Flying Solo: by Jake Pinson
Posted on January 10, 2020 by Jake Pinson
Regardless of where you intend to study abroad, you can’t always get to the starting or ending point at the same time as everyone else. Sometimes, you might want to stay longer in a place or arrive a little earlier. Or, your flight could be significantly cheaper if you arrive on different days than the rest of your group. In any of these situations, you should not be afraid to fly alone. When I went to Australia in the fall of 2018, my airfare was significantly cheaper if I flew in the day before the rest of the group and flew out 3 days after the rest of the group. Although this was not the first time I had flown alone, it was definitely the longest flight that I had ever made by myself, and the only place I had been alone where I did not know someone waiting for me on the other end of the long flight. So, I was excited and a little nervous about this process. I am sharing with you some of my experiences; somethings I learned from my travel, and some things others taught me before I started this adventure.
First, make sure you have an updated passport so you do not have any trouble at the airports. Also, make sure that you make a copy of the front page of your passport document and leave one with someone you trust at home, and put one in your carry-on luggage. These copies do not count as the real passport, but they make getting a duplicate passport much easier in the event that you lose your passport. Also, make sure that you check ahead of time and know where the US Embassy is where ever you are going. In the unlikely event that something happens to your passport, they will help you replace it. It’s a good idea to enroll with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the State Department so that they will know that you are visiting another country and can offer assistance in any emergency situation. Finally, on the issue of identification, leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home. That person will know when you should arrive at your destination and can check in to make sure that you get where you are supposed to be going.
To make communication easier and offer additional safety to you traveling alone, get an international calling plan for your phone. They usually cost about $60 for a month. Some plans offer $10/day and only charge you when you need to use the phone. Whatever the cost investment, it provides peace of mind to you and your parents or other loved ones to know that you can be reached. If anything happens that is unexpected like delayed aircraft so that you have to spend the night somewhere unexpected, you can let them know. You can also communicate with you program leader to let that person know where you are. Being able to communicate cuts down on a lot of anxiety for you, those at home, and those you are traveling to meet. It’s also a good idea to get the phone numbers of members of your group before you depart so that you will have a way of getting in touch with them while you travel or after you land.
A few other tips related to safety and peace of mind include storage of money and valuables. First of all, leave your valuables at home. You don’t need to be flashy in a foreign country and call attention to the fact that you are a visitor. You want to be able to blend in as much as possible so that you are not an easy target. As for your money, don’t carry all of it in one place. Put some in your pocket and some in your carry-on luggage. You also might want to limit the amount of cash that you have when you travel and make a bank withdrawal when you arrive in the foreign country. Different people have different opinions about that because you do get