Students at Esslingen Castle

Internet access can vary widely from place to place, in European countries you can expect it to be highly accessible and very fast, in other areas, it may take more effort to locate and certainly more patience. Be sure that you check your Kettering email address on a regular basis, the Office of International Programs may wish to communicate with you whilst you are abroad. Most host institutions and halls of residence will have internet access available for incoming students. It is also worth noting local cafe's or libraries that have free internet access available. 

TECHNOLOGY ABROAD
Many programs will require you to bring your computer with you when you travel abroad. You may also like to bring your notebook computer or Kindle, regardless of what you take with you, remember you are at an increased risk of theft when carrying valuable items. Be sure to keep a watch on all your personal belongings at all times. 

MAKING CALLS FROM OVERSEAS
Making calls from a foreign country will require you to learn a new set of skills as you will need to learn a new telephone system, each country will have it's own system. Here are a few options for you when phoning while overseas:

Use your current cell phone abroad
Contact your U.S. wireless provider (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) to inquire if you need to purchase a specific plan in order to use your phone and/or to obtain international calling and texting rates.

A cheaper option may be to use your personal cellphone with a European provider, such as Vodafone or T-Mobile Europe. Double check that your phone does not require to be "unlocked" before leaving. Once your phone is unlocked, you will need to purchase a SIM card upon arrival into your new country. Using a local SIM card will give you the benefits of local access rates, for text, calls and data. As this is a "pay-as-you-go" option, prices are generally very reasonable. 

Use an international calling/SMS app.
Search for specific communication apps that will allow you to make international calls or texts at no charge, such as Skype, Viber, WeChat, Whatsapp or FaceTime.

Pre-paid phone cards
These cards make it very easy and cheap to call home should you not wish to use your cell phone. Pre-paid phone cards are highly accessible in Europe and are a very common way for people to phone overseas. You will be able to purchase them at most corner stores and local phone stores. They usually come in pre-paid denominations of 10, 20 and 50 Euro, depending on the car you purchase, you should be able to top up the card at your convenience.