INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS STUDYING IN SPAIN
Studying abroad is an important moment both in your child's academic and personal growth. Estudiafuera understands this and is here to support your child in making sound decisions in order to have the best possible experience studying in
We are glad to answer your questions or help you figure out how to best help your child. Please contact us either by telephone or by e-mail if you have a question about your child's program.
We have gathered a few pointers here so that you can keep abreast of your child's chosen program, assist your child in realizing the program, and maintain peace of mind throughout the process.
1. Find out information about the city where your child will be studying to share with your child, and get to know the setting yourself.
2. Find out if you know anyone who has been to the city where your child wishes to study, and who would be willing to talk to your child about their experience.
3. Getting the visa. If you child will be studying for a semester or year in
4. Have your child share the information about the program with you, and make a copy of the course confirmation and any other documents (passport, visa, credit cards, travelers checks, medical insurance policy), to have on file while your child is gone, as well as Estudiafuera¿s contact information.
5. Be sure your child has a network of phone numbers to call to find you in case of emergency (not just home and work, but of a relative or friend as well).
1. Maintain frequent contact with your child, after his or her arrival to
2. Let your child know that both you and other members of the family are thinking about them, and are supportive of what they are doing.
3. Keep abreast of current events in the country where your child is studying.
After the Study Abroad:
Re-entry can be difficult for some students. Many times students have difficulty in explaining to everyone back home what their life was like abroad. Be interested in what your child has to say, and understand that the experience has impacted them and that it may take a little while for them to adapt to life back home. They may feel as though they have changed a lot, but that their friends and family are very much the same. This can be startling for them at first. Some things that you can do:
1. Ask your child about their experiences while abroad
2. Gather friends and family for a slide show or presentation of photos
3. Encourage your child to actively participate with the international club at their university or other
organization where they will have contact with other international people.
LOGISTICAL INFORMATION:
Phone calls
It may be a challenging for you to speak to your child by telephone due to differences in time zones and accessibility to telephones where students can make and/or accept international phone calls. Establish a time that you can call your child that is convenient for you both. If your child is living in a host family, your child should let the host family know what time you will be calling, to be sure that the line is free.
How to call Spain:
- Dial 011 (for international calls from the United States), or 00 (from many other countries)
- Dial 34 (for Spain)
- Dial the 9-digit telephone number. This can be a movil or landline number.
If you cannot locate your child by telephone, and need to make contact immediately, you can call Estudiafuera, and we will contact the university and Spanish home, or residence of your child.
Be sure to have a copy of the university information (we will send that out to you along with the confirmation of the course) with a contact name and phone number at the university.
E-mail may be the best way to communicate with your child while abroad, as it is cost effective and you dont have to coordinate with your child's radically different schedule.
Other important numbers that you may wish to keep on hand are the US Embassy in Spain or the Consulate in Barcelona as well as the Spanish Embassy to the US, or the Spanish Consulate responsible for your district.
Medical Care
The health care system in Spain is quite different from in the US and many other countries. However, if your child is sick or needs to see a doctor for any reason, no person in Spain is denied health care. Your child will either be covered by a medical insurance purchased in the US, or by a Spanish medical insurance purchased through Estudiafuera. In either case, if coming to Spain from a country outside of the European Union, your child will go either to a private medical clinic or to a hospital and will receive the proper care or treatment. You may wish to find out what kind of care is offered through your medical insurance provider and compare that to the Spanish policy offered through Estudiafuera. There are other kinds of insurances available that will cover just about anything while your child is abroad. If you would like more information, contact us!
Money
The most efficient way for students to manage their finances while abroad is by utilizing an ATM or debit card. American debit and ATM cards work in Spanish ATM machines withfew problems, and much less hassle or expense than the alternative ways of carrying money. It is advisable that you notify your child's bank prior to coming to Spain, so that they will not put the card on hold or restrict any transactions if they see charges coming out of Spain. You may also want to ask your bank what kinds of fees they charge in international transactions. Some banks may offer a better and less expensive service.