Welcome to the ISU - Hessen International Summer University's Parents Page
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Welcome to the ISU - Hessen International Summer University's Parents Page |
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We are pleased to host your student here in Kassel, Germany. While Universität Kassel and its surrounds are safe and vibrant, we are fully aware that as a parent your student's comfort and well-being is your greatest concern. So, we have designed this page to provide you with important information concerning your student's stay. This page is not exhaustive, so we strongly encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Our experienced and attentive staff are here to assist you from start to finish.
Here you will find useful information and tips on several topics: general information concerning Germany and Kassel; how to send money; how to stay informed; and much more. Please click on the links below for further information. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further questions and needs.
Find Out about Germany and Kassel
A great resource for general information about Germany and the Kassel area is the US State Department's Country Background Notes.
The Background Notes provide information in the categories of people, government, history, political conditions, economy, foreign relations, travel, and business. Other national foreign ministries can provide more specific information for students.
Embassy and Consulates Page at Germany-info:
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/laenderinfos/vertretungen/index_html
For Kassel and it´s surroundings, please click here.
You also might consult guidebooks which contain information about cultural practices.
We encourage you to read about Germany before your student’s departure.
Gaining more knowledge about Germany will help to answer questions and address
your concerns. There are many books on the market which provide basic information
for studying and traveling in Germany. Some suggestions include:
If your student runs out of money or an emergency comes up while they are abroad, there are several options for getting money from home.
ATM Cards
Often the quickest and cheapest way to obtain funds in Germany is to arrange for a cash deposit to be made directly to the student's bank account in their home countries, which they can then withdraw with their ATM card. Students should verify with their bank prior to departure that their ATM card will work in Germany (most do). Bear in mind, however, the most banks have daily withdrawal limits (e.g. €400 Euro). Therefore, for larger sums, other options are suggested.
Wiring Money
Cash or traveler's checks can be wired to your student through companies such as Western Union or an American Express office (located in major cities). Western Union has recently started a new service, which allows money to be transferred online.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are good for emergencies or major travel expenses. They also offer good rates of exchange. Before you go, find out what privileges cardholders with your credit card have when abroad. Note: Credit card acceptance is considerably lower in Germany than in other Western countries (e.g. the U.S. and Canada esp).
Postal Money Orders
A family member or friend can buy a money order from a U.S. or cooresponding national post office and send it to there student. You'll be paid the amount of the money order at your local post office. Postal money orders have the advantage of being inexpensive, but the disadvantage of being slow: they take as long to get to you as an airmail letter, and cashing them can sometimes be problematic.
Personal Checks
Please note that you are unlikely to be able to cash checks in Germany. The exception is if you establish a bank account here, which you may consider if your program is for an academic or calendar year (though we do not necessarily recommend it). In addition, some credit cards offer check-cashing privileges. At American Express offices in Germany, for example, you can cash a check for up to $1,000 if you are an American Express cardholder. Please visit the Amex website for further information.
What Parents can do to stay informed
ISU-Kassel encourages parents to stay informed about current events in Germany, Kassel, and the surrounding region. Germany has a variety of information online, ranging from official government statements and statistics to unofficial web-guides and online newspapers. Some examples are below.
ISU-Kassel also encourages parents to encourage their students to create a (personal blog site). These sites usually allow users to upload photos, attach links, and provide outside readers the opportunity to comment. It’s a great way for loved ones to share more intimately the student’s overseas experience. Weblogs can be created in a variety of ways, but the most popular would be through MySpace.com or Yahoo.
Emergency contact phone number: +49 178 1677244
Contact: ISU-Kassel Team
Ms. Britta Wöbbeking
Ms. Julia Stenzinger
E-mail: ISU@uni-kassel.de
Phone: +49 (0) 561 / 804-1869
Fax: +49 (0) 561 / 804-3513
Mail bound for Germany takes approximately 4-7 days to arrive from the US + Canada. Mail from Australia takes approximately 7-10 days. Customs: Please be aware that many items are subject to either import tariffs or customs duties or both. Most articles intended for personal use during your studies can be imported duty free. Labeling must be clear. For further information click the link below.
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/customs/dutyfree.html
Your student should plan to take a variety of documents to his or her program site. In addition to a passport and travel visa (where required), the student should also plan to take the original and a (copy of insurance cards and other health-related documents). ISU-Kassel recommends that students make at least three photocopies of their passport and visa and leave a copy of each at home in the unlikely event the passport is misplaced or stolen. Students generally give a photocopy of their passport to the on-site Director as well and keep an additional copy separate from their passport. In addition, students may also choose to grant (power of attorney) to someone they know well and can trust. A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives a person of your student's choosing the power to make financial and other decisions on the student's behalf. When your student leaves the country for the study abroad program, it will be difficult or impossible to make and perform these important choices. ISU-Kassel does not require this document, but it can be an important one.
ISU-Kassel is fully aware that the health and safety of your student(s) are of the most important concerns that you have. Although Germany - and Kassel in particular - are very safe places with first-class medical facilities, it is advisable that parents educate themselves with as many aspects of health and safety as possible. We have organized some information to assist you.
Culture Shock
Studying abroad is challenging in a very personal way. Your student(s) will
find themselves examining their own assumptions and ways of life frequently
as they immerse themselves in something new and different. Inherent in studying
abroad is change. In fact, adapting to change is one of the skills you will
gain from your experience. However, change can sometimes be uncomfortable and
overwhelming. These feelings are normal and are shared by most people who have
traveled and lived abroad. We call these feelings (culture shock).
Culture Shock is not something that you catch and then quickly get over; it
is a cycle of readjustment that may take quite a while. The cycle is marked
by (four basic phases) and most people experience at least two low periods
during their stay abroad. The length and severity of these low periods vary
greatly for different individuals and it is important for both students abroad
and their parents at home to be aware of these phases. The four basic phases
of culture shock are:
Euphoria
This is the initial phase or tourist phase. They are excited about living in a new place, and at first glance it strikes them that the people and their way of life are not that different from what they are used to. Cultural differences are viewed as "charming."
Irritation and Hostility
After the initial excitement is over, they may start noticing more and more dissimilarities between life in the foreign country and life at home. Your initial curiosity and enthusiasm turns into irritation, frustration, anger, and depression. Minor nuisances and inconveniences lead to catastrophic upsets. Symptoms experienced during this phase include:
This second phase of culture shock is the most difficult period. Many people only experience a few of these symptoms, but it is helpful to be aware of these symptoms so that you can understand what is happening to your loved ones, and can take steps to counteract them.
Gradual Adjustment
Over time they gradually will change their perspective and will adapt to the new culture. Once they begin to orient themselves and are able to interpret some of the subtle cultural clues and cues, the culture will seem more familiar and more comfortable. They feel less isolated and their self-confidence returns.
Adaptation or Biculturalism
Full recovery has occurred when they are able to function in two cultures with confidence. At that time they will find that they enjoy some of the very customs, ways of doing and saying things, and personal attitudes that bothered them so much in phase two. They may not realize how well they have adjusted to the new culture until they return to their home countries, at which point you may well experience (reverse culture shock).
How to Cope with Culture Shock
Since culture shock is a cycle of readjustment, people who make the effort to learn as much as possible about their temporary home country before they leave, and who arrive abroad with an open mind, often find it much easier to adjust. To make the transition easier, remember not to wait for people around you to make the first move, but start reaching out right away: buy a map of the city and become familiar with your own neighborhood; find out where the closest bank, post office, telephone, and grocery store are located. Your next step might be to familiarize yourself with some of the basic names and phrases which appear on signs, menus, etc. Even most English-speaking countries use many phrases which are unfamiliar in the U.S. A British passer-by will not know that you are looking for a chemist when you are asking for a drug store. Some other ways of coping with culture shock are:
Talking with your doctor
It is crucial that you and your student speak with your personal physician about
your plans for studying and traveling abroad. Your doctor can best advise you
on how to handle medication/prescriptions in another country, which shots you
should have before you leave (if any), how to avoid common travel illnesses,
how to maintain your sexual health, and any other information specific to your
medical history and needs. It is a good idea to have a physical exam, dental
cleaning, and any other preventative care before you leave the country.
Counseling
ISU-Kassel is pleased to inform you that student counseling services are available to students free of charge. Social service advisors are available for a large range of issues. Enquires can be made via telephone and appointments are made on an expediated basis. Sessions last approximately 50 minutes. For further information, please visit this link.
Please visit the webpage of your national embassy or consulate in Germany for the most relevent and up to date information.
Embassy and Consulates Page at Germany-info:
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/laenderinfos/vertretungen/index_html