By Elizabeth Gregory - Part 3
Reference materials - Sure, it sounds boring, but is actually very practical. If you are going to a non-English speaking country a bilingual dictionary is a must!! Additional helpful grammar resources include: verb books and grammar guides. As far as non-language reference materials go, a good guide book can be invaluable. I recommend searching out these materials at a large bookstore prior to departure. Leaf through them and pick out the ones that are most user friendly and budget friendly to you.
Document copies - Keep a xeroxed copy of your passport, e-ticket, traveler's checks numbers and any other important papers stored separately when you travel. It is always a good idea to leave a second copy of this information with someone at home in case you lose everything. In addition, you should know where the closest US Embassy is in relation to where you will be staying.
Emergency contact numbers - Plan to have at least 2 people that you can contact in case of an emergency. At least one of these people should have a complete and detailed list of contact information and account information for any credit and/or debit cards you are carrying. This is invaluable in the event that you lose your entire wallet, or worse it gets stolen.
To be continued...
By Elizabeth Gregory - Part 2
Extra glasses - If you wear contact lenses or glasses, you should always travel with a spare pair just in case. You never know when luggage may get lost, glasses get lost or broken, contact lenses rip, etc. If you wear disposable contacts, you may be best with an extra supply just in case. I know may people who did not bring extra eye wear and believe you me, they were sorry.
Prescription medicine - It is wise to pack any medication (over the counter and prescription) in their original containers. This can avoid any problems at customs or with police. If you are taking prescription medication, it may not be enough to just drop off a refill at a pharmacy where you are or a prescription for that matter. Many times, medications overseas are known by different names than what they are called at home. It is a good idea to have your prescription list the chemical formula of the medication (since this is usually universally understood). In any event try to bring an extra supply of your medication so you avoid the pharmacy route.
Your favorite toiletries - If you can't live without your favorite shampoo, toothpaste or deodorant, bring extra!! Chances are, even if you can find the same brand it may not be exactly the same in another country as it is here. This is especially true with feminine hygiene products. When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to pack double of what you think you'll need. This way, your chances of running out are slim, and you can extend your trip if the opportunity presents itself without worry of running out of these items. In addition, depending on where you go, you may be able to get these items cheaper at home anyway.
Continue on to the next blog...
By Elizabeth Gregory - Part 1
This article is all about what you need to bring with you, pack, or leave behind when planning to go on your semester or immersion abroad program. Many of these things are common sense, but often these are the "problem items" that get left behind or forgotten about altogether. These items are listed and discussed below and are in no order of importance.
Money - ATMs are prevalent in most places that are not off the beaten path. However, do some research before you go to find out what your best options are for spending money. Some banks charge triple the normal ATM withdrawal fee for an overseas transaction. In some countries, a transaction fee (usually a percentage of the purchase price) is added to any amount charged on a credit card).
On a recent trip to Europe, I had a tough time finding stores that would take Mastercard or Visa. They were only accepting the Euro card. In cases like these, traveler's checks may be best. I normally recommend a combination of cash, traveler's checks and some credit card spending. Be sure that you have enough funds to cover you (and an emergency cushion too). Normally, $100-$200 per week should be sufficient (if you have some meals included). The exact amount you need to bring will depend on your spending habits and the cost of living in the location where you are going.
Article to be continued...
By Anne-Marie Dingemans - Part 4
Lawrence couldn't bear the thought of sending the children home, and decided to run the project herself for the remainder of the school year! We found her some volunteers who were willing to help, and they ran the project by themselves: teaching 40 Guatemalan kids, organizing games and activities and preparing a mid-day meal for all of them. They found sponsors in their home countries that helped contribute towards meal costs and learning material, they negotiated food donations from local restaurants, they brushed teeth, taught math, cuddled the toddlers, made tortillas and a whole range of other tasks. They kept the home-away-from-home open for these underprivileged children. And even better; thanks to their continued efforts back in their home countries, the project received more donations and could re-open again for the next school year. I can only deeply admire Lawrence for the resolve, courage and strength that it took to undertake a challenge like this in a strange country, culture and language.
By Anne-Marie Dingemans - Part 3
The project has a great cause, but it's also very disorganized. There were no learning materials, children ages 2-14 were taught in just 3 groups (as there were just 3 teachers), their concentration span was virtually non-existent and there was no such a thing as a lesson plan. Lawrence had many difficulties working at this project, and even thought about giving up at some point. Luckily she stuck with it and after a couple of weeks managed to find her place, and having earned the confidence and respect of the staff, made a few suggestions to bring a bit of structure in the program. Things were going well for everyone involved, but as the end of the school year neared, a disaster happened. As little funding the school received, half of it was pulled as a big sponsor backed out! With more than a month to go to finish the school year, there was no money left for the 3 teachers' salaries nor for food. And here is where the wonder started.
By Anne-Marie Dingemans - Part 2
Lawrence, a 30-something old professional on a career break , came to Antigua Guatemala a couple of years ago to do volunteer work for about 3 months. She went to volunteer at one of my most favorite placements; an alternative day school. Public education in Guatemala is free, but students do have to wear a uniform and buy books and learning materials. The poorest in Guatemala can't afford this. So there are entire families where the multiple children are left to their own devices all day while both parents work from day break to dark to try and bring some food on the table (not always successfully). A few Guatemalan volunteers set up a small school for these children, with some donations from foreign governments and private donations. They were taught regular classes in the morning, and in the afternoon they would learn a craft and sell their products on the market and to tourists, so they could learn and help with the families' economy at the same time. This project always tried to serve a meal at mid-day, so they could be assured that these children would have at least 1 proper meal every day.
By Anne-Marie Dingemans - Part 1
I want to share the most beautiful volunteer story with you. Volunteering is a difficult job, but a rewarding one. The help a foreign volunteer can offer to a small, local community service organization is invaluable. These projects are always under funded, and partly because of that, understaffed as well. For the volunteer, the language is always a barrier, and there are cultural differences to overcome. For us Westerners, projects feel disorganized, there is a lack of planning and order, and it can feel like there is not much to do for a volunteer. This is largely just our perception, as the extremely polite Latin American will not quickly give orders or put the volunteer to work. But the presence of a couple extra helping hands can mean the difference between having to try to control a group of 40 screaming kids, having to deal with just 20. Apart from the staff member staying a bit more sane, it has nice effects (understatement of the month) for the amount of individual attention a child receives. If a volunteer stays longer at a project, they will get more comfortable with the language, customs and routine and grows to be a valuable member of the team, often organizing special projects and activities on their own. But there was one lady who took volunteering one step further.
Time and budget available kind of go together so let's explore those two topics next.
Time available
Although many students want to study abroad the unfortunate reality is that many majors (the sciences come to mind) do not have the course flexibility to allow students in those majors to commit to a semester abroad. Fortunately, this is changing to a degree. Your best bet is to speak with your advisor to make sure you choose a time to go when you will not be missing classes only offered sporadically and in turn throwing off your graduation deadline. Many students find that junior year is the best time to study abroad. If you are in a major where you can'tget away for an entire semester, try shorter summer study abroad programs. Although they're not as long as a semester, most times these programs include the same types of courses and activities as a semester program. They may not offer as many credits, which may be a good thing if you're on a tight budget. Theoretically, you could participate 2 years in a row in a summer program and earn about the same number of credits as you would in a traditional semester program.
Budget
When I went on my semester study abroad, I was able to do so for the cost of a regular semester at my university plus airfare. This meant that I was able to earn the same number of credits and have room and board included for the same price as if I had stayed on campus. The only difference was the airfare. While this may be helpful for you to know, you may also not realize that you can participate in a semester program for less than the cost of staying on campus for a semester.
Ultimately, the key here is researching what's available for how much and when. To be continued on the next blog...
