Student Profile

Anna Hernandez French School: Williams College Abroad Location: Spain

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Studying abroad worked wonders on my self-confidence. This has benefited all aspects of my life. I have also grown more independent and feel more co ...

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Cell Phones & Txt Msg

Cell phones make it easier than ever to stay in touch with everyone back home.

There are three main options for cell phone service, and each has pros and cons. While you’re abroad, you can:

• Roam using your U.S. carrier

• Rent a phone

• Use the local cell phone service
  

Using your U.S. carrier allows you to keep the same phone number, making it easy for friends and family to reach you. However, roaming can be expensive. In addition, some cell phones are not compatible for use overseas, due to the different frequencies used in the U.S. versus abroad. Check with your carrier to see if you can use your phone abroad.

Renting a phone abroad may seem like an attractive choice, but check the rates carefully first. Renting a handset is often affordable, but the per-minute rate charges can be high. Also, sometimes there are minimum daily charges, meaning that you don’t have to make any calls for your bill to add up.

In many cases, using the local cell phone service is the most affordable option, especially for local calls. Your rates will be the same as the locals, and you won’t have to worry about roaming or daily minimum charges.

Text messaging is another convenient way to keep in touch. Check with your cell phone service provider to find out rates for incoming and outgoing international text messages.

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