South Africa: Community Health and Social Policy Spring 2021
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South Africa: Community Health and Social Policy Spring 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COUNTRY OVERVIEW ................................... 3
GENERAL INFORMATION...........................3
CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY ......................3
LOCAL CUSTOMS.......................................3
DIET ............................................................4
SAFETY, SECURITY, AND HEALTH............4
HOMESTAYS...............................................5
OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS......................5
TRANSPORTATION ....................................5
COMMUNICATION ......................................5
PHONES AND E-MAIL.................................6
MAILINGS....................................................7
MONEY........................................................7
VISITORS AND FREE TIME.........................8
PACKING GUIDELINES .................................. 9
CLOTHING GUIDELINES.............................9
EQUIPMENT................................................9
COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS9
GIFTS ........................................................10
WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT OBTAIN IN
COUNTRY .................................................10
ALUMNI CONTACTS .................................10
PACKING LIST .............................................. 11
SIT Study Abroad - 2
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020COUNTRY OVERVIEW
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE commitment to strong community spirit.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INFORMATION IS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY
SHIFTING CONDITIONS IN THE US AND South Africa extends nearly 2000km (1242 miles)
SOUTH AFRICA. from the Limpopo River in the north to Cape Town
in the south and nearly 1500km (932 miles) from
Port Nolloth in the west to Durban in the east.
Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique,
GENERAL INFORMATION and Swaziland run from west to east along South
Given the historic events in South Africa over the Africa's northern border and Lesotho is entirely
last two and a half decades, this is an extremely contained within South Africa’s borders. South
exciting time to be in the country, witnessing Africa is the seventh largest African country and
history in the making. After nine years under a twice the size of Texas.
presidential dispensation that allowed and
fostered corruption, the promises of a better It’s position just south of the Tropic of Capricorn
future for all have been revived. After years of makes South Africa a mostly dry and sunny
economic stagnation, the new president is place, but the climate is moderated by its
restoring business confidence and rebuilding topography and the surrounding oceans. The
essential state functions by dismissing corrupt further east you go, the more useful your raingear
officials and building capacity. Free tertiary becomes, but there are also damp pockets in the
education for the poor and the implementation of southwest, particularly around Cape Town. At 56
a national health system are exciting projects that feet above sea level, Cape Town has a climate
require significant funding, while maintaining similar to that of California. Expect warm weather
existing essential services. Under the blueprint of in December and cool, wet, windy weather in
the constitution, South Africa is working hard May. Along the southern coast the weather is
again towards the progressive realisation of rights temperate, due to the Agulhas current, the east
to health, education, housing, social welfare, coast becoming increasingly tropical the further
gender equality, and dignity. north you go. In the winter, the days are sunny
and warm. Durban’s summers are hot and humid,
KwaZulu-Natal is the epicenter of the AIDS and similar to Miami winters are milder, but it never
TB pandemic. Cutting-edge medical research gets too cold to stop Durbanites swimming and
situated here has played an important role in surfing. Durban’s average annual rainfall is about
understanding and fighting the diseases. 1000 mm (40 in) February gets very hot and
Rigorous randomised controlled trials have humid, with risk of sunburn and/or dehydration.
provided excellent drugs, but the new challenge
is to develop qualitative methodologies to
accurately measure the effectiveness of
behavioural interventions. LOCAL CUSTOMS
South Africa is one of the most multicultural
Our rural excursion takes us 100 miles west of countries in the world with eleven official
Durban, to traditional Zulu homesteads at the foot languages and as many different ethnic groups
of the Drakensberg Mountains. As the most particularly in urban areas. It is difficult to
populous province with a high percentage of rural generalize on South African etiquettes and
occupants living in poverty, KwaZulu-Natal faces culture due to the diversity, however, here are a
many challenges; yet it also provides cost- few things to keep in mind.
effective solutions arising out of cultural
SIT Study Abroad - 3
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020Cultural Dos vegetarian if you wish it.
Be polite – Greet people when you meet
Breakfast is around 7am, lunches around 12pm,
them. Greetings are leisurely and include time
and dinners around 7pm. Expect to eat a lot of
for social discussion and exchanging chicken and starches, with quite a bit of oil while
pleasantries. Thank people when they do
you are here. Vegans bring peanut butter and
something for you and say goodbye when you crackers in case there are no other options.
or someone else leaves. Clean up after There are refrigerators and a microwave at the
yourself – you are expected to clean after
program office/classroom, so students can
yourself in the classroom, and in hotel rooms.
complement their diets with foods they buy from
Be on time to class and meetings. Respect
the fresh food market below the office, using
others, regardless of their viewpoint and their lunch stipends. Water is clean and potable
respect yourself. Dress conservatively –
from the taps in the cities of South Africa.
especially when on excursions to
organisations and when in more-traditional
Please note that South Africa is very much a
areas.
meat-eating society, and to some, the concept
of vegetarianism or veganism is difficult to
Gift giving is important when entering a comprehend. Some of the protein-rich
home. A local idiom states that a visitor does
vegetarian and vegan foods available in the
not come with an empty hand. An extra-large U.S. are not available in South Africa or may be
T-Shirt, a dishcloth, mug or glass with a logo
quite expensive. Kosher, Halal and other diets
from your hometown is always well-received.
are possible to keep, but you cannot count on
Offer to help and be prepared to receive help those preparing your food to always get it right.
that is offered.
Cultural Don’ts SAFETY, SECURITY, AND
Do not smell food at the dinner table. Do not
smoke indoors. Do not bring alcohol into HEALTH
homes, hotels, lodges, or the classroom. Don’t Maintaining good health is critical to having a
say “Bless You” if it disrupts someone successful semester. To help you do that, we
speaking, and don’t hold eye-contact with have provided Health Guidelines and
elders you are greeting. Requirements for your program.
It is very important that you read the Health
DIET Guidelines and Requirements document as
SIT Study Abroad provides experiential learning early as possible and examine it with your
opportunities where students become medical provider. The guidelines include
embedded in their host community. recommended immunizations; a suggested
calendar for immunizations and other
Students are encouraged to participate in the prophylaxes; and valuable information on how to
avoid exposure to common carriers of disease.
local food culture as a central aspect of daily life.
By trying to replicate your diet at home you may
The Health Guidelines and Requirements will
miss out on an important part of your host also provide recommendations related to
culture. Due to the unique living and learning preventing the contraction and spread of
community central to all SIT programs, we COVID-19. Students will be provided with
cannot separate food and eating communally COVID-19 related information and requirements
from the program experience. We can place prior to your travel in order to provide you with
you with host community mamas who are the most up-to-date information. General
information about SIT´s response to COVID-19
can be found on our webpage here:
SIT Study Abroad - 4
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020https://studyabroad.sit.edu/health-safety-and- South Africans. The families do not speak much
well-being/risk-management/sit-health-and- English. The excursion is in an area close to a
safety-update-in-response-to-covid-19/ town with a well-run community health centre.
Families in Nzinga are traditional, with
Students are thoroughly briefed on safety homesteads growing their own food and
considerations during in-country orientation and keeping livestock. Our co-ordinator there is the
are updated throughout the semester if and second wife of a respected traditional preacher
when circumstances change. For information in the community, and other homesteads
regarding safety and security, emergency include teachers, nurses and community care
communications, SIT policies, accident and givers.
illness insurance, and general program tips,
please read the Safety, Security, and Health We do day-excursions into Wentworth, an
document and Student Handbook. industrial suburb 30 minutes away from Durban
City. Residents in this community find
themselves between the “Black” and “White”
HOMESTAYS Apartheid categorizations and have their own
As of early December 2020, SIT considers that stories to tell about their place in democratic
the Coronavirus infection risk involved with South Africa. We visit the Blue Roof Life Space
homestays is not worth taking. However, in and do the Toxic Tour of the South Durban
three months much can change and we hope to Basin.
still provide these experiences. You should still
come prepared for the experience and be
committed to moving beyond cultural immersion OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS
as you begin to question, distinguish, and Orientation accommodations start at Emerald
analyze the host culture vis-à-vis your own Lodge in Johannesburg in single
culture and come to a deeper understanding of accommodations. We continue on to Marloth
both. We have organised a family for each of Park, where we stay in chalets on the boundary
you and, with due care paid to screening and fence of the Kruger National Park.
personal protection, you will still have a family
Independent Durban accommodations are at
experience even if we cannot overnight with
Windermere Apartments, on the Durban
them.
beachfront. Students wishing to find alternate
accommodation must finalise these by week
We also have peer-learners drawn from the
four of the program.
homestay community who will participate in
classes with you. We will join these students in During ISP/internship students remaining in
facilitated trips into Cato Manor for both Durban will continue in the same independent
educational and social reasons. Keeping both accommodations. The program will arrange
ourselves and our homestay communities safe, accommodations for those at other sites as
we will endeavor to make the level of determined by your ISP/internship.
engagement as meaningful as it usually is.
TRANSPORTATION
You will also experience a short (four-day) The program uses 10-seater Toyota Quantum
excursion in the rural area of Nzinga, near the minibuses that are the safest in their class with
town of Impendle. We will stay in a hostel reclining seats and three-point safety belts all
nearby and engage with selected and screened around.
families as we would have if we had been
staying the nights with them. During the Independent Study Project or
The Nzinga excursion provides insights into the internship period, students based outside of
experiences of rural Zulu-speaking Durban will be bussed to and from their sites at
the beginning and end of the period. Durban
SIT Study Abroad - 5
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020students will be taught how to use Durban City use an appropriate local SIM card, and how to
busses, or will travel by UBER. Two days a acquire minutes for calls and texting. SIT Study
week, students in Durban will be provided with a Abroad requires that each student have a local
stipend to allow transport to more-difficult SIM number for communication with program
interview sites and/or the program office. In staff.
general, the program organizes the safest
possible transportation for program functions. While we recognize that alternative
During ISP/internship, students are required to communication methods can be free or cheaper
than cell service i.e. Facetime, Skype,
use the ISP/internship stipend to take safe local
transportation. Social events are paid for from WhatsApp, etc. those programs alone do not
the students’ own accounts and Uber taxis cost satisfy our need for regular communication with
about $1 per mile per vehicle. During our the local program staff and partners, nor do they
excursion to Cape Town we stay in dormitory meet our emergency communication needs.
accommodations at Zebra Lodge. We do a 1- Therefore, local cellular capacity on each
student’s phone is required for the duration of
day excursion around the Cape Peninsula.
the program. Students are required to maintain
a minimum amount of phone credits at all times
for emergency calls. Full compliance with this
COMMUNICATION
policy is expected.
While you may want to be in regular
communication with friends and family from International plans in South Africa are possible
home during the term abroad, please bear in but not recommended as they are expensive.
mind that different time zones, patchy internet iPhones are highly sought-after by criminals. We
and changing program activities can complicate thus suggest that the US phones be put in our
communication. lockers at the program office and students use
the hired program “burner” smartphones. The
It’s important to be clear with family and friends Durban Community Health program will thus
about your availability during the term. You issue a pre-paid smart phone registered to the
should also consider the impact of constant Telkom mobile South Africa network, and take
communication with friends and family at home $35 deposit. If returned in working order with no
on your cultural immersion. Late night calls in cracked screen, $25 will be refunded. Students
homestays are not possible. wishing to ensure the program phone will need
to pay a further $5 which is non-refundable. The
cell phone is very cheap with no frills and is
PHONES AND E-MAIL therefore less desirable to muggers. All
As part of SIT’s commitment to student safety incoming calls are free to the receiver, and
and security, all students are required to have a outgoing emergency calls are also free. The
working smart phone capable of making and smart phones are used as hotspots to access
receiving both local and international calls the internet and social media. Note that calls to
throughout the duration of the program. For that the US on the cell phone will cost the caller
purpose students are required to either (a) bring between $1 and $2 per minute. Do not buy
an open, unlocked smart phone from the U.S. to travelling phone cards, especially not off the
the program that is able to accept a local SIM internet, as they do not work on local cell
card, and is GSM compatible to be usable at the phones and many do not work at all.
program location, (b) hire a program issued
smart phone, (c) bring a dual SIM smart phone, Bandwidth in South Africa is expensive, and
or (d) bring a smart phone with an international Skype/Facetime eats it up especially if the video
plan. During orientation, with assistance from call function is used. Students may use their
SIT Study Abroad staff, students will learn how smartphones to connect to Skype but this
to use their smart phone, how to purchase and comes out of their own money and may cost as
SIT Study Abroad - 6
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020much as $10 an hour as the App uses up data
purchased. The program provides 10GB a Student Name
month per student, which is sufficient for all The School for International Training
emails and research, with 9GB left for Skyping Postnet Suite 372
and social media. This is sufficient for most Private Bag X10
students. We do provide wifi at the program Musgrave Road
office, but not for high-data apps such as Netflix, 4062
Spotify, Facetime or the uploading of pictures. South Africa
We also encourage students to utilize the
texting feature on Facebook. College emails MONEY
sometimes give students trouble. Gmail In addition to tuition, SIT Study Abroad program
(Google) has proven quicker and more reliable fees cover room and board throughout the
during the semester. We send messages to program. When room and/or board are not
students via Whatsapp. taken with the group, students will be given a
stipend to cover related expenses. SIT will cover
On arrival, students will be able to email daily commuting costs, if any, and excursions
concerned friends and parents on the hostel that are part of the normal program itinerary.
wireless internet. Sometimes servers go During the ISP/internship period, students will
down, so they should not panic if they have receive a stipend for basic room and board only,
not heard from you in 24 hours. They may based on the cost of living at the program base.
also call SIT in Brattleboro for information. Any domestic travel, interpretation services,
or supplies necessary for the ISP/internship
are the students’ responsibility. Please plan
MAILINGS accordingly.
Unlike receiving a package here in the US,
receiving a package at your program site is The local currency is the South African Rand, at
usually expensive and problematic. Customs time of writing valued at R15.50 to US$1. A Big
agents must inspect all packages and you, as Mac with medium fries and soda costs R60 –
the recipient, are responsible for duty and about US$4.00. Travelers Checks are difficult to
storage fees. In addition, there are cases of change and use, whereas credit cards and debit
items being lost in the mail or taking so long to cards are very easy – we strongly advise against
reach the recipient that the recipient is nearly Travelers Checks, as students will not be able to
back in the US by the time the items are facilitate trips to the specific banks that will
received. For these reasons, sending packages change US cash or Travelers Checks. Students
should be done only for emergency situations. are advised to ensure that they can access
Additionally, sending valuables is highly account details online so they can keep an eye
discouraged. out for cloned card fraudulent debits – we will
teach students how to avoid scams, but they will
For this program, DHL and FedEx services are need to be cautious. Cards with chips are
available in country. Despite cheaper prices, advisable as they are not as easily cloned.
reliance on the US Postal Service is not advised
due to delays and unreliability. When given the We do not open bank accounts for students in
option, it’s always a good idea to send country as the process is extremely
packages certified and with a tracking number cumbersome and time-consuming. We allocate
that allows the sender to track the package. cash to students on a weekly basis. When
attending lectures students have access to a
Posted letters and packages should be sent to locker in which they can store cash, laptop,
the following address: passport, iPod, camera and other valuables
SIT Study Abroad - 7
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020(please bring a padlock). A small lockbox may
be useful here and also when travelling Books, printing, supplies: $50
generally.
COVID-19 Entry Test(s) $60-
(may be required for entry; subject to
If using a debit and/or credit card, you should change and costs may vary)
120
contact your bank and/or credit card companies
Potential up-front medical
regarding your travel plans. If you don’t inform $100
these companies that you will be away, they will
costs (UBERs to doctors):
often assume the card has been lost or stolen
Potential ISP/internship travel $50-
and will put an immediate hold on the card. You expenses: $350
should also check on costs of withdrawal, as $800-
Estimated total:
these costs vary and can sometimes be very $1250
expensive. Renewing and receiving reissued
credit and debit cards while on the program will
be an expensive and highly inconvenient
process. Before you leave for your program,
please check the expiration dates on your cards
VISITORS AND FREE TIME
to ensure that they will not expire while you are SIT strongly discourages and will not
abroad. It is also very important that you make provide support for any visitors to students
photocopies of all your debit/credit card during the term, due to the rigorous nature of
information and leave them with someone you the program and the disruption that such visits
trust in case your card(s) is/are lost or stolen. If cause in program flow and group dynamics.
getting a new card, check the pin works by Students should be sure that relatives and
withdrawing from an ATM at home. friends are aware of this policy and that visits
are scheduled for dates after the formal
Following are suggestions for spending money conclusion of the program. Students will not be
during the program, including estimates for excused from program components to attend to
textbooks, ISP/internship-related expenses, visitors. See the Attendance and Participation
medical expenses, personal spending, and gifts. section of the Student Handbook.
Figures are based on recent student
evaluations, though individual spending habits Please note that any visitors during the course
vary widely and these costs are averages. To of the program must plan their own independent
determine where you might fall in this range, accommodations.
please examine your spending habits during a
During the program, students follow an intense
typical semester at your home school and
schedule of classes and field-based learning
consider any exceptional expenditures you may
assignments, even during the ISP/internship.
have on the program, including travel costs for
your planned ISP/internship or a specific Free time for pursuing an independent interest
personal expense. or hobby during the program will be limited. Your
admissions counselor can advise you about
Check current exchange rates: particular interests you may have. For example,
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ if you must keep in shape for your next athletic
season, or if you play a musical instrument and
Please budget approximately: want to know whether to bring it, we can help
you to understand your schedule and any
concerns or limitations that may exist. Please
Personal spending (from past note that you will not have a long break during
student suggestions): $500-
USD the program, such as Thanksgiving or Spring
Break.
SIT Study Abroad - 8
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020Because of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, SIT student(s) and is unrelated to program activities;
has suspended independent travel for all Spring and involves an overnight stay. Further details
2021 Programs. SIT defines “independent travel” regarding the independent travel policy can be
as travel that is independently organized by a found in the Student Handbook.
PACKING GUIDELINES
LUGGAGE conservative, comfortable clothes will help you
to avoid unsolicited attention. Revealing clothing
Please pack lightly and include only necessary
is not acceptable when on excursions and will
items. You should be able to carry all your generally attract greater levels of harassment.
luggage significant distances on your own. Try
to minimize both the number of bags and weight Please note that tank tops, short pants and short
of your bag(s) since you will likely be acquiring skirts will only be acceptable in certain limited
more belongings while abroad. South Africa’s settings. For your rural visit, you will need to
internal flights limit baggage to only one bag of bring two knee-length skirts or sarongs. Be
20 kilograms per person plus a 7kg carry-on. A aware that some places are dusty and likely to
second bag costs $2 per pound. With careful stain light colors. The clothes that you bring
planning, you should be able to bring the should be washable and breathable and
necessary clothing and supplies and stay within preferably made of lighter, drip-dry material. A
the 20kg limit. If you plan to bring more than 27 black skirt or dress can be dressed up or casual
and will not get stained.
kilograms total you will need to budget for extra
baggage fees.
EQUIPMENT
Suitcases with wheels help, but you will still be You will NOT need to bring items such as a
required to lift your bags into vehicles by sleeping bag, mosquito net, or water purifier,
yourself so pack lightly. unless you desire to travel to areas and
If carrying prescription medications, you should situations where these would be necessary
carry a letter from your doctor to prevent any post-program. Game-viewing is much nicer with
concerns at customs or in transit. (Please see a small pair of binoculars.
the “General Health Tips” section in the Safety,
Security, and Health pre-departure document.) COMPUTERS AND OTHER
Please check the current requirements of the ELECTRONICS
Transportation Security Administration It is essential that you bring a laptop computer,
(http://www.tsa.gov) as well as those of the which will be your personal property and
airline on which you are flying for domestic and responsibility. It is recommended that you insure
international baggage restrictions. your computer, smart phone or other valuables
for full coverage in the event of loss or theft.
CLOTHING GUIDELINES SIT is not responsible for any duty tax you may
have to pay when you enter the country, theft, or
South Africans tend to dress very similarly to
loss.
Americans, though there is some variation
among different ethnic groups. Neat, somewhat
SIT Study Abroad - 9
Country Overview and Packing Guidelines 12/17/2020Ensure that all iPhones and laptops you bring do GIFTS
not have automatic sync and/or sharing settings
Be prepared with a gift to offer your Cato Manor
that will automatically upload /download pictures
and Nzinga “homestay” (community partner)
or clips to/from internet servers – they will eat up
families in gratitude for their hospitality and as a
your hotspot data allocation.
means to share a part of your culture with them.
We suggest one or two gifts that the whole
As most assignments will need to be completed
family can enjoy. Pack a couple of small gifts for
after school hours, a laptop with MS Word
children, such as small games, bubbles, or a
installed is essential. Smartphone hotspot
Frisbee. Even if your homestay family does not
connections make conducting research from
have small children, you will engage with
your own laptop fairly easy (at least in the South
children in your homestay community. Once you
African context). You may also make use of
are on the program and learn more about the
coffee shops with wifi during the semester, after
hours and during the ISP/internship. local culture, you will discover other ways to
thank your family. Remember to bring pictures
of your friends and family to share.
Please see the following website for information
about electricity, voltage and electrical adapters.
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/. Do not WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT
bring any 110-volt electrical appliances without OBTAIN IN COUNTRY
a step-down transformer from 220 to 110 volts.
If you do not already have these items below,
The standard voltage in South Africa is
220/230volts AC. Many electronic goods these they can be obtained in South Africa. Generally,
days can handle both 220 and 110 (and other) prices for most items are reasonable. Toiletries
voltage; refer to your owner’s manual for your and personal care items can also all be
devices to investigate what will likely be needed. purchased in South Africa at similar prices to the
Please note that power surges are common U.S. However, if you require any form of
here and you are advised to plug your items into medication, bring a sufficient supply to last the
outlets with surge protection only (these can be duration of the program, as prescription drugs
purchased locally at student expense). may not be mailed into South Africa. Remember
to bring a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses
Cameras are great but please note that to if you wear them.
upload images to Facebook or any picture
website will use a lot of data. A USB flash drive ALUMNI CONTACTS
is essential for getting copies of some lecturers’ If you have further questions, please contact
PowerPoint presentations, and great for storing your admissions counselor and/or ask an alumni
the pictures you cannot download to web-based contact: http://studyabroad.sit.edu/admitted-
storage. Again, we suggest insuring your students/contact-a-former-student/.
belongings and keeping them locked in your
locker at the SIT office when not in use.
Don’t miss the Packing List on the next
We suggest you bring a micro memory card to page!
install in your smartphone if wanting to use it to
record interviews. Note that the program phones These packing guidelines are based on
only have capacity to take a 4Gb memory or suggestions from past students and your
lower. academic director.
SIT Study Abroad - 10
Flight, Passport, and Visa Information 12/17/2020PACKING LIST
o Adhesive bandages/antiseptic/antibacterial
cream
GENERAL o Malaria prophylaxis (Please review the
o 1 warm outfit if not included in clothing below program Health Guidelines and
o Underwear – 10 day’s supply Requirements and the Safety, Security, and
o 4-5 pairs socks Health document for your program for
o Lightweight pajamas or nightgown details). Note that you will be in a low risk
o 1 pair comfortable sneakers malaria zone for approximately ten nights
o 1 pair sandals and in a medium to high risk area for
o 1 pair flip-flops approximately four nights.
o 1 pair “going out” shoes
o 1 fleece jacket
To prevent the contraction and spread of
o 1 windbreaker/raincoat
COVID-19 students should come prepared
o Bathing suit
o 1 or 2 light plastic rain ponchos with:
o Sun hat or bandanna o At least 3 reusable masks and gloves for
o 3 pairs longer shorts and/or skirts personal protection (disposable masks
o 1 long skirt/trousers for visit to traditional will also be available)
area o Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
o 1 pair jeans/chinos alcohol for use when soap and water is
o 3-5 blouses or shirts not readily available
o 1-2 pairs lightweight pants or jeans o Anti-bacterial wipes or solution to wipe
o 1 nice outfit (dress or skirt/blouse)
down high-touch surfaces, especially
o 3-4 casual but not sloppy t-shirts
while traveling from the US
o 2 “workout” outfits (1-2 sports bras, t-shirts,
conservative shorts)
OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS
o Medium-sized suitcase and a small daypack
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (essential for excursions)
o Passport o An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
o Yellow WHO Card where applicable (see (and saline solution), if worn
Safety, Security, and Health for more o Flashlight
information o Homestay gifts
*Ensure that scanned copies of the above are o Photographs of your family, house, home
available on email and smartphone. town (on smartphone is OK)
HEALTH/TOILETRIES OPTIONAL
o Prescription medications used regularly o Sunglasses
o Over-the-counter medications as approved o Beach towel
by your doctor (note that these are also o A notebook and pens
available locally): o Sunscreen
o Pain reliever/fever reducer
o Cold medication/decongestant Remember to place all valuable items and any
o Laxative prescriptions in your carry-on luggage while
o Anti-diarrheal medication
traveling and all sharp items in your checked
o Motion sickness medication
luggage.
o Good quality thermometer (for taking your
temperature)
o Small first aid kit
SIT Study Abroad - 11
Flight, Passport, and Visa Information 12/17/2020You can also read
