Hey folks!
I decided that my first blog post should be pre-departure. I decided this for a couple of reasons, but primarily because A) I wanted to give a bit of a set-up for people who don't know me as well, B)because I thought my packing/prep process might be useful for some, especially any first-time exchangers who find this blog in their searching, and C) because I wanted actual content to appear when I start giving out the blog address :P
My about page does a pretty good rundown, but basically, I'm preparing to go on my second exchange, this time to Maastricht, Netherlands. Having previously been an exchange student has changed the experience a lot already. Last time, when I went to Hong Kong, it was my first serious travel experience. True, I had had the opportunity to travel all over North America growing up. But, save for a quick trip to New York with a friend and a day trip to Montréal, that travel had all been with my parents or for school. Heading to the other side of the world on my own, to a country where I couldn't speak (or even read) the main language was quite a leap. The learning curve was steep, though always enjoyable.
Now, it's going to be a different experience. When I was in Hong Kong, I never met a single other student with as little prior travel experience as me: for most, the experience I'm about to have (travelling Europe) had been their travelling training grounds, so to speak. So, to some extent, it almost feels like I'm doing things backwards. At the same time, I also have a very different approach this time. Pre-Hong Kong, I spaced some "travel chores" (vaccines, currency, etc.) out throughout the summer to help deal with my excitement. This time, most of those things occurred as an afterthought-it was only a week or two ago when I thought "oh hey, gonna need a travel adapter". That's not to say I'm less excited this time; it's also not to say I was nervous that time. To some extent, it's the result of having more experience-knowing, for example, that exchanging currency prior to travel is not really that great of a deal cost wise.
And so, packing this time was different. I don't think I took as much (credit for this also goes to having one entire suitcase less in my luggage allowance), but I also knew things I should take. Sleeping mask and ear plugs, Tums and Pepto Bismol, a tiny bottle of mouthwash for when I get off the plane. The things, basically, that I found myself wishing I brought, or happy I brought, to Hong Kong. I also knew to leave room in my suitcase for any treasures I find along the way (having been stuck paying for an extra bag coming back from HK).
So, for those who are going on an exchange (or some sort of comparable travel), here's my list of pre-departure tips:
Currency: Find out about the availability of exchanging currency in your destination country. If you're going somewhere like Hong Kong, a massive number of money changers exist, and their rates very considerably, but you will be able to find rates better than your bank gives. I didn't find the rates at changers in Montréal, however, to be such a good deal. Taking cash out at an ATM is probably your best bet, though be warned that you pay per transaction and have an exchange rate (for me, it's $5 per).
What to bring: I'm going to skip over the obvious here (bring underwear and pants, please!) and get right to the less obvious. Are you a light sleeper? Bring earplugs and a sleeping mask, just in case your accommodations are less than peaceful. Going to have shared showers? For Gods' sakes bring flip flops. Some first-aid style things are necessary: bring something for your stomach, something for sun and flies (trying to find mosquito repellent in rural China without knowing the words for it was quite a challenge for me). Purel and some form of tissue are probably also useful (especially in countries like China where you are expected to carry your own toilet paper). Of course, you also always need to have some small tokens of your home country, both for friends you meet along the way, and for yourself. And, finally, don't forget the electrical adaptors (and remember the difference between an adaptor and a converter: if your device has a built in converter like most major electronics, you only need the adaptor for the plug end in most cases).
Who to notify: I was a little surprised to learn that many people I knew didn't, in fact, realize that there are many businesses and organizations that you will want to notify about your trip. (Note:while I'm trying to make this blog as international as possible, I really only know about Canada for this part). My list included:
-My provincial medicare provider (did you know that if you study out of province you need to let them know each year? And I have heard horror stories of coverage being denied where maybe it wouldn't have had someone simply let them know)
-My credit card AND bank (now that most of us have Visa Debit, it's important to make sure neither debit nor credit card is going to be rejected while you're on the other side of the world. Though, for the record, the visa rep told me that they're going to be changing this system soon).
-My private health insurance (for me, that's student insurance. They needed to know I was leaving and have proof I'm going on an exchange. This is another service you don't want to suddenly not have when you need it, just because you forgot some paperwork).
-Elections Canada (did you know you can vote for up to 5 years after moving out of Canada? And that during an election you can vote at any time once Returning Offices are established in your riding? I actually voted before I left, to avoid any problems with the ballot getting lost in the mail, but you can also go in person to register for your special ballot prior to leaving).
-The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFATD, for Canada, has a service allowing you to register your travel with them. This is how they know where Canadians are in the event of an emergency, and how they plan their strategies for helping Canadian citizens if something goes wrong. Even if you're not Canadian, your home country will have something similar).
I want to make one last plug prior to ending this post on preparation: learn some of the local language. I'm by no means fluent in Dutch, Cantonese, or Mandarin, but I made efforts to learn at least a little of each of these. Simple phrases like "is someone sitting here?" "How much does this cost?" etc. go a long way. This is especially true, I find, in a place where most people speak English anyway-learning at least a few phrases shows that you haven't arrived somewhere expecting to be catered to in your native language. It's fine if you can't communicate your deepest feelings in perfectly accented Dutch or Cantonese or whatever; showing that the local language is important to you goes a long way. To that end, the most useful phrase in any language, in my opinion, is "How do you say ____ in (language?". This question shows that you want to learn and practice the language, and makes you a visitor (or resident) rather than a tourist just passing through to take pictures of sights.
Alright, well, that's all I have for advice. Please feel free to leave any questions in the comments. I'll be leaving tonight and will probably not be able to post for a few days, but when I do, expect actual travel blog posts!
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