A GUIDE FOR PARENTS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM BRAZIL

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM BRAZIL

ITT DUBLIN A PASSPORT TO THE WORLD! We know it can be worrying watching your son or daughter prepare to study abroad. Studying abroad offers a unique opportunity to students to learn in another culture, however with the added security of our International Office at ITT DUBLIN looking after them you can be assured they are in safe hands. With carefully chosen accommodation, the opportunity to improve their English, make new friends from other cultures, opportunities to travel to other European Countries and making decision for themselves, these are all key parts of the experience of studying aboard in Ireland. The challenge that comes with living in another culture force students to hone their interpersonal and communication skills, increase their sensitivity to other cultures, become more adaptable, assertive and independent. We have been very impressed with the air of confidence and self-assurance that the Brazilian students possess. Studying abroad will certainly be a defining period in your son/daughter s education experience. It will be a personal journey that will likely transform them into a global citizen with new ideas and perspectives about the world and its people. Studying abroad is also an experience that will distinguish your child from peers and enable him or her to stand out in the eyes of prospective employers or post-graduate

interviewers. Just the same, we understand that there will be conflicting feelings about the upcoming experience. What we hope to achieve in this document is put your mind at ease, and help you make sure that you and your son or daughter do everything right to prepare and make this the greatest opportunity of their life!

EDUCATE YOURSELF Chances are you will feel more secure about your son/daughter studying in Ireland if you do some research on our country, including its history, culture, customs, laws, social/moral codes, dress and language. Read all the information given to them about their course and information about ITT Dublin. ABOUT IRELAND - Ireland is an Island to the northwest of Europe. Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. The population if the Republic of Ireland is approx 4.6 million people, 25% of whom live in the greater Dublin area. Relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain epitomise Ireland's geography with several navigable rivers extending inland. The island has lush vegetation, a product of its mild but changeable oceanic climate, which avoids extremes in temperature. Irish culture has had a significant influence on other cultures, particularly in the fields of literature, science and education. Ireland was voted the world s friendliest country by the Lonely Planet!

ABOUT TALLAGHT Tallaght is situated southwest in Dublin in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. With a population of 100,000 it is one of Ireland s largest urban centres. Tallaght itself is actually larger than the other Irish cities of Limerick or Galway. Tallaght is practically a city in itself. The local facilities include The Square Shopping Centre (over 100 shops), a new cinema, a theatre, dozens of pubs/clubs, hotels & restaurants, bowling, gym (with reduced rates for ITT Dublin students), swimming pools, public library, internet cafe and 2 public parks. Tallaght also is home to one of the largest hospitals in Ireland and walking distance from the college. Tallaght enjoys the benefits of its unique position at the hub of the national roads systems. It is very well serviced with public transport with Dublin Bus and LUAS Red Line (a light rail system). Dublin Airport is easily accessible from Tallaght St. Maelruains Church, Tallaght The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght

WEATHER We have a mild, moist climate and only occasionally experience radically high or low temperatures. There is no real pattern to the Irish climate and sometimes we experience all four seasons in one day. Average temperatures, summer 19 deg. Centigrade, winter 2.5 deg. Centigrade. WHAT TO BRING - When the students arrive in Dublin they will be picked up by representatives of ITT Dublin and taken to their accommodation. Get them to check out what the baggage allowance is with the airline they are travelling with. Pack light, but pack wisely. If they wear glasses, get them to take an extra pair with them, particularly if they are prescription lenses. Along with their clothes they need to bring a warm coat, waterproof clothing and an umbrella, bring clothes than can easily be washed and dried. Layering of clothes works very well in Ireland as the weather is so unpredictable. Nearly everything they need can be found in Irish shops and they have a large shopping centre within walking distance of their accommodation. The management company of their apartment will provide them with a bedding pack for 30.00. They may find it useful to bring spices and flavourings for their food that might be difficult to buy in Ireland. Make sure they bring any prescription medication they may need and a copy of the prescription. Try to obtain a note from the doctor regarding your son/daughter s need for the medication. Encourage them not to take expensive jewellery or anything you or they would not like to lose.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS Where possible try and travel with other students and not alone. The International Office at ITT Dublin will collect all the students arriving from Brazil at Dublin Airport and bring them to their accommodation COMMUNICATION KEEPING IN TOUCH You and your son/daughter are excited at the opportunities that lie ahead but at the same time, there is some trepidation about being several thousand miles apart. Fortunately there are some things you can do before, during and after the Study Abroad period to support and maximse the learning experience for your son/daughter. Establish a plan of communication with them prior to departure. It is important to realise that this plan may need to be altered once they have settled into their routine here in Ireland. Encourage them to keep a diary or a blog while they are away so that you and other family members can follow their experience. Your support is very important and how you handle the time away will go a long way toward enabling your son/daughter to thrive and learn from the overseas experience. Stay in touch but not too often! The settling in process will be slow if the student spends too much time emailing and talking to their family back home. Encourage your son/daughter to spend time exploring the city, making new friends and learning the ways of Ireland. MOBILE PHONES/SKYPE - The students on arrival can buy an Irish SIM card and avail of very cheap rates to keep in touch with you in Brazil. The current cost on one of the networks in Ireland (Tesco) to Brazil is 0.01 cent per minute to a landline, 0.14 per minute to mobiles and 0.14 for each text.

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT & MONEY MATTERS Ireland s Currency the EURO The EURO is a currency used by many of the member states of the European Union. One major benefit of this shared currency is, of course, that it makes travelling across borders much easier. As not all EU member states use this joint currency and if you plan to travel to other European countries during your time in ITT Dublin, make sure you check currency details for the various countries you intend to visit before your travel. The EURO currency consists of the following coins and bank notes: Coins: 1 cent, 2 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, 1, 2. Bank Notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 There is a bank on campus of ITT Dublin. This bank is Bank of Ireland and is located on the 1 st floor. Beside the bank there is an ATM Machine (ATM = Automatic Teller Machine machine from which you can take money out of). To open a bank account in Ireland you must produce 2 forms of official identification. This usually means a valid passport and something with your new Irish address on it, however for Brazilian students your passport will be sufficient as a letter from the

International Office will be given to the bank confirming that you are a student and will be accepted as a second form of identity by the bank on campus. Bank of Ireland: Tel: +353 1 451 5399 Opening Hours: 10:00 16:00 on Mon/Tues & Friday 10:30 16:00 on Wednesday & 10:00 17:00 on Thursdays. WHAT WILL THE FOOD BE LIKE One of the most interesting differences between Ireland and Brazil will be the food. Students will be able to cook their own food in their apartments and most food they use can be purchased in the local supermarkets. There is a wide variety of food shops and restaurants in Dublin catering for all tastes including a number of Brazilian restaurants. As the population of overseas nationals has grown in recent years in Ireland, so too has the diversity of foods and ingredients available. In Tallaght there are a number of supermarkets within walking distance. You have Tescos, Dunnes Stores both in the Square Shopping Centre. There is also an Aldi and Lidl which are low budget supermarkets that are good for buying fresh vegetables, within walking distance from the College. Shopping hours vary but generally big department stores are open from 9.00 am to 6.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday with late night shopping on Thursday and Friday until 9.00 p.m. Increasing numbers of supermarkets and smaller shops are open seven days a week (some even 24 hours).

LIVING ACCOMMODATION - Students can be accommodated in 1 of 2 apartment blocks either on campus or a very short walk from Campus. Tramway court is a block of 2 bedroomed apartments on our campus. The other accommodation is in The Abberley Court Apartments a short 5 minute walk to the College. Alternatively students can decide to live in the city centre and find their own accommodation and with excellent transport links to Tallaght they can travel to college each day from the City Centre. A useful website when looking for accommodation is www.daft.ie

SAFETY & SECURITY - Most visitors to Ireland enjoy a trouble-free time and experience no difficulties during their stay. Ireland has a low rate of violent crime. According to the Irish Central Statistics Office, although there has been a marked drop in most categories of recorded crime, there was an increase in theft & fraud. The capital, Dublin, is a bustling city and tends to be the centre for nightlife and shopping, attracting a lot of people. The Dublin shopping centre is very busy especially at weekends. Take precautions to avoid personal attacks, bag snatching and pick pocketing. Try to avoid carrying valuables and large sums of money. Take extra caution to guard your passports and wallet. We recommend you leave your passport in a secure location separate from your purse or luggage in case an incident occurs. Do not leave your drinks unattended at bars/restaurants, as there have been some instances of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to incidents of robbery and sexual assaults. While you son/daughters are living in Ireland, they are subject to local laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from the system in Brazil. If they break local laws in Ireland, their passport won t help them avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what s legal and what s not where you are going. In some circumstances driving under the influence of alcohol could land them immediately in jail. Persons violating Ireland s laws, including its tough drunk-driving rules, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned and/or deported. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Ireland are severe Travelling in Ireland is not dangerous as such - millions of tourists visit the country every year without coming to harm whatsoever. Still it is a wise precaution to be a safety-conscious traveller. But always keep one thing in mind: Ireland is a safe country and crime targeting tourists is rare. HEALTH/MEDICAL INSURANCE The Institute has secured a good Medical Insurance Policy for our students. The cost of this insurance is 105. This policy includes Medical and Repatriation Expenses of 2,500,000.00. The student must pay the first 100 for any medical expenses for any injury or illness and the insurance policy will cover any additional receipted expenses the student may have after this. The Institute also has a full-time medical centre available to students. The function of the Student Health Centre is the provision of medical care, prevention of ill health and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The medical centre has a doctor and nurse available for students at a minimal cost of 10 per visit. Students in ITT Dublin are fortunate that Tallaght is the location for a state of the art hospital on its doorstep

and walking distance from our college. The Adelaide & Meath Hospital Tallaght is a public university teaching hospital www.amnch.ie located 5 mins from the college. FINALLY, the International Office in ITT Dublin is always available if you have further questions or concerns. Please rest assured we are here to support your sons & daughters and help them have one of the best years of their Life!