The International Student Blog

Would you like to win $2,000?

Stupid question I know, but the brand new InternationalStudent.com Holiday Travel Competition has been launched and will net one lucky winner $2,000 to travel around the world! All you need to do is create a video telling us why we should send you away – be as funny, serious, informative….. just do what you want and send it in!

International Student – Holiday Travel Contest!

Learn more at:
http://www.iCallAbroad.com

At last – we are pleased to announce the launch of the brand new iCallAbroad.com website!

The new site, which provides new services and (of course) improved usability has been launched today with a full press roll out expected next week, but I wanted to let all our blog readers know first! The new site has some great International Calling Card services such as:

iCallAbroad USA – International Phone Card available for calling from the USA
iCallAbroad UK – a revolutionary new calling service for the UK that requires no account setup
iCallAbroad Traveler – Worldwide International Calling Card with access in over 100 countries
Sim Cards – International Sim Cards
Mobile Phone – Prepaid Mobile phones for the USA

Also sign up to the new iCallAbroad Newsletter and you will get the new issue next week.

Check out the new iCallAbroad.com Website today and let us know what you think!
http://www.iCallAbroad.com/

Just something that I use on a daily basis, so I know other students will find it handy is the timeanddate.com website which provides you with the time in major cities around the world! Certainly helps me

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

From an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, it has been reported that the British government has asked university lecturers and staff to “spy” on asian looking students as they believe the countries universities have become a breeding ground for Muslim extremists.

According to the article, which cites The Guardian newspaper in the UK, there is an 18 page report which describes the problem and the proposal for university staff to spy on students.

You can read the full article online at:
http://www.chronicle.com/

I was recently thinking about student ID cards, as we get emails all the time from students asking which one is the best? Where can they get one? Why should I get one? and so on…..so I thought I would look into the main options and see how they compare.

The 2 main players in the International Student ID card arena are the ISIC card and ISE Card – so how do they compare:

ISIC Card – Cost in the USA $22:
– Worldwide recognition
– 32,000 discounts in 106 countries
– 24 hour emergency helpline
– ISI Connect phone card

ISE Card – Cost in the USA $25:
– Worldwide discounts
– $2,000 medical expense and $5,000 evacuation coverage
– 24 hour worldwide assistance
– Airline Bankruptcy protection
– Calling Card Feature
– North America Roadside Assistance Program

Information obtained on both cards at:
http://www.isecard.com/isecard/benefits.html
http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=istc_info

I think its pretty clear the ISIC card has been the heavy weight in this field, and I think it may well be the more well known card – however saying that you cannot ignore the benefits of the ISE Card, and I believe its clear that the ISE Card provides more “added value” to the student with many more benefits.

If you have any comments, post them!

The latest issue of the InternationalStudent.com Monthly Newsletter, issue 92, is currently on its way to your email inbox if you have subscribed to receive it. This month we cover:

1. Introduction
2. Staying in touch – International Communications
3. Find your Spanish course in the Spanish world
4. TOEFL Scores Open More Doors
5. Featured Program: Iowa Intensive English Program
6. Student Sound-off – HOT Topics from the mail bag
7. Student News – from around the world
8. International Financial Aid
9. Subscription Information
10. Final Note

Read the full newsletter online at:
http://www.internationalstudent.com/newsletter/issue92.shtml

or sign up FREE to receive it each month via email:
http://www.internationalstudent.com/newsletter/index.shtml

As the new semester is well underway, keeping in touch with your family and friends is really important – but for many to do this can be expensive and trying to find the right option can be time consuming and will most probably make you want to pull your hair out! At InternationalStudent.com we have done the hard work for you and found the best options for you….

Internet Calling:
There are two services that are head and shoulders above the rest, Skype and Gizmo:
http://www.skype.com
http://www.gizmoproject.com/

PS – you can now call InternationalStudentInsurance.com for free from Skype!

Calling from the USA:
The best service we have found is iCallAbroad.com with low rates, great connection, pin-less dialing and much more:
http://www.iCallAbroad.com

Calling from the rest of the world:
If you need to call from other locations of want your parents or friends to call you then check out the InternationalCallingCard.com rate search to find the best product:
http://www.InternationalCallingCard.com

Sim Cards
The cheapest sim card available online for the USA with the T-mobile service is available at:
http://www.internationalstudent.com/sim_cards/

Let us know if you use these services, and what you think?