Our Student Affairs staff — based at our Vermont headquarters — maintains a 24-hour on-call safety and emergency response system for any health, safety, or security concerns that might arise during the program. The Experiment can be reached toll-free within the U.S. at 800 345-2929 or at 802 257-7751.
In our experience, the best and most reliable way to contact the U.S. while abroad is through web-based communication such as: email, Skype, WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook messenger, etc. We highly discourage the use of international cell phones. We have found they are expensive, unreliable, and likely to be lost or stolen. They also prevent Experimenters from disconnecting from home. This takes away from the immersive experience abroad and makes participants more homesick. Some host families have expressed disappointment when their participant use their phones regularly. If you feel it’s necessary to have service, you can contact your long-distance phone provider to see if they offer an international calling plan.
