Travel Tips for Italy Trip May 6 - 23, 2014: Luggage, Packing, Electronics, Currency, Weather, Cultural Insights

1. Italy May 6 – 23, 2014

2. LUGGAGE

3. Checked Luggage • Lufthansa • ONE checked bag – no charge • No more than 50 lbs! • If you can’t lift your bag above your head, make it lighter! PACK LIGHT

4. Carry-on Luggage • Lufthansa allows ONE carry-on bag free of charge, plus one personal item • Suggested carry-on items: • Medication that you need right away • Change of clothes • All travel documents • Prohibited Items • Sharp Objects >> razors, pocket knives, scissors • Sporting Goods • Guns & Firearms • Tools • Martial Arts & Self Defense Items • Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items • Other Items • Aerosol (perfume/cologne, hair spray, deodorant, insect repellent, etc.)* *May be put in checked bag

6. Packing – Do’s and Don’ts • Do pack: • A good pair of walking shoes • Clothes for all activities • Layers • Your camera • Your important items in your checked bag • Don’t pack: • Valuable, irreplaceable items (family jewelry, expensive clothing, laptop, etc.)

7. Medicine Kit • Any prescriptions you need • Include a doctor’s note explaining that this is your Rx, and why you need it • Other medications you normally take • Travel medicines • Motion sickness (Dramamine) • Leave all medications in their original bottle/container • PS – don’t pet stray animals!

8. Electronics • If you must take anything electronic, make sure it is dual voltage or has a transformer (most laptops and phones have these built in) • An adaptor changes the shape of the plug • A voltage converter changes the voltage capacity • Converters and adaptors can be purchased at Walmart, Target, Amazon, luggage stores • Hair dryers do not work well through converters

9. Electronics, continued Outlet Voltage Italian electricity runs at 230 V/50 H. Your electronic devices must use this voltage in order to function properly. US electricity runs at 120 V/60 H. http://treehouse.ofb.net/go/en/voltage

10. Technicalities • Leave a copy of your passport at home • E-mail yourself a copy of your passport • Call your credit card company to notify them of your travels • Have some cash • Leave copies of your credit card numbers and contact details with someone you trust

11. ARRIVING IN COUNTRY

12. Leaving from Charlotte • Lufthansa • May 6 • LH #429 Charlotte to Munich, Germany • Depart CLT at 6:55 pm • Arrive Munich 9:45 am • LH #1844 • Depart Munich 12:25 pm • Arrive Rome 2:00 pm • Departure • Arrive at the airport by 4:30 on May 6 • Meet at Lufthansa check in • Flight leaves at 6:55 pm • DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT!

13. Upon Arrival • When you arrive in Munich, you will go through customs • You will need your passport and landing documents (you will receive these on the plane) • There will be a bus waiting at the airport in Rome, which will you take you to your hotel

14. WHILE YOU’RE THERE

15. Communicating abroad • Cell phone usage • Phones must be compatible with both the network and the SIM card. • Skype, Viber and other apps might be a better bet. • International phone cards are often available at kiosks and newsstands. • Please let your parents know you arrived safely via text, email, or quick phone call- then put the devices away and ENJOY ITALY!

16. Housing • Hotels • Double or triple rooms • Leave your room in better condition than you found it - you are representing Queens! • European hotels are different than American hotels!!

17. Meals • All breakfasts included in the hotels • Lunches and dinners on your own • Tipping • As in the US, tipping is not obligatory, but appreciated • 5-10% of the cost of your meal • Check the bill to see if a service fee has already been charged • Be prepared to pay as a group, not individually, just in case • What to expect: • Italian meal staples include: • Light breakfasts: cappuccino & pastry • Pasta! • Roasted vegetables • Italian pizza is not the same as American pizza! • Vino! • See Culture Grams on myQueens for more

18. Time • http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ Rome Charlotte 12 12 9 9 3 3 6 6 3:00 pm 9:00 pm

19. Money • Italian currency is the Euro • Current exchange rate: 1 USD = .7 EUR // 1 EUR = 1.3 USD

20. Weather • http://www.weather-and-climate.com/

21. Cultural differences 10 cultural differences you may encounter: • Concept of time and schedules • Approach to work • Eating habits • Concept of “rights” and “privileges” • Reliance on walking and public transit • Size of public and private spaces • Prevalence and permissibility of smoking • Communication style • Environmental conscientiousness (prevalence or lack of) • High/low interest in domestic and international affairs

22. The “W” CurveLysgaard (1955) and Gullahorn and Gullahorn (1963) Return Arrival Cultural Adjustment and satisfaction with your experience Integration between US culture and abroad experience. Honeymoon stage, excitement Frustration with the culture, homesickness Frustration with Americans and their excess and customs.

23. POLICIES WHILE ABROAD

24. Behavior The following behavior problems are considered serious enough to warrant immediate dismissal from the program. Students who commit such infractions will be expelled from the program and will receive no refund. • Theft, vandalism, or any other criminal behavior • Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs • Queens has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the purchase, sale, possession or consumption of drugs other than those permitted in the host country or prescribed by physician. • Alcohol misuse and abuse will not be tolerated. Alcohol misuse is defined as consumption that is harmful or potentially harmful to the program participants or others. Alcohol abuse is defined as misuse that is consistent and systematic. • Students are expected to abide by the alcohol and drug laws of the countries in which they are studying and travelling. • Sexual harassment

25. Behavior First Offense • After a first offense, a student will meet with the Team Leader(s). Second Offense • After a second offense, students will receive a written letter of reprimand and may be asked to report daily to the team leader for a specified length of time. The letter will be sent to the Dean of Students who will determine if further action is warranted. Third Offense • If there is a third offense, the student will be expelled from the program, with no refund of any costs. Please note that this decision will be made by the director, Angie Edwards, not by faculty leaders.

26. Program Rules • Queens students will stay only in the room to which they have been assigned • NO non-Queens visitors overnight (or at all!) • Non-Queens people are not allowed on Queens buses, trips or field trips • Please do not have anyone meet you in the country during the program

27. Health • Heed the advice of HWC and follow up on any immunization or medication recommendations they have given you • If you are under the treatment of a physician or counselor, work with them to develop a plan to manage your condition(s) during your time abroad • Take care of yourself to keep yourself healthy and deal with jetlag (vitamins, Airborne, water, rest)

28. Safety Italy can be a safe place to be, but one still needs to be careful! • Never go out alone! Don’t leave anyone alone! • Always carry your emergency card • Always tell someone where you are going • Make sure all bags have zippers • Make sure that you are always aware of your surroundings • Always tell the program director if you are having problems or need help • Always tell the program director if you have health issues

29. Insurance • EIIA Insurance • http://www.eiia.org/foreignassist/ • You must review this information, especially as it pertains to pre-existing conditions

30. COMING HOME

31. Flight Home • Departure • May 23 • EN #8199 • Depart Venice 6:45 am • Arrive Munich 7:50 am • LH #428 • Depart Munich 12:25 pm • Arrive Charlotte 4:20 pm • Arrival Time • Arrive at the airport in Charlotte by 4:20 pm on Friday, May 23 • Have someone pick you up from the airport by 5 pm

32. Upon Arrival • When you arrive in Charlotte, you will go through customs. • You will need your passport and landing documents (you will receive these on the plane) • You will have to declare everything you purchased while you were abroad • Customs officers have the right to search you at any time • DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE or TAKE PICTURES! • Anything that happens between you and homeland security is between you and homeland security.

33. More Pre-Departure Materials • http://myqueens.queens.edu/jbip/default.aspx • Center for International Education • Short-Term Faculty-Lead Programs • Italy • Social media • Instagram: use #queensabroad or #jbip2014 • Twitter: @QueensAbroad and @QueensUniv, #jbip2014

34. Final Details • Any vegetarian/special food requests need to be e-mailed toKim Prucha (pruchak@queens.edu) on or before April 15th • Not all requests may be accommodated, but we will do our best to do so • Request extended housing • Update medical forms • Questions?