We will use our Spring Break blog about Acapulco as a source of information & advice for college spring break students looking to go to the "Mexican Riviera" for Spring Break in February or March.

The first time I went to Acapulco was for a long weekend when I was back in College a decade and a half ago - much has changed - particularly occupancy levels of the hotels used there on Spring Break. Back then, only maybe one spring break tour company offered Acapulco - but what happened is, Cancun got some bad press about student drinking binges, and students couldn't "sell" Cancun to their parents - but still wanted Mexico - hence the Acapulco explosion of bookings.

Why Acapulco might be a good fit for your spring break package this year:

* Parents are ok with you doing spring break just not Cancun, you want Mexico, they are alright with Acapulco

*You've done Cancun already - need a new place

*You are a "spectacular" night club person. Acapulco is all about getting all dressed up and going out at night - the "flip flops" crowd might not like it, however - there is a strict dress code at night

*You are a Senior in College and this really will be your last "hurrah!" before you go to work for $20,000 per year after graduation. Might as well have some fun, right?

*You are not all about a pristine Beach - you would rather lounge by the pool and have margaritas brought to you one after another on your week of spring break than lie on the beach directly

*You are looking for a mix of American with Mexican restaurants - Acapulco has both authentic Mexican and "Dominoes" to "Burger King"

*You've got some cash. There are a TON of things to do in Acapulco, but nothing is low cost. Stuff like Snorkeling is $100/person - very good quality, however.

What Acapulco for Spring Break is not:

*Crystal clear blue water - it's not Cancun - Pacific side water looks like California

*Cheap or low cost. Airfare & hotel will be over $1000. Don't get duped into staying off the beach in Acapulco, those hotels are truly of unacceptable quality.

*A place for people looking for a bar vs. a club scene. It's all about the clubs, bottle service, and being at a table

* A good choice for 2 people - it's alot of larger groups - sorta makes it a bit tougher to meet someone special as well. The price is what can hurt, say, 2 people as the cost can be over $1400/person making it a tad higher than some other destination choices.

With this stuff said, Acapulco remains one of the hottest Mexico Spring Break Destinations. The clubs do rank as some of the very best in the world, you can expect big college crowds, and it's a hot choice if you are putting together a group.

Inertia Tours Spring Break can maket this trip happen at a more affordable cost than any other tour operator. In addition, rather than us tell you about "how big we are with thousands of people" we remain one of the smaller spring break travel agencies booking trips to Acapulco - and that's an advantage to you if you book with us - we combine up with 4 or 5 other spring break tour operators so you will get to meet many, many more students than traveling with a company that all they do is Acapulco - as they want to run their own parties and it's the same old people each night.

Call us toll free 800 821 2176 or visit our website - http://www.inertiatours.com/acapulco if you need more advice or information. We will happily assist you if you email us what you are looking for too - tripinfo@inertiatours.com. We can usually beat ANY price for a beachfront hotel....we don't sell dumps...and you'll get not only Texas-great service, you'll get to meet farrrr more people on our trip than anyone elses'

Since then, there have been several meetings and orientation settings, dozens of meetings, several trips into town and hundreds of memories that I will never forget.

This may have been the best decision of our lives.

Everything--Ormskirk, Edge Hill, the other Americans, the real live British students...everything has met or exceeded our expectations.

Ormskirk is bustling today with another street market (every Thursday and Saturday) and Abby and I have already discovered several new nooks and crannies that as to date had been left unexplored. That's my goal really: to become part of Ormskirk, to find the places off the beaten track and to learn to appreciate and marvel at the things that I may not ever see again.

Details here are important. On our walks into town, I am usually the one who lags behind because I've found some little growth sticking out of a rustic garden wall or noticed some winding side street that begs to be explored.

My journal is becoming a rediculous mess of hastily scribbled notes, as I've no time to actually write coherent descriptions of the day. Hopefully once this week slows down I will get some time and be able to translate them into some sort of interesting prose.

The people are wonderful. I don't know where people have gathered the understanding that Brits are stuck up or reserved--every person I've met here has been warm, welcoming, and absolutely willing to help, no matter how stupid the question. Perhaps it's just my delightful American accent.

The other American students have quickly bonded into a sort of second family. We all get along wonderfully and it's been great having people to hang out with and who understand the frustrations and the challenges of our Edge Hill experience. Our house is situated farther back from campus, but it has quickly become the meeting spot and the hang-out house for all of our friends.

It is cold here. I've been shivering since we arrived, but I finally found a coat at one of the tiny local thrift stores for only £10. (About $20 American). It's totally bad-ass. Doubling the money has been rather rough, but since our student cards were activated, I have been able to save a bit of money that way. There are still some things I need, but for the most part we've been able to survive on what we've found around town. Getting phones was one of the biggest challenges, but once again, the shop workers were more than happy to explain just how exactly UK phones worked and we were able to get them without much hassle. (Free incoming calls....All the time!!! To all phones!!!)

Remembering the small things like looking RIGHT not left when crossing the road and understanding cultural differences are becoming easier and much more routine. Even the odd obsession with fire doors and fire extinguishers has become less perplexing and more amusing. I lived in terror that the house was going to burn down around me for the first couple days, but apparently here in the UK they just like to be prepared. I've spent hours wandering the different super markets and looking at all of the different food options. It's become exciting going to lunch or eating out, because even the salads are different here--not bad different, just different from home. It's these differences that I am learning to appreciate and I think already grow fond of. Crisps vs Chips and Chips vs Fries is a debate that will never be won, however, but I am trying.

My laptop has supposedly been fixed, so I should be getting it soon and then be able to post up pictures and such things. I want to share this experience, so we will be linking our new Flickr account shortly for photography purposes. Look forward to that.

Until then, Cheers!

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But that has not deterred me...I may be a little sad but one thing I learned, that I constantly remind myself of, is that one person can make a difference.  And besides, I am not alone but a party of 16 people that support, encourage, and love each other.  Strangers once apon a time, but no more--to each other nor the determination of several quite remarkable people that changed our lives.

I am often confused about God's call in my life.  What am I supposed to be doing?  What will I do upon graduation from Div. school?  Just what does God want from me? You know the questions; we all have them swimming through our heads.  But, I find that lately, I am not so worried.  And, that is a product from my summer experience; a good thing!  I feel more affirmed and reassured right now than I ever have during my ministry.  It is not over-confidence, just a little more comfortable.  It is wonderful.

I celebrate!  I laugh!  And, I do occassionally interject that excited word just to see the confused look that crosses the face before they say, "Tell us more."  And, then I do!

Blessings and love, Karen

I know, of course, that much of England is now steel and concrete, cement and glass. Bustling cities have built up over the carriage-trenched dirt roads, and stately stone mansions now exist merely as a reminder and gateway to a world that once was....I just haven't fully convinced myself. Not just yet. I want the magic to last for a bit longer.

I know, of course, that it's perhaps a bit childish, a bit petulant to refuse to acknowledge what I know to be true, even in my own mind. But there is something immortal about words embossed on paper, black and white, the contract between myself and the author, asurring me that yes, endings can be happy ones. And now, I am finding the stories of my childhood fully realized. All of them. The names, people, places, houses...they exist. Baker Street, Sherwood Forrest, Buckingham Palace...they aren't just words or photographs or pictures that flicker to commercial before I can drink my fill--instead, they are train tickets or bus rides away. Dickens, Austen, Bronte--whole museums, days, week long festivals in their honor, in rememberance of that magic they created. I will be there, to thank them personally.

It has been so long, such a laborious, patient wait that I think the very word "England" has taken on a sort of magic. England itself seems magic, a foreign and mysterious place that awaits our discovery.

I know, of course, that we will arrive and be greeted by Coke billboards and Nike ads. Supermarkets will carry (some of) the same foods, McDonalds still have BigMacs on the menu. But it is that promise of change, that need for a new place that drives me. It is the wonderment of L's with curly bits for money and buildings over 500 years old. It's wondering what exactly is in a Yorkshire pudding that makes it different from Jello and asking the silly questions like "will they have cool whip there?" (The answer is no).

Tiny, tiny things stacked up to become one great mass of electric excitement, slowly growing brighter as the days tick slowly forward down to 0. It is no longer a far off dream or even, really, a long wait. Twelve days. Then 11, then 10, and then, soon enough, we will be flying away from the mundane and familar into a place completely unknown.

I write now because I know that as the day gets closer, more and more trivial details will come up and I will be want to write and more inclined to pack and repack a few more times, check on a few things or reread those words that have been my companion since childhood in preparation for thier actualization in reality. Basically, I'm going to be hella busy.

I am ready.
12 Days.

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So, as to go along with the title of this entry, my visa got screwed up. A good tip for all you first time visa-getters out there, check the validity date on your visa before you do the happy dance. Because I was quite excited about finally getting my visa that it wasn't until a few days later I noticed that it would become invalid in December...despite the fact that I am staying there until June. That's a problem.

An even bigger problem is trying to find a number for the British Consulate in order to fix things. Apparently they REALLY don't want you calling with a problem because it was extremely difficult to find an actual number that led to a real person. And when I finally did, I found out it was going to charge me 3 dollars a minute in order to fix a problem that wasn't my fault. So, I put my detective skills to good use and called the number that was randomly put on my credit card receipt from the previous return fee of my visa. Complicated? Yes. But I finally got a real person and the problem was solved.

Moral of the story kids, check the visa validity date.  :)  Now I just hope I get my passport back before I leave...

Much love,
Abby

That is an incredible number.

We have reached that point where it's still too far away but we still have too much to do to be completely comfortable.

The student visa situation stands thus: They are reviewing my application, and Abby's has already been confirmed. After a terrifying three-day wait in which I went through all sorts of panic because I thought something horrid had happened to my application, they finally got it and verified it with me through email. I've yet to send the return fax with credit card information for return postage, but I'll take care of that first thing tomorrow at the office, and if everything works out, I should have my visa by the end of next week.

I'm a tiny bit worried as apparently when they say "send copies" they don't mean "photocopies"...they mean "official copies". Note this for future reference. However, apparently the farther away from a Tier I Visa (which is like, moving there forever with your wife and 8 kids) the less stringent they are. So, hopefully there won't be a hold up.

For the record, www.uk-yankee.com is an AMAZING resource for anyone thinking of studying abroad. They've got a really solid community and they are great with answering questions and such. Also, the two most valuable pages I've read so far: "What You Wish You Would Have Brought" and "What You Didn't Need To Bring". Granted, some of the discussion revolves around cooking pans, cars, sofas and the like, but packing-wise (ugh) it's at least given us some ideas.

Interesting fact: Apparently they don't sell ziplock bags or gel deodorant over there.
This will be updated when i have some frame of reference, but we'll see what happens.

In other news no one cares about but me, I finally found my Italy dress.

Other than that, daily life is becoming a routine of making lists, accomplishing small goals and getting ready for the big day.And packing. Sweet lord, packing may be the death of us all. 100 pounds. That's all we get. Well, 100 pounds and our carry-on, but still. I'm a bit of a clotheshorse as well, so hopefully I can work out some sort of happy medium. Worse comes to worse, I'll just live in my hoodies. I'm cool with being "that kid with the hoody".

Ah well. Stay tuned for the saga of packing and more updates as the countdown continues.

29 days....It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Imagine that, times 12. That is the feeling of sending off your visa for approval from the Brittish Consulate--pure, unadulterated relief. This is the last big step. When I went to the post office, I was actually nervous--I walked the 6 blocks from the court house to the post office with a death grip on the envelope, like some derranged manilla envelope fetishist was going to come up out of nowhere and steal it.

Applying for your visa is no easy task. There's a rediculous amount of questions, and some of them are---unclear--to say the least. Also, the list of documents you need to include with your application is, frankly, quite confusing, especially because the websites are contradictory. But for anyone who may  be interested, here is what we included with our applications.

• Our actual passports. This was the most confusing, but after a little research it turns out they put the actual visa IN your passport, so they want the legit thing. I chose to send mine certified mail, just in case something were to happen, which ran me about 7.00 for the entire envelope and postage.
• The printed application form (you fill it out online and then you have to print it AND SIGN IT!) There is an application fee of $208.00 USD. Yikes.
• 2 passport pictures from Walgreens (8. 65 with tax)
• The printed and stamped Biometrics form (the one they give you at the fingerprint place)
• Our acceptance letter from Truman State saying we were accepted into the CCIS program.
• The official acceptance letter from Edge Hill that we are supposed to bring with us to England.
• The letter explaining our course selection process.
• 3 months of bank statements
• Our high school diplomas
• I included my old passport as well, but they said you can just send a photocopy if nessessary.
• I also put in a little cover letter that basically was like "please give me a visa. love, catie".

So, that's it, really. If you're keeping score at home, a Visa application will run you about 223.65, and that's not counting the money spent for our trip up to Chicago, the fee to get our US passport, and the sleep lost trying to figure out all this damn paperwork.

After a week of running around trying to get everything in the proper order, we sent them off. It's such a relief, but there is also this tiny part of me that is terrified that I didn't fill out something correctly or I forgot to send something. They don't have to say yes...but I know why I'm thinking like this. It's because nothing this amazing has ever happened to me before. It's too perfect. I'm going to England, for a year, to study and learn and travel with my best friend. And I'm going to get to write about all of it. It's pretty much the most exciting feeling--ever. So the pessimist in me keeps thinking there has to be some sort of stumbling block, but honestly, I don't see it happening. We have gotten so much help from the people at Edge Hill, especially Jason Keeling, the American liason for the school, done so much research and spent so much time preparing that I really feel like we are FINALLY, actually and truly good to go.

The best way I can explain all of this is by relating this conversation that occured between myself and the fine postal service worker at the post office when I was purchasing the certified mail certificate.

Postal Worker: "Okay, hun, so did you want insurance with that? Or just the certified mail?"
Catie: "Well, I'm not sure if there's really anything you can insure in it."
Postal Worker: "Well, if you'd like, I can look up values for anything you might have sent" ..clicky click click clicks on the computer.."Okay, so what are you sending today?"
Catie: (long pause). "My future".

42 Days.

I'm ready. We are both ready. We've been so ready to go for so long that I think these last 50 days are going to be either the fastest or the shortest days of our lives. We've done the research...too much research. I know the street names and major intersections in Ormskirk. I don't know the street names in Davenport. I know the best places to shop and eat within a 25 mile radius of Ormskirk. I've picked out my cell phone and the plan to go with it, looked up hotel rates, train tickets and average shopping prices for every major city in Brittain. I've packed and repacked my suitcase more times than I can count. I've looked up all of the farmer's markets and google pedometered myself virtually around the larger part of the English Countryside. I've even got a favorite soccer--er, football--team. I considered buying the jersey online so I'm prepared for arrival. I've gotten the phone number of every friend-of-a-friend who lives in Europe with several open invitations to stay, including ex-soap opera stars and members of Brittish parliament. (Hey, it helps to have friends in high places). I've been listening to songs about England, watching movies about England, reading books about england and cooking English recipes for the last 3 weeks. Hell, I've gone on internet dating sites and messages people in Ormskirk, just to ask them about their favorite restaurants and the best places to buy postage stamps. I've seen every picture and video of Ormskirk that Google, Flickr and Youtube has to offer. I check Ebay for "ormskirk" and "Edge Hill" every day...just in case. Not a day has gone by when Abby hasn't texted me with some Fun Fact about England or I haven't stumbled across some random site that I had to immediately facebook to her.

I think it is safe to say that we are going to be prepared.

I need this. I need this more than I think anyone, even Abby, understands. I need to get away. I need to experience new things, meet new people, live differently. I need to prove to myself that I can survive on my own, and I need to see that there is a world outside of cornfields and auditions and crappy summer jobs. I want to be a part of the real world, the world that I only see in glossy travel brochures and airline ads.

I've made the decision that I'm going to write a book. I think I've known for awhile that something would come out of this, but tonight with the decision to move our blog to wordpress (in the hopes that our ramblings might some day help a fellow traveler) also came my decision that I'm going to record this. I need to remember this. This may be my one shot, and I want to share it. Every bit of it. The bad stuff, the good stuff, and the great stuff. I'm going to write it all down.

Right now, I'm exhausted and I can't think of anything to write. All I've managed is "I need to get out of here" or some variation thereof for the past 15 minutes. And maybe that's saying something.  I think, really, no matter what happens, the very act of separating myself from my current surroundings will be enough to spark some sort of creativity.

In 50 days, we will be in England.

God, I love the sound of that.

Traveling as a student is one of the most wonderful opportunities to discover the world around us. While searching online, you will find various travel sites that provide discount student fares, but with so many confusing choices, it's more difficult to choose the right deal. But with little planning and foresight students can easily snag the best bargain airfares.

Flexibility is key for getting great discounts. The most important thing that you should remember is that you should be really careful in choosing your travel dates. There are some popular sites like Orbitz, Hotwire, Cheapoair and Priceline that offer great discounts for a specific duration. If you come across such deals you should book them right away. In fact, these sites also offer special deals and student travel offers from time to time.

However, what's more important part of student travel is being aware of restrictions and terms of offers that comply with the discount student offers. You are qualified to travel as a student, if you are 12 to 26 years of age and you should have an valid identity proof in form of a student ID card that you must carry with you at all times.

For any student, airfare is one of the biggest expenses on a trip. Choosing to visit a location when the tourist season is waning can be a great way to score a reasonable airfare. Another aspect of student travel is that while traveling abroad, you must make yourself familiar with the place you are going to. Keeping these simple tips and suggestions in mind will always help you in getting the right deal!

Enjoy $10 Student Discount on all Flights with CheapOair

Why do you think this course will be of benefit?

"Studying for the year will give me the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of seasons and culture that the UK has to offer. In addition, it will offer me ample time to travel and to finally get to see the world."

And then the kicker.

Please provide additional information:

"I have always wanted to travel and to see the world, and this opportunity is a once in a lifetime chance that I am more excited for than I can possibly express."

Translation: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF SWEET JESUS GIVE ME A VISA!!!! It's hard to hear what I'm trying to say over the sound me of kissing butt.

2: Pay the exorbitant fee. Check. (pun).

3: Plan your appointment. Wednesday, July 23rd, 11:00 AM,  Norridge, IL.

4. Make travel arrangements. Here in this case, Abby and I will travel with my parents as my dad has an appointment that same day.

5. Check and recheck your documents. (Which, in this case, really doesn't matter that much because we still have to mail in everything seperately).

6. Arrive at Visa Office at 10:50.

7. Get fingerprints scanned into computer. Get nervous because your finger prints keep coming back as 64% matches to terrorists. Assure nice lady working that you aren't, in fact, a terrorist. She doesn't laugh.

8. Leave by 11:00.

9. Realize that we are stuck in Chicago with my parents for another 9 hours.

10. Consider jumping out of the car as we pass by the airport.

11. Poke each other every time we see a plane pass over head because in 55 days that will be us.

Travelling abroad for further studies is an important chapter in one’s life. Before you tread on this exciting path, it is necessary that you prepare for yourself a safety net for the new environment that can act as a shield against unforeseen emergencies. Purchasing a student medical insurance can remove these worries and make your study abroad a pleasant experience.

When people plan to study abroad for higher studies, the United States of America is their first preference. U.S. is known for top rated universities, varied and conventional courses and specialization, and state-of-the-art training and research facilities. There are number of must haves while you leave your home country to study in the States. Student Medical Insurance is one such requirement. Current U.S. laws require international students to carry student medical insurance. Universities in the US do provide international students with a health insurance but it is always recommended that you carry your health insurance in the home country and get a waiver from the university plan simply because you can avail the same coverage a lesser cost.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance offers Student Medical Insurance that covers medical & non-medical benefits at a comparatively low cost. Buying in India means that you pay premiums in rupees and get the benefits in dollars!

To ensure quality health care, ICICI Lombard has now tied-up with United Health Group, the best, and the most diverse health care company in the US which serves more than 70 millions Americans. More than 86% of all acute care hospitals and huge number of physician and OPD facilities are in their network. This tie-up will benefit the students going to U.S. because of the hospital network and give all the students access to United Healthcare’s network of hospitals and physicians.

All our students traveling to the US will now receive a co-branded ICICI Lombard and UHI card printed along with the policy and get access to 86% of acute care hospitals, more than 554,000 physicians, 4,800 medical facilities, OPD centers and 60,000 pharmacies throughout the U.S.

Our student medical insurance is one of the most preferred because we cover pre-existing disease in life-threatening emergencies. The plans are tailor made according to the requirement of universities.

With Student Medical Insurance from ICICI Lombard you get good cash value because you can avail the same coverage at 1/3rd the cost of insurance premium abroad. What’s more? You can also buy policy online without any paperwork and get the documents instantly.

Facilities as attractive as these makes it compelling to get insurance from Student Medical Insurance from ICICI Lombard.

Indian students enrolled at a U.S. university can purchase insurance in India and activate the policies prior to their departure and the commencement of their academic session.

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Speaking of preparation, our UK Student Visa appointments are set for the 23rd of July, so hopefully I didn't screw mine up too incredibly badly. Visa applications, are, by the way, incredibly ridiculous and filled with many detailed and tricksily worded questions. My hope is that they just want my $208 dollars and will read the little essay I wrote in the "additional comments" section about how I've always wanted to see the world and this is my one chance and please please please give me a visa.

I will update and share how the visa getting experience goes, but in a nutshell, these are the steps: fill out online visa application, get appointment for them to collect "biometric data", which is a fancy way of saying they are scanning our fingerprints to make sure we aren't terrorists. THEN, we mail our forms to the UK embassy and THEN they decide whether or not we deserve a visa. It's quite the process.

In also quite exciting news, Abby finally got the good word that she shall be staying for the entire year. So that dreadful grey cloud of 1/2 yearing it has disspated. Things just keep getting better.

I was inspired to write today because I found THIS online today.

Via Cesare Sersale, 1/3
Naples 80100 Italy

This is the address to the Pizzeria da Michele. Supposedly, they have the best pizza in the entire world. I don't know. But I will. And I know. I know it sounds stupid and overly romantic and basically ...cheesy (sorry), but to me, this isn't just an exotic address or location in a far-away land.

This is...reality. This is my..our..chance to see the world, to actually get to do all of the things we've ever wanted to see and do. And sure, maybe going to Naples to eat a 4 Euro pizza sounds like a trivial and really rather mundane thing to do. But to me--this is it. This is what happiness feels like. Knowing, that in 72 days we will be on a plane bound for England. And from there, literally, the entire world will open its doors to us. We only have to step inside. And that, my friend, is what this experience is all about.

United Kingdom is considered one of the best international destination for higher education. It offers a perfect mix of good institutions, courses and affordable fees. UK also ranks as one of the most preferred study destination by Indians as the Indian curriculum matches that of the British to a great extent. Hence, Indian students face less adaptability problems while studying in UK University.

When it comes to health care, it is often believed that the NHS services offered in UK is enough and no student medical insurance is required. Agreed that it is not mandatory to have one in UK, but it definitely is important to have one. Why? Simply because the NHS is not a free medical service; charges are made for certain things so you should not assume that all treatments will be free. Generally, as an International Student studying on a course in the UK for more than six months, you are entitled to the same treatment as UK citizens.

None the less, you do require to compliment your NHS cover with a comprehensive Student Medical policy that  cover medical costs if you fall ill, and also to cover the additional possible costs resulting from illness. These can be substantial, and include things like study interruption, compassionate visit, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.

ICICI Lombard GIC covers all these and more at most nominal prices. Apart form medical benefits, we also provide 8 non medical covers. You can buy online with us instantly without any paperwork and get insurance in just a few minutes..

Here are a few reasons on why you need to complement your NHS cover with ICICI Lombard Student Medical Insurance

• Avail coverage at all hospitals including Private Clinics - Avail treatment at all hospitals including Private Clinics. Along with General Practitioner Charges, Specialist Treatment like Dental Treatment Charges is also covered. 
• Worldwide Cashless Hospitalization Facility – Avail cashless hospitalization across network hospitals worldwide. This means that you are covered even if you were to travel outside UK to European countries during your internship program.
• Avoid long waiting periods – With ICICI Lombard Student Medical Insurance, you can avoid long wait periods to avail medical treatment.
• 8 Non-Medical Benefits - Avail coverage for 8 additional non-medical benefits including Bail Bond, Study Interruption, Compassionate Visit
• 2 year Continuous plan - Opt for 2 year Plans to cover your entire period of study (365+365 days)

To know more about studying in UK and university specific insurance requirements, click here.

Edit: At about 8:00 tonight, whilst I was in the middle of singing about large and terrible frogs and Abby was doing something girly with shoes at Charlotte Russe, we got are arrival info and guide to Edge Hill. Once again, freakishly amazing coincidence that leads me to believe this year will be an excellent one.

I made Abby an epic 100 days cake, so that was quite exciting, as well. It was a globe. I should totally be on Ace of Cakes. For shiz.

Travel plan update:
I recently purchased the biggest duffel bag I have ever seen in my life. This is because apparently Brittish Airways has a one bag rule for the lowly peons who fly *gasp* traveler's class (read: if the airplane was a boat and we hit an iceberg, we'd be the ones they'd lock the gates on.) So hopefully I will be able to fit most everything into that and a carry on.
If not, I am thinking that it is still worth it to pay a $60 oversize/extra luggage fee rather than the rediculous like, $200 bucks the post office wants to ship 15 pounds of clothes overseas.

If you are an Indian student going abroad for your studies, you definitely know the importance of health insurance. Student Medical Insurance is mandatory for all the universities worldwide, especially when you are an international student.

But the question is, whether you should buy it from your home country, or from the university itself? All universities offer a medical plan for their students. However, they also waive it if the international student could get any other insurance policy meeting its requirements.

Should you buy your student insurance from India itself?
Actually, it does make sense when you buy insurance from India for a simple fact that it falls cheaper. Buying insurance in Indian rupees costs you approximately 1/3rd of buying in U.S. dollars. You can choose an insurance policy that is university complaint and thus get the same benefits at a much lower price.

Students from developing countries, like India, have to face the consequences of the unfavorable exchange rate. As a result, sustaining themselves abroad in more developed countries, such as US, UK, Australia etc, falls more expensive on their pockets. It is a well known fact that medical services are quite expensive in most countries abroad.

Moreover, most universities offer just the medical cover. But as you are staying in a completely different country all alone, it is wise to get covered for other non-medical risks also. These may include personal liability, luggage damage, passport loss, bail bond, Study interruption, Repatriation of remains, Sponsor protection etc.

Here are a certain things you need to keep in mind while buying your Student Health Insurance from India -

Consider the cost factor but prioritize coverage over costs.
We know that buying form India falls cheaper. But do evaluate the domestic options available. However, do not let cost take priority over coverage. Be smart when evaluating various options. Do not go in for an insurance company only because it has the lowest premium! Also consider the coverages offered to you. You might as well choose a company with a higher premium but with better covers.

Click here to compare the various plans available, the coverages and the costs.

Ensure it is University Compliant.
Your University would give you a waiver only if the insurance policy is compliant with the university's requirements. So be sure that all your insurance needs are compiled with.

Click here to find university compliant insurance policies for over 500 universities worldwide.

Protect yourself against non medical risks also
As mentioned before, most universities may require only medical coverage. But you should get covered for other non-medical risks also, as even if they are not mandatory, they are extremely important.

Check various plans offered by ICICI Lombard that gives you coverage against personal liability, luggage damage, passport loss, bail bond, Study interruption, Repatriation of remains, Sponsor protection and much more.

Always check out the third party tie-ups
You do not ant to be stuck in a claim. To ensue a smooth claim in future, always check the Third Party Administrator tie up of the company you are buying insurance from. Check the hospital network of the area/ country you are going for studies.

Buy online
Always prefer buying your insurance online. It is not only convenient but is faster and safer. While buying it online, you are not dependent on anybody else and can check all the facts for yourself. Thus chances of frauds are less. Also, when you buy online, the digitally signed policy generated is a legal document and can be accessible online anytime, anywhere in the world.

Click here to buy online instantly.

ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. 

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