LIVING ABROAD
Can I drink the water?
Yes. However, in many countries you will find that people drink bottled water more often than tap water. Many people drink mineral water as well.
Does ASA provide medical insurance?
Yes. We provide medical insurance for all of our
students through ACE American Insurance Company. Students'
medical expenses are covered for up to $500,000. This insurance
also provides Emergency Medical Evacuation Benefit with coverage
up to $250,000. Emergency Medical Evacuation means that if
the student's condition warrants immediate transportation from
the place where he/she is injured or sick to the nearest
medical facility where the appropriate medical treatment may
be obtained, then it is paid for by the insurance company up
to $250,000. This also includes coverage for evacuation to
the student's home country to obtain medical treatment if
the doctors feel it is necessary. One benefit that is of
interest to parents is the Emergency Reunion Benefit. In the event
of an Emergency Medical Evacuation, where the doctor feels
that it would be beneficial for the student to have a family
member with him/her during transport, you will be reimbursed
for travel and lodging expenses for that relative, up to
$12,500, with $300 per day for lodging and related expenses, for a
ten-day duration. Students will receive a description of coverage, medical
insurance card, and claim form, along with their pre-departure orientation guide
that will be mailed to them about a month before the program begins.
In addition, all ASA students also receive emergency medical evacuation services through Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com) for the official dates of their program.
Global Rescue is available to students 24/7/365. All ASA students are automatically enrolled with Global Rescue as base members and receive the following benefits:
- Access to a database of over 3,000 hospitals, clinics and English-speaking physicians worldwide, including 70 "Center of Excellence" hospitals that are affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine or Harvard Medical School.
- Emergency medical treatment and evacuation from wherever you are located to the closest Center of Excellence hospital for evaluation, treatment and in-patient hospitalization.
After the student has been accepted, ASA will also send parents information about the option of upgrading their son/daughter's Global Rescue
coverage for a fee, to include emergency medical evacuation to the student's U.S. hospital of choice.
How do the cell phones work?
Each student receives a cell phone that is included with the ASA program.
ASA provides the phone, while you are responsible for the cost of all your phone calls.
The rates for calls and text messages will be described in the phone's instruction booklet that comes with your phone, or they are described when you sign up for your phone online prior to departure (instructions to come from ASA).
The best part about these phones is that there is no charge to you for incoming calls made to your int'l number, when you're in your main country of study.
You can also use most calling cards from your cell phone to call home. In general, it is better to purchase a phone card once you arrive abroad.
How much spending money will I need to bring with me?
It depends. Based on student responses from past programs, we recommend the following:
Barcelona UAB & UB, Salamanca, Sevilla, Madrid Summer, and London students: Approximately $200 per week of your stay.
Barcelona BCEA students: Approximately $300-350 per week because no meals are included. BCEA students who live with a host family may opt to have meals provided
by the family for an additional fee of $1,200 per Fall semester and $1,600 per Spring semester. (Fee is subject to change.)
Madrid Semester/Academic Year students: Approximately $275 per week because the homestay provides breakfast and dinner, but not lunch.
France students: Approximately $250-300 per week because the homestay provides daily breakfast and 6 dinners per week. France students will have to pay for daily lunch and 1 dinner a week.
Ireland, Italy and Oxford students: Approximately $300-350 a week, because no meals are included.
Viña del Mar students: Approximately $150-200 a week.
Buenos Aires students: Approximately $150-200 a week for students who opt for a homestay. Approximately $300-350 a week for students who opt for an apartment, because no meals are included with the apartment option.
Australia students: Approximately $200 a week; meals are not included with the program.
Please note that these are general guidelines based on what past students have reported spending. Some students spend less, and others more.
The above figures do not account for traveling every weekend, eating out a lot, or shopping every day.
These figures may seem high to you, but keep in mind they take into account
spending money for leisure activities, eating out occasionally, local transportation (bus/metro pass, if applicable), the occasional taxi, meals (if they are not included with the program already),
and the exchange rate.
If you DO plan to do a lot of shopping, eating out, and traveling, you will naturally need to bring more money!
Be sure to think about what you plan to do while you're abroad when you're planning out your budget.
Also, consider the exchange rate when planning your budget. For the most current exchange rates, go to http://www.xe.com/ucc.
What is the local currency?
England - British Pound Sterling
Spain - Euro
Ireland (Republic of Ireland) - Euro (NOTE: Northern Ireland's currency is the Pound. Dublin is located in the Republic of Ireland, therefore, Dublin students will use the Euro.)
France - Euro
Italy - Euro
Chile - Chilean Peso (CLP)
Argentina - Argentine Peso (ARS)
Australia - Australian Dollar (AUD)
For the most current exchange rates, go to http://www.xe.com/ucc.
How much money should I bring if I want to travel on my own?
It depends on your mode of travel, destination, and how many trips you want to take.
The Internet can be very helpful for pricing out your trips.
Staying in youth hostels and camping is much cheaper than spending the night in hotels.
For this kind of travel, plan on spending about $250 a week.
If you plan to camp, definitely bring a towel and possibly a sleeping bag!
Check the ASA pre-departure orientation guide (you'll receive this about a month before your program begins) for a list of items we recommend you bring if you're planning to travel on your own.
Also, we encourage all students to buy a student travel guides for your country, such as Let's Go or Lonely Planet.
How will I get money while I'm abroad? ATM card? Traveler's checks?
This is covered in detail in the pre-departure guide that we'll mail you about a month before your program begins.
In brief, all students should bring an ATM card (for getting cash on a regular basis); a credit card (for emergencies); small amount of traveler's checks (for emergencies).
Most students get cash abroad on a day-to-day basis using their ATM card. It will give you the best exchange rate of the day.
Just be sure to ask your bank what the withdrawal fee will be, because it's usually higher than it is at home.
You'll also need to notify your bank that you'll be using your card outside the U.S., because sometimes banks have to remove a hold on your card first.
When you make a purchase with a credit card, you'll also get the best exchange rate of the day.
Be sure to let your bank and credit card companies know that you'll be using your card abroad, because if they see that your card has been used abroad but they were not notified, the bank may deactivate your card for suspicion of theft.
Traveler's checks are still the safest way to bring cash abroad, but they can be inconvenient and expensive to exchange. Nonetheless, we feel it's still a good idea to bring traveler's checks in a small amount (i.e. $200-$500), but save them to use in case of emergency. For example, if your ATM card is lost or stolen, it can take weeks to get a replacement card, and in a situation like this it would be a big help to have some traveler's checks to use, while you're waiting for your new card!
We don't recommend relying on traveler's checks are your only source of cash though, because they can be inconvenient and expensive to exchange. It's always best to exchange your traveler's checks at someplace like American Express, as you can be assured of their legitimacy and should get a better exchange rate.
Plus, even if you don't end up using your traveler's checks while you're abroad, you can always use them when you get home. Always make copies of the checks and receipts, and keep your receipts separate from your checks, in case of loss or theft.
We don't recommend bringing U.S. dollars in cash abroad, because the exchange rate for cash is always the least desirable.
In any case, be sure to make photocopies of the front and back of all ATM cards, credit cards, and IDs you bring with you. That way, if your card is lost or stolen, you'll have the number to call, and your account number.
What types of housing are offered through ASA's programs and how many meals are included?
Sevilla, Salamanca, Madrid Summer, Barcelona I (UB), Barcelona III (UAB) - All students live with Spanish host families who provide 3 meals a day and laundry once a week.
Barcelona II (BCEA) program - BCEA students have 2 housing options. 1) Shared student apartment with no meals included. 2) Spanish host family with no meals included. BCEA students who live with a host family may opt to have meals provided by the family
for an additional fee of $1,200 per Fall semester and $1,600 per Spring semester. (Fee is subject to change.)
Madrid (Semester/Academic Year) - Students live with Spanish host families who provide daily breakfast and dinner and laundry once a week.
France - Students live with French host families who provide daily breakfast, 6 dinners a week and one load of laundry per week.
Dublin, Ireland - Students live in on-campus apartments in the Griffith College Halls of Residence, built in 2005. Each 2-bedroom apartment houses 4 students and has its own bathroom and kitchen. No meals are included.
Rome and Florence, Italy - Students live in shared student apartments. No meals are included, since all apartments have a fully equipped kitchen.
London, England - Students live on campus in the dormitories in the Regent's College Residence Halls. Double occupancy room is included. Includes a meal allowance of £60 (approx. US$110) per week, and students are given a debit-system meal card to use throughout the semester.
Oxford, England - Students live in on-campus apartments in the Oxford Brookes Halls of Residence. Each apartment has its own bathroom(s) and kitchen and houses 5-9 students; bedrooms are single-occupancy. No meals are included.
Viña del Mar, Chile - Students live with Chilean host families who provide 3 meals a day.
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Students have 2 housing options. 1) Live with an Argentine host family who will provide 3 meals a day. 2) Live in a shared student apartment with no meals included.
Australia - Students live in shared student apartments or in extended-stay hotels. No meals are included, as each apartment has a kitchen.
When will I find out where I'll be living while I'm abroad?
ASA will notify you of your living arrangements approximately 1-2 weeks before the start of your program.
What if I don't like my host family in Spain, France, Chile or Argentina?
If it is a problem with the family and not a cultural misunderstanding, ASA will change your family right away.
There is on-site staff in every city who are there to help students at all times with any issues they encounter while abroad.
How are the host families chosen?
ASA staff personally interviews all of the families before placing students in their homes.
All students fill out a Housing Questionnaire after they have been accepted, so that we can match them with a family with whom we think they will be compatible.
ASA has placed students with many
of these families before without any problems, so we feel confident
that students will be satisfied.
Will I have a roommate?
Yes, for the majority of programs. See below for details specific to each program location.
London - A double occupancy dorm room on campus is included with the price of the program, so everyone will have a roommate. If all double rooms are
taken at the time you apply, you would instead be assigned a triple room, based on availability.
There is only a handful of single rooms at Regent's, and they are always in high demand; there is an additional charge of approximately $1,100 for a single room.
(NOTE: The fee for a single room is approximate and is subject to change.) If you are going on the ASA London program and want a single room, you would have to apply very early because of the small number of single rooms available (i.e. Apply at least 7 months prior to the program start date).
And, even then, you may still be placed on the wait list for a single room.
Sometimes, students on the wait list for a single room are not allocated a room until they actually get to London, because if a single doesn't become available before the program starts, one might open up after the semester begins because of another student dropping out. If you are on the wait list, know that there are no guarantees, and remember to be patient!
Spain, France, Chile, Argentina - Students may or may not have a roommate, as placing students with host families is a complex process that depends on a lot of different factors. If you have a preference either way, be sure to note this on your Housing Questionnaire, and we will do our very best to accommodate you. NOTE: Barcelona BCEA and Argentina students who opt for an apartment will have a roommate and several suitemates, as bedrooms are double occupancy.
Italy - All students will have a roommate and several housemates, as the apartments are shared.
Dublin, Ireland - All students will have a roommate, as the on-campus apartments have 2 double bedrooms each, for a total of 4 suitemates per apartment.
Oxford, England - Students will have 4-8 suitemates, but bedrooms are single occupancy.
If you have any concerns or questions about housing, talk to an ASA representative at 888-845-4272.
Can I room with a friend? Will I find out who my roommate is ahead of time?
Please keep in mind that if you request to live with a friend, he/she must be of the same sex as you.
Spain, France, Chile and Argentina - Students in these countries may request to live with a friend, by noting their preference on their Housing Questionnaire, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Some host families take in students from different programs at the same time, so your roommate may be from ASA or from another program.
If your roommate is from another program, we are not able to tell you who this will be ahead of time.
London, England - London students who want to room with a friend must note this on their Course Pre-registration form.
NOTE: ALL London students who want to room with a friend are strongly encouraged to apply early and speak with ASA to see if their preference can be met. Applying late may result in diminished choice of classes, housing and roommate.
Oxford, England - ASA students may request to live with a friend, but since Oxford Brookes University is solely responsible for housing allocations, there is unfortunately no guarantee that you will actually be placed in the same apartment or hall of residence as your preferred roommate.
Oxford students will meet their roommates upon arrival.
Dublin, Ireland - Dublin students who want to room with a friend must note this on their Housing Questionnaire.
ASA students may be placed with roommates from the ASA program, from another American study abroad program, or Irish or international students.
You can note your roommate preference on your Housing Questionnaire, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
If you are going to be living with another ASA student, we should be able to tell you this about a week or two before the program starts.
However, if one or more of your suitemates isn't from ASA, we are not able to give you that information ahead of time.
Rome and Florence, Italy - Rome and Florence students who want to room with a friend must note this on their Housing Questionnaire.
If you have requested to live with another ASA student, we will know if you have both been placed in the same apartment about 1-2 weeks before the program begins.
If you have not requested to live with a particular person, then unfortunately we do not know ahead of time who your roommate or suitemates will be.
Australia - Your roommate will change with each city. You may have a single room in one city and a roommate in the next.
With the Australia Walkabout Program, we are generally able to assign roommates before the program begins, but since students move each month, some students may choose to swap rooms as they make friends.
Will my host family speak English?
No, but there's no need to worry. Living with a family is the best way for you to learn Spanish or French, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you will improve.
Also, don't forget that your host family has hosted American students before, so they understand that you are there to learn their language and want to help you.
What should I bring with me on the trip?
A list of what to pack will be included in your ASA pre-departure orientation guide, which you will receive in the mail about a month before your program begins.
Will I experience culture shock?
You might, but don't worry. Since everyone is different, people experience and cope with culture shock in different ways.
Reading the section on culture shock in your orientation guide will help you prepare for and understand what you are going through and hopefully, make it easier.
What is the food like?
The food is great and will be typical of each host country.
Be prepared to try new things!
How many people go on the trips and where are they from?
Depending on which program you choose, the number of ASA students per group normally varies from 10-40 students.
Keep in mind that no matter which institution you attend while you're abroad, that institution has other students going there besides just ASA students, so you will encounter students in your classes who are from outside the ASA group.
We have students from
all over the United States, from hundreds of different college and universities.
Click here to see the colleges and universities
that past ASA students have come from.
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