Year Student
    Loyola Marymount University
    The best way to keep in contact would have to be through e-mail, instant messaging or through...
    The best way to keep in contact would have to be through e-mail, instant messaging or through Skype. Skype allows you to talk to another person through your computer. It’s a good program that you can download for free. The quality varies though. If your son or daughter has a cell phone abroad that is another good way to keep in touch but it may be somewhat expensive to keep making international calls. Overall though, e-mail is the best way because you can e-mail when ever you want to, and considering the time difference sometimes it is difficult to call or Skype your son or daughter.