Packing List HIGHLIGHTS


Please pack only the key necessities.  For example, do not bring nonessential items; we will carry a basic first-aid kit and participants will have easy access to all of these items. Again, if you forget anything, you will be able to purchase most items in country.  

Personal Items (one (1) carry-on backpack and one (1), 50 lb piece of luggage to check).  Our ground transportation in South Africa will not allow us room for more than one piece of checked luggage and one carry-on bag.   

  • Essentials
    • Give your travel affidavit to the trip leader(s).  We need the actual paper copy with a “wet” signature.
    • Passport! Make 3 photocopies of the signature page and tuck one in your luggage and keep the second at home (for faxing in an emergency). Give the third one to the trip leaders will carry additional copies of the group
    • Parents Medical Insurance number:  Each student must carry his own medical card and I.D.  Also, make 3 copies of your medical card (keep one at home, carry another copy in your luggage, and give the third copy to the trip leader(s). CHECK WITH YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE PROVIDER ABOUT COVERAGE WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD. 
    • Camera: If you don’t have one, others will.  Bring extra batteries/card; don’t forget your battery charger if it is digital.
    • YOU MUST HAVE A Notebook/journal/sketchbook and a pen.
    • Address list: Address list of friends and family; include mailing and email addresses for postcards
    • Personal copy of Noah Trevor’s book, Born A Crime.
    • Duct tape: peel off about 5 feet worth and make a mini-roll--useful for all kinds of repairs.
    • Spending money: Major expenses are covered but you will need some spending money to purchase in-country items (i.e. snacks, trinkets, gifts, etc) and items in USA, London and Madrid airports (snacks, meals, airplane reading, etc). We recommend participants bring no more than $200 in spending money. You will have the opportunity to convert money at the airport upon arrival. For example, bringing $75 in USD is the exchange equivalent of $125 to Rand before departure (approx. 14 ZAR = $1US; May 2019)
    • $50 for our London layover (transportation and food).
  • Non-essentials:
    • Do not bring your Surface, iPad, Tablet, laptop: This trip is an opportunity to connect with a new group of people!  You may bring your phone to use as a music player during our international flights, but phones will NOT be used “on the ground” while we are in South Africa.  Students may use their cameras and phones on their cameras when appropriate.  There will be NO posting to social media while we are in South Africa. 
    • Music Player: Music devices are helpful for passing time and allowing some comfort during long flights and bus rides, but there will be few times when using electronic devices will be appropriate.
    • Energy bars and healthy snacks: 2-5 for long airport travel days—not with any kind of coating, it will melt! (Store in double-bagged Ziploc)
    • Powdered energy drinks: pack a supply of Emergen-C (single packets), powdered Gatorade or something similar (double-bagged in Ziplocs)…a nice change from plain and helps you cope with the tropical heat
    • Playing cards/travel games/crossword book
    • Circular, two-pronged plug adapter/voltage converter: You can purchase an adapter (for charging music player, camera, etc) at a local electronics store. If you buy an adapter, make sure it is intended for South African outlets (usually listed on the package label).
THE CHILDREN AT NAZARETH HOUSE NEED THE FOLLOWING:
“Our children are indeed in need of eating utensils. Would it be possible for you to bring along microwavable safe bowls and plates? We have 40 children in our care. If they could be BPA free that would be great.”

Pack your donations in your own luggage.  Delivering these items to Nazareth house and St. Martin’s will make room for your souvenirs on the way home.  If you want to make additional cash donations, there’s a way to do so online.   

Please be aware, each student will be responsible for paying the fees if his luggage is over the airline’s weight limit. 

We will post on our blog once per day.  Wi-Fi coverage is spotty in South Africa, especially in Soweto, so please be patient with us if we are unable to log-on to update our blog.  Here is the proper location of our blog: https://bellsinsouthafrica2019.blogspot.com/


See you soon!

Mr. Henry

Comments

  1. BellsInSouthAfricaMay 26, 2019 at 10:27 PM

    Good evening.

    We’ll be meeting at SFO terminal “I” for “international” at 4:30 PM on Monday. British Airways sends domestic flights out of SFO, but WE WILL MEET AT THE “INTERNATIONAL” TERMINAL. We’ll meet at the British Airways ticketing counter NEAREST THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL ENTRANCE. Just look for the students in our group.

    Here is the proper location of our blog: https://bellsinsouthafrica2019.blogspot.com/


    See you soon!

    Mr. Henry

    ReplyDelete

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