STEP 3: HELPING YOUR CHILD MAKE THE MOST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
EXPEREINCE Staying in Touch: Creating Your Family's
Communications Plan Many of today's students (and parents) are
used to the wonderful convenience of 24/7, instant
communications available through cell phones, e-mail, instant
messaging, etc. (And now there is VoIP that lets you make calls
through your computer, sometimes for free.) While these forms of
instant communication are invaluable, especially in emergency
situations, allowing us to stay in touch with our children, they
can have an unfortunate effect on students' ability to become
fully immersed in a foreign culture. It's important to talk with
your child about how, and how often, you will communicate with
each other while he is abroad so that you will not worry, and he
will not be overly focused on matters at home. Most study abroad
advisers encourage students to touch base with their parents as
soon as possible after they have arrived in their new location,
to assure them that they have