Before You Leave

• If staying with a host family, inform them of your arrival date and time as soon as your plans are final. You should write a letter instead of calling them. It is considered more courteous and it is easier for both parties.
• Contact the Bursar and Financial Aid offices to ensure that your paperwork is complete.
• Consult with your advisor to determine the courses you will need to take when you return.
• Get your username and password from ITS Helpdesk at x-3548 or Fenwick B21.
• Look into a calling card that will charge your overseas calls to your home number. - OR - Activitate your ISIC card as a calling card.
• To save money on your telephone bill establish a specific day and time when you will call home.
• Ensure the Study Abroad office and the Registrar's office have your overseas address, telephone number and email address.
• Pack your 2008-2009 Holy Cross Communications Directory for faculty addresses and phone numbers, and student addresses.
• Have enough foreign currency to get you through your first few days abroad.
• Make flight arrangements and arrange for transportation from the airport to your University or homestay.
• Make 4 photocopies of the INFORMATIONAL pages of your passport.

1) Carry one in your bags, but separate from your passport
2) Leave one at your home in the U.S.
3) Leave one at your home abroad
4) Leave one in your file in the Study Abroad Office

• Scan a copy of the informational pages of your passport on to your computer and save as a file. E-mail yourself the file and keep the e-mail.
• Leave a photocopy of your airline ticket (if round trip) at your home in the U.S.
• Don't forget to take:

- a copy of your birth certificate (available at Town Hall of place of birth)
- proof of valid health insurance coverage
- your International Student Identity Card
- your Holy Cross telephone book (very important)
- your Study Abroad Calling Card
- your "Pre-Departure" Manual

• Contact someone who studied at your program last year and get a student's eye-view!