Staying in Touch
Having a cell phone that works internationally is a great way to
communicate with all of your friends in the program and a necessity
in emergency situations. It's also a requirement for
all semester program participants. The good news is
that, with the right information, getting an international cell
phone can be a relatively quick, painless and (if you plan well)
inexpensive process. Here are some options:
PicCell
PicCell is an external vendor that supplies cell phones and SIM
cards to students who are traveling abroad. Although they are not
associated with or endorsed by St. John's University, they do
provide a special offer to St. John's program participants that can
be a good option, depending on what you're looking for. Here are
some of the features of the PicCell program:
- A free cell phone that can be used throughout Europe
- A free SIM card for each country that you are studying in (must
be returned at the end of the program)
- Free incoming calls (this is a feature of most European calling
plans)
- Free unlimited PicCell-to-PicCell calls (there is a small
connection fee for each call, but you are not charged by the
minute)
You'll be able to order a PicCell phone directly through the
special St. John's student page on their website
here.
*Note for DTW Students: When beginning your order form, you should
enter only your first rotation country under "Where are you going?"
You'll be able to enter the other two countries later in the order
form under "Additional SIM Cards."
Local Pre-Paid Cell
Phones
It's generally cheap and easy to find a pre-paid phone in each
location that you'll be studying in, and you'll have the comfort of
knowing that you won't be shocked by a large phone bill at the end
of the semester. Buy as much as you think you'll need at the
beginning and re-fill as necessary. Keep in mind, though, that you
will not be able to get your money back for pre-paid minutes not
used. Another drawback is that you will not have a cell phone upon
your arrival in your first country.
Using Your Current Cell
Phone
Depending on the type of cell phone and carrier you have, it may be
possible to use your US cell phone overseas. Options include
setting up an international plan with your US-based carrier (this
can be costly, so make sure you're aware of all fees and rates
included) and purchasing a local SIM card that will work in your
current phone.