Information for parents
Welcome to the ISU - Hessen International Summer University's Parents Page
We are pleased to host your son or daughter here in Kassel, Germany. While the University of Kassel and its surroundings are safe and vibrant, we are fully aware that as a parent your child’s comfort and well-being is your greatest concern. Therefore, we designed this page to provide you with important information concerning your child’s stay abroad. This page may not be as detailed, and we strongly encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Our experienced and attentive staff is here to assist you.
On this page, 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 many 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 several categories such as 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 its surroundings, please click here.
You also might consult guidebooks which contain information about cultural practices. We encourage you to read about Germany before your child’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:
- Lonely Planet
- Let's Go
- Rough Guide.
- Culture Shock collection (written specifically for students)
There are, of course, many other travel guides. You may check Amazon.com for further selections.
Sending Money To Germany
If your student runs out of money or an emergency comes up while 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 by using 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, that 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. Prior to departure, find out what privileges cardholders have when abroad. Note: Credit card acceptance is considerably lower in Germany than in other Western countries (e.g. the U.S. and Canada), sometimes credit cards can only be used when a particular amount of money has to be paid.
Postal Money Orders
A family member or friend can buy a money order from a U.S. or corresponding national post office and send it to the 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 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.
How Parents can 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 listed below.
ISU Kassel also encourages students to create a (personal blog site). These sites usually allow users to upload photos, attach links, and provide outside readers with the opportunity to comment on certain events. 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.
Contact and Team Information
24 hour Emergency Number during ISU:
June 20 - July 18, 2009:
- ++49 178 1692773 (from outside Germany)
Contact: ISU-Kassel Team
Ms. Britta Woebbeking (Managing Coordinator)
E-mail: isu@uni-kassel.de
Phone: 0049 561 804 1869
Fax: 0049 561 804 3815
Mail to Germany
Mail bound for Germany takes approximately 4-7 days to arrive from the US + Canada. Mail from Australia takes approximately 7-10 days. For duration of mail sent from other countries, please contact your local post office. Customs: Please be aware that many items are subject to either import tariffs, customs duties or both. Most articles intended for personal use during your child’s studies can be imported duty free. Labeling must be clear and precise. For further information click the link below.
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/customs/dutyfree.html
Documents
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), students should 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 child’s choosing the power to make financial and other decisions on the student's behalf. When leaving 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 is recommended.
Health and Safety
ISU Kassel is fully aware that the health and safety 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 put together some information to assist you:
Culture Shock
Studying abroad is challenging in a very personal way. Students 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 students will gain from their experience aborad. 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 with ; 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:
- homesickness
- boredom
- withdrawal (e.g., spending excessive amounts of time reading, only seeing other fellow citizens, avoiding contact with local people)
- need for excessive amounts of sleep
- compulsive eating or drinking
- irritability
- exaggerated cleanliness
- stereotyping of or hostility toward local people
- loss of ability to work effectively
- unexplainable fits of weeping
- physical ailments (psychosomatic illness)
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:
- Listen carefully to people and remember that they most likely are not making the same assumptions as you are. If you are not sure of what they mean, ask.
- Speak the host language as often as possible.
- If you have certain hobbies or are involved in sports at home, try to do the same abroad. This is the best way to make friends.
- Set time aside each day to do something special. Then do it. Keep active.
- Find a place where you feel comfortable and spend time there.
- Talk to (new) friends or your program directors if you feel that you have problems coping; try to look at your problems one at a time, and set out to solve them, one at a time. Do not let the combination of problems overwhelm you.
- If you feel depressed, ask yourself, "What did I expect?" "Were my expectations reasonable given the national culture and local situation?" "If so, what can I do to make them come true?" "If not, how can I make the best use of my time?"
- If you develop physical problems, such as headaches, stomach aches, or sleep disturbance, realize that these may be signs of stress, rather than physical problems. Discuss your symptoms with your directors, and try to deal with the stress.
Talking with your doctor
It is crucial that parents and students speak with their personal physician about plans of 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 happy 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 expedited basis. Sessions last approximately 50 minutes. For further information, please visit this link.
Legal Services
Please visit the webpage of your national embassy or consulate in Germany for the most relevant and up-to-date information.
Embassy and Consulates Page at Germany-info:
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/laenderinfos/vertretungen/index_html
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