CAPA understands that having a student abroad can be as difficult a transition for the parent as it is for the student. Please keep the following information on hand to refer to during the semester. We hope this helps make the transition as smooth as possible!

How can I contact my son/daughter during the program?

• CAPA has provided all participants with the option of renting a cell phone for the duration of the program through our provider: PICCELL wireless. If they choose to order the cell phone, it will be shipped to them prior to leaving the country. Be sure to keep the cell phone number handy as this will be the best way to reach your student. Please click here for information on the PICCELL wireless option. (PicCell is not available in Costa Rica)

• Students will have limited access to landlines while there are overseas. Please note that many of the international rates on calling cards are only applicable to landline calls. Calls made to cell phones are often much more expensive and use more minutes of an international calling card. You may want to consider temporarily setting an international calling plan from your landline in the United States. Many providers offer these plans, some examples of this are the AT&T International Plan and the MCI International Plan.
  

• When calling your student, don’t forget the time difference!

I want to send my son/daughter a letter/package, where should I send it?

Please address all letters and packages to the CAPA center where your student is studying and make sure to write C/O the student’s name and note their home institution.
*Note: If you are sending a package via Fed Ex, you must select the option which indicates that all costs will be covered by the sender and you must provide your credit card number.  Fed Ex adds on duty and administrative fees when the package arrives overseas and if you have not chosen to pay for these fees, the package will either not be accepted at CAPA or your student will be asked to pay these charges.

I haven’t heard from my son/daughter in awhile, should I be concerned?

• Unfortunately for parents, many students get so caught up in the whirlwind of being abroad that they can be a little slow to keep in touch. Please keep in mind that this is normal and shouldn’t raise any immediate concern. Many families find that e-mail is the preferred method of communication as it enables the student time to respond when it fits into their busy schedule.

• Also, keep in mind that when your son or daughter contacts you to talk about a problem, they can often forget to follow-up. If your son or daughter expresses concern or unhappiness about a conflict or a dilemma, it may be a good idea to let a day or two pass and then contact him or her to make sure that all issues have passed. If the problem persists, be sure to keep in touch and monitor the mood of your son or daughter. If your child begins to behave erratically or completely uncharacteristically, this may be cause for concern and he or she should be encouraged to contact the CAPA staff in-country.

• Students are encouraged to discuss any problems they might be having with CAPA staff. While many parents want to know everything affecting their child or may wish to help them resolve their problems, allowing students to be an active participant in any resolution enables them to grow in terms of independence – one of the primary goals of study abroad.

What kind of insurance coverage does my son/daughter have?

CAPA provides all students with basic World Student Insurance. This provides a variety of coverage. We recommend that you make a copy of the World Student Insurance brochure to refer to while your son or daughter is out of the country. Please click here for the full insurance policy included in the program.

Is any additional insurance available?

For an added cost, you can purchase supplemental trip cancellation insurance. CAPA recommends this, as it can save you and your son or daughter thousands of dollars in the event that he or she needs to cancel from the program due to medical reasons. We have included a supplemental trip insurance brochure in this packet. Please click here for the full supplemental insurance brochure.

My son/daughter is sick, can he/she go to the doctor?

CAPA World Student Insurance will reimburse a student for medical care, but it is important to note that your son or daughter will have to pay out of pocket up front for these costs. He or she should also be sure to hold onto ANY receipts in order to more easily reclaim the money spent once he or she has returned to the United States. Also, keep in mind that for mild illnesses, particularly in Europe, pharmacists are as equipped at diagnosing and prescribing medications as doctors in the United States. This method is quicker and less expensive and generally recommended for non-serious illnesses. Please click here for the full insurance policy included in the program.

How do I send money to my son/daughter?

Western Union is still a reliable resource for wiring money in the case of an emergency. You can visit www.westernunion.com or your local branch to do this. It can also be a good idea to get added to your son or daughter’s checking account through his or her bank before he or she leaves. That way, you can automatically transfer money into the checking account over the phone or online.

What else might I need?

There’s never really any way of predicting everything you could need while your son or daughter is abroad, but some precautionary measures can make everything easier.

• Keep a photocopy of your son or daughter’s passport on hand. If it gets lost, having a copy of this will expedite the process of getting a replacement.

• Keep a photocopy of any credit cards your son or daughter is bringing. Again, in the event of an emergency, this information can be useful.

Make sure you have an active passport!! Should there be an emergency and you have to travel overseas, it is imperative that you have an active passport on hand!

Other suggestions:

• Encourage your son or daughter to register at the local embassy in the country in which he or she is studying. CAPA has provided students with information on how to do this.

• Stay up to date on current events! Not all news is bad news, sometimes finding a fun story from the country that your child is studying in can help you to feel connected.

• Use online communication! E-mail can be great not just for staying in touch- now photos, movies, music, can all be sent electronically.