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The countdown before departure has begun! I will be departing from the Detroit airport on Friday at 10AM! To celebrate this, my friends and family gathered for a Bon Voyage Party, and I created a powerpoint of collected image, facts, and information on Namibia, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and of cheetahs generally. It was inspiring to see people learn something new and take interest in what I am interested in and aspire to be. I will attempt to publish that powerpoint on my blog for those who could not make it to view it for themselves.
This blog will be quite long, so I have seperated it into three sections: Packing; shots, shots, and more shots; other to do list items; and passport and visas. Feel free to read through which sections interest you, and comment below with questions you would like answered. I hope to utilize this blog to describe my experiences and have a written account of my suggestions and questions for you and future interns who plan to travel to Namibia.
Packing:
The image I took shows my favorite items that I have packed for this trip. Every day, I have reviewed, added, and sadly left other items behind. According to the airline, I am able to bring two checked bags, one carry on bag, and one personal item, but I decided to pack a bit lighter to prevent myself from being a victim of theft. Also, because I am unaware of the brands or types of items they have over there, it was suggested to me to stock up on items that I would want to have with me (hygeinic products mostly), so I had to bring multiple shampoos, body washes, and the most abundant item I am bringing is sunscreen, mosquito items, and aloe vera because I will burn no matter what. I should also admit that the cereal bars and scooby doo fruit snacks in the back are not a joke. Travelers suggest that to prevent homesickness, I should bring comfort food items. Many of my friends and family looked at me funny when I asked them what my comfort food was (because how am I supposed to know right off the bat?). Within the next week, I was gifted with the snacks you see above. Food is very important... even if it is not the healthiest choice. Just make sure that any food items you bring are not contraband in the country you are traveling to (because I will cry if my scooby snacks are taken away).
Shots, shots, and more shots:
Traveling outside the country is... more complicated than originally imagined. Most people immediately think of the vaccinations, most of which I already had due to school requirements. But when going to the travel clinic, I thought they would give me the shots then and there; I was wrong. It was a consultation of what shots are recommended, why, and allowing me to ask questions and be more informed. The shots I did recieve were for meningococcal, the flue shot, a final Varicella shot to complete the series. (Hepatitis B and Rabies were suggested.) Also, I had to take a medication for about a week for Typhoid, and I take a daily malaria pill, which all depends on the outbreak charts all travel clinics have. You can also find this information (Shoreland travax). My suggestion for you: know your potential layover locations because some areas require these vaccinations before you leave the airport. In Qatar, I had to have a vaccination for Hepatitis A as well as proof of the vaccination. Because that process was quite lengthy, I suggest seeing a Travel nurse at least a month before departure to leave room for taking medication before you leave, recieving your consultations, and waiting for the medication to be prepared at your pharmacy.
Other To Do List Items:
Everything else was pretty easy for me because of the IE3 Global organization that helped me find and apply to this internship. They provided all the information about Namibian culture, about American culture, and providing interactive workshops for me to attend and learn more about culture shock. What I suggest here is this: read local newspapers, sign up with the STEP (Safe Traveler Enrollment Program) through the US Department of Security to recieve real-time information about current events in your travel areas, and to sign up for an evacuation list with the local US embassy. IE3 Global also provided me traveler's insurance while I am away, so I suggest to highly consider traveler's insurance when traveling for more than 2 weeks in case of medical or political emergencies.
Plane Tickets and Visas:
My final piece of advice: Do not buy your plane ticket too late because prices do increase, consider purchasing tickets on Black Friday (because I purchased my ticket at a very nice discounted price), and when completing a work visa (or any visa), put three days before and after your expected travel dates in case you need to be a bit more flexible with your flight dates. (Also carry an extra copy of your passport and itinerary in case you misplace yours because some airports will not validate an online copy.)
Please comment with questions!
- comments
Beth Wilcoxq Hi Courtney. Loved the blog and look forward to seeing the ppt. I am so excited for you! You will be in my thoughts and prayers all the way.