Shalom Hartman this summer

[cellio]

I just registered for the Shalom Hartman Institute summer program in Jerusalem (after confirming a sane refund policy in case the region goes pear-shaped in the meantime). My rabbi recommended this program a few years ago and I've been eying it every year, and this year the stars aligned (dates, interesting topic, timely responses to email queries). It sounds like a great experience and I'm excited to finally be going.

I'm also kind of nervous -- not about the program, and not about the Iran thing (I can always bail), but rather about being a solo international traveler. This will only be my second time off the continent and the first time I went with a tour group so I didn't have to personally arrange anything, and somebody was steering us in useful directions. Those of you who've done this "foreign travel" thing, this is your enthusiatic invitation to tell me anything you think I ought to know, no matter how big or small.

Whee! Eeek!

Comments

[zare-k.livejournal.com]

I have some opinions about travel (some of which may conflict a little with other advice you receive) :)

• I have a really hard time sleeping on airplanes, but I can zone out or even nap a bit if I have my inflatable neck pillow and mp3 player loaded with relaxing music. I bring eyedrops for long flights as I find the cabin air very drying.



• Shops in major international airports will accept USD$ (but will give change in the local currency). Do not worry about getting additional forms of currency for stop-overs.



• Don't bother with traveler's checks, I have not used them in 10 years and consider them obsolete. At this point the international ATM network is very well established in major cities, and I have had no problems withdrawing cash in various (urban) parts of the world. It's not a bad idea to buy a little bit of local currency before leaving, but since my last trip to China (which does not sell its currency outside the country) I haven't even been doing that.



• With respect to credit cards, however, the future is unevenly distributed. They may not work even in developed areas with seemingly compatible networks. Plan to use cash more often and in larger amounts than we're used to here.



• Call your bank and credit card companies to inform them of your travel plans, otherwise they may flag the international charges as fraud and freeze your cards.



• A Kindle with cellular connection equals free rudimentary web browser in countries with compatible cell networks. For voice calls in non-CDMA countries, I bought a very basic unlocked GSM phone that I then load with a local SIM card.



• +1 on advice to make photocopies of your passport and other important personal documents. It's good for peace of mind.



• If signage is translated into any non-local language, chances are that language will be English. The translation may be bad but it's better than nothing. Us native English speakers get a big, big boost in that regard.



• Some people buy a lot of special stuff for traveling. I am not one of those people. I don't have a money belt, armored bag, jacket with a bunch of hidden pockets, special-purpose clothing, etc. I've had a lot of people who do not travel much warn me about pick-pockets and theft but I have never, not once, felt any more concerned for the safety of my belongings outside the US than I do at home. I feel more comfortable-- and safer-- with my customary clothes, bags, etc since I am not fussing around and being distracted with something unfamiliar.



• I do, however, carry a larger bag with space for a guidebook, map, camera, and a bottle of water (important if you feel any concern about the safety of the local drinking water).



• Humans are humans everywhere. We all have to eat, sleep, relieve ourselves, and get from point A to point B. Feel confident that you will be able to get your basic needs met, especially if you speak a little of the local language.



• Some of the experiences I value most from my travels are very simple-- just walking around the local area and observing, maybe sitting outside at a cafe or park for a while. I think solo travel can be a special gift because you are not encumbered by anyone else's agenda or expectations, and are free to explore and interact with the area at your own pace.



• Getting back into the US is annoying. Prior to boarding the plane back into the country, you may need to clear additional security checks. Also, they will no longer allow you to bring bottled water on the flight, even if it was purchased in the sterile area of a stop-over airport. Customs may be suspicious and unfriendly. Comparing the attitude of immigration control inside and outside the US was an eye-opener for me.

Have a wonderful trip!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Most major signage there is trilingual, actually: Hebrew, English, and Arabic.

And I agree that solo travel can be excellent; I end up interacting with local people more when I'm alone than when I'm with other people, which I tend to enjoy.

[cellio]

Thanks for all the helpful advice!

I love the phrase "the future is unevenly distributed". :-)

Thanks for the Kindle reminder; that's small enough to pack alongside the laptop and gives me extra versatility.