Language & Friendship, Inc. LG: Passports / Packing / Phones 1

PACKING Review the packing section of the L&F Student Guidebook with your students. Also have students/parents use the Packing Statement & Extra Packing Hints found in the Handouts section. (The following is extra information intended for leaders.) Practice moving with luggage: Students MUST be able to handle (carry, lift, pull, push, run) their own luggage. Wheels won’t always help. Expect a lot of stairs, few elevators and long walks from buses to hotels on tiny streets. Practice this with students. 99% of the time, the students find ways to unload weight. Make it a challenge: Offer a prize to the person that weighs in with the lightest suitcase! Mark your luggage: L&F will send bright luggage tags to leaders for each traveler in the group. A number of leaders also mark each participant’s luggage with colored tape or ribbon. At the airport or on trains, put several students in charge of pulling entire group’s luggage. Expect luggage to be lost. SO: Ø Remind students to pack an extra outfit in carry-on (as indicated in SG). Ø Have students take a picture of their luggage. Ø Remind students to keep all baggage claim tags and boarding passes until you return home.

Electrical appliances: Cell phones, cameras, notebooks and laptop chargers are dual voltage, so you don’t need a voltage converter. You do need an adaptor for the plug/wall socket. (Check the country you are visiting for wall socket type.) Hair-dryers are readily available in hotels J. If anyone needs another type of appliance (curling iron, straightener), make sure it is dual voltage (or bring a voltage converter). Appropriate Apparel: Discuss appropriate apparel when you review the Student Guidebook packing list with your students. People abroad tend to dress more conservatively than in the U.S. Maintain a dress code to avoid undue attention. Give the students concrete guidelines to follow:

• No underwear showing • No low rider pants, no jeans with holes, leggings with a long top or dress only • No short shorts (except on the beach) or crop tops • Tops/dresses: two finger strap rule (at least two-finger width) • Flip flops should not be primary walking shoes • Caps or hats should be removed when in a church, a restaurant, or a home **If in doubt, follow your school dress code. Err on the side of conservative.

IDEA: Summer participants may want to pack an American Father’s Day card to give to their host father and then buy a card abroad to send home to their father in the States. Similarly, Mother’s Day cards could be purchased by spring participants to give to their moms in May and they could remember to send an American one to their host mom abroad.

Gifts: Leaders are highly encouraged to bring thank you cards and little gifts to be used for hotel people, bus drivers, family-stay coordinators, or anyone who helps the group along the way. (See ideas on the packing list for teachers/leaders on the next page. See sample thank you cards that follow in this section.)

Language & Friendship, Inc. LG: Passports / Packing / Phones 2

Sample Thank You – French and Spanish

(originals in color)

Language & Friendship, Inc. LG: Passports / Packing / Phones 3

PACKING Packing list for teachers/leaders (See Student Guidebook for general packing list and Meetings and Checklists for Departure Day Checklist)

____ L&F Detailed Itinerary Folder ____ Kitty expense sheet + receipts folder ____ L&F Leader Badge ____ Print-out of Insurance Card ____ American cell phone for use on air travel days ____ Passport with L&F Emergency numbers and

reduced hotel list ____ Phone tree / password info for remind.com ____ Teacher ID card ____ Maps and guidebooks ____ Supplies—rubber bands, tape (masking and

duct), marking pen, post-its, scissors, mini-stapler, etc.

____ First-aid kit, Dramamine, Tylenol, Band-Aids, Moleskin, thermometer, plastic/rubber gloves

____ Bottle opener, can opener, and a good Swiss army knife (in checked luggage)

____ Ziploc bags, wet wipes, small garbage bags ____ Alarm clock, calculator ____ Language activity sheets, song sheets, games

for bus/train rides (see ideas in this Guidebook) ____ Stationery, envelopes, stamps for students’

thank you letters to families (Bring a copy of your host family list to cut into strips and give addresses to students)

____ Thank you notes/small gifts: magnets, box of locally-made candy, commemorative coins, pins, baseball caps, t-shirts, pens/notepads with English writing, photo book of your state, state flag, college decals, team pennants…

____ Some foreign currency ____ Personal PIN numbers and credit card emergency phone numbers Notes: Purchase items using kitty money! Teachers traveling together may want to share these items or have students help carry them.

L&F Detailed Itinerary Folder includes: - Airline e-tickets + Air Manifest - Detailed Itinerary - Reservation confirmations - Program Evaluations

Add items from previous mailings: - Accommodations List + Flight Info - Group List - Parent Phone Number List - Family Stay list + L&F Language Practice Journals - Insurance Coverage / Claim Info - “What If?” Scenarios - Student Health/Dietary list

Add items you have collected: - Copies of passports - Signed Program Expectations - Copies of Student Applications **L&F will e-mail you scans!

Other items to add: - Parental Authorization Form and

copy of Birth Certificate for travelers under 16

- Principal’s letter on school letterhead (several copies)

- “Take-along” pages from L&F Guidebook (see Table of Contents)

or take scans scans scans