Life While Abroad

Few study abroad programs offer meal plans like the ones available on campus at Rochester. Your university or program may have a dining hall or a variety of on-campus eateries. You can also choose from a number of local restaurants. This can be a great way to try out the local cuisine but it can also be an expensive way to feed yourself.

• Make your own meals: In many cases making your own meals is usually the most affordable option and helps you stick to your budget. Program staff can suggest the best places to buy groceries and your housing will often include kitchen facilities.
• Cleanliness: It’s important to pay attention to the sanitary conditions wherever you eat. For example, the food stalls at the local farmer’s market might be cost-effective and culturally authentic but they might also cause traveler’s diarrhea.
• Host family cooked meal: If you’re living in a homestay your host family, will typically provide at least one meal per day. This is a wonderful way to sample some home cooking typical of your host country.
• • Dietary requirements: It’s important to be clear up front with your host family about any special dietary limitations you may have. That way, if you’re a vegetarian, your host family will know not to put chicken feet in your soup. Your program staff will usually provide the host families with guidelines for food preparation since foods that seem ordinary to them might present digestion challenges for someone newly arrived in the country.

• Email: Ensure your email is set up properly so you can access it while abroad. If you aren’t able to check email while abroad, ensure auto-responders are set up. Visit University IT’s Student Email page for more information.
• VPN: To access restricted University resources from off-campus (like your University email), you’ll need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Visit University IT’s VPN page for more information on setting this up.

Contact University IT with any questions.

• Visit our Health Care Guide for requirements before your travel.
• Visit our Safety page for tips to stay safe during your time away.
• Students traveling with severe allergies should browse the Select Wisely website and the IES Tips for Traveling with a Food Allergy.

You’ll need to adhere to the University’s Education Abroad Code of Conduct while you’re away, or you could risk facing disciplinary action.

A unique part of education abroad is experiencing an entirely new culture. Our Cultural Awareness page can help you anticipate some cultural norms and what to expect.