# VPN (or other gifts) for student going abroad?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vpn-or-other-gifts-for-student-going-abroad/740319>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 13, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vpn-or-other-gifts-for-student-going-abroad/740319 "2015-12-13T13:29:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vpn-or-other-gifts-for-student-going-abroad/740319/1 "2015-12-13T13:29:13Z")

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My son will be spending spring semester in Japan. In googling gift ideas for students studying abroad, I came across the suggestion of a VPN service. I am not sure how much he uses the family Netflix subscription, but that is one thing it would allow him to access. I know Japan is pretty safe as far as physical crime goes, but I don’t know about identify theft, etc.

Any opinions on the wisdom of a VPN service? Any other gift ideas? Or even tips for living in Japan for five months! (He will be at Kansai Gaidai University.)

Thanks!