Keeping In Touch
An important part of the Work & Travel program in staying in touch with friends and family at home. They are eager to share in your adventure!
Telephones in the U.S.
A telephone number in the U.S. looks are this: 1-617-375-0825. For all long distance calls and some local calls, you will need to dial the 1 and the area code (the three numbers after the 1). In some areas of the U.S., you only need dial the last 7 digits to make a local call.
If the first 3 digits of a phone number are 800, 888, 877, or 866, you will not be charged long distance rates.
How To Find Business Phone Numbers For Free From Google
- Internet Go to www.google.com/maps. Just type in the business name or category, and either the city & state or the ZIP code; i.e., “Grocery Store, Beverly Hills, CA” or “McDonalds 56678”
- Phone Call 800-GOOG-411 or 800-466-4411. When prompted, say your city and state, or type in the zip code. Then, when prompted, say the business name or category.
- Text Message You can also do this via text message on your mobile phone. Just send a message, for example, “Pharmacy, Foley, AL” to 46645 and they will text you back with the address & phone number. Google doesn’t charge for this service, but normal text message rates do apply.
Telephone Directories
Two different kinds of telephone books are available to you. The “White Pages” lists residential numbers by last name and city. The “Yellow Pages” is the business directory where listings are under general business categories. Both the White Pages and Yellow Pages are also available online.
Pay Phones
To make a long-distance call, put the coins in telephone and dial the number; an operator will tell you the cost of the first three minutes, and you must then deposit that amount. Long-distance rates are cheaper in the evening than on weekdays and are further reduced between 11:00pm and 8:00am and on weekends.
Prepaid Mobile Phones
If you want a U.S. mobile phone without a contract, a good option can be a prepaid mobile phone. These are available from most retailers (Verizon, Cingular, T-Mobile, Virgin); other popular brands include TracFone or GoPhone.
Calling Collect
To do this, first dial “0” and then the area code and number you wish to reach. Tell the operator that you wish to place a “collect call” from (your name). This also applies to international collect calls, though they are very expensive. A less expensive service is 800-COLLECT (265-5328) or call 800-CALL-ATT (225-5288).
Phone Cards
You can buy phone cards online (for example, www.sdicard.com), at the grocery store or in your home country. This is one of the cheapest ways to use the telephone to call overseas. Each card is different so if you want to save money, research carefully.
U.S. Mail
Buy stamps at post offices, newsstands and grocery stores. Mail letters at the post office or in the blue U.S. mailboxes on many street corners. Mail within the U.S. takes between a day and a week to arrive. Call the U.S. postal service at 800-275-8777 or visit the web site at www.usps.com to get a listing of U.S. zip codes.
If you need to send a letter or a package urgently, consider using an Express service such as DHL, Federal Express or UPS. You can find their phone numbers in the phone book and online; they also have retail stores in most communities.
You can set up free e-mail accounts through a number of web sites. A few of the more popular services are:
You must check your email at least once a week, as the ERDT Work and Travel Program sends out regular announcements by email.
Skype
With Skype, you can talk to friends all over the world for free. All you need is a computer with internet, a microphone & speakers (or a headset), and to download the program from www.skype.com. You’ll pay a small fee to call local, long distance or international telephones, or talk to others with Skype for free. Skype also offers an online instant messenger.