THE GREAT WAR AND THE LOST GENERATION: BRITISH WRITERS,
1914-1918
Preparation and Health Concerns
Passports
Have passport photos taken before you go to apply for your passport. Camera Casino, 436 North Main Street, Oshkosh, will take passport photos. The passport application is available from the United States State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs Webpage: http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html. The fee is $60.
Make two photocopies of your passport before you leave the US. Give one to us and carry the other with you in your wallet.
Money
Apply for a no annual fee credit card to be used for this trip only. Cash will be required for lunches, dinners, theater and concert tickets, and extra admissions. Bus drivers will require a tip, as will tour guides. London tube passes are a good idea for unlimited travel during a short stay.
International Student ID Card
The International Student Card provides minimal health insurance coverage for accidents and sickness while outside the US, as well as some discounts. A photograph is required. Applications are available through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE, or Council Travel). A request for application is available at their website: www.counciltravel.com/idcard/index.html. There is a Council Travel office in Madison at 429 State Street, 53703, (608) 280-8906; 1 (800) 226-9624 reaches the national Council Travel Office. You may also e mail them at cts@ciee.org.
Health
Continuing Education will send you a form to release the university from liability in the case of accidents. You will be required to provide a proof of insurance for health and safety. Physical and mental health information will remain confidential, although a list of names of study tour participants will be forwarded to the counseling center.
Know your blood type.
Obtain complete prescription information for all medications you take.
If an EKG or X-ray is important to your medical situation, obtain a copy for your baggage.
Obtain a doctor’s statement if any special health problems need to be noted.
Obtain dental records if special procedures or medications are indicated.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses: bring a spare pair and your prescription.
Allergies, asthma, and other medications: obtain extra before traveling, including emergency medications.
Diabetes: Evaluate your condition with your health care professional. Useful packing would include disposable hypodermic syringes and needles (with doctor’s authorization for use).
Alcoholics Anonymous. Call AA to determine what arrangements can be made for you while you are abroad.
Pregnancy and motion sickness: be aware that we will be walking, eating odd food at odd hours, and not sleeping according to our normal routines. This can cause severe stress on the system.
Chronic disabilities: obtain extra medications and bring health requirements with you.
Dietary needs: special menus should be arranged in advance, as well as arranging the possibility of bringing certain foods with you.
Depression: loneliness, alienation, and fear are common reactions to traveling abroad. Mental swings can occur from jet lag, culture shock and homesickness. Get to know people in the group prior to leaving and bring along comfort items: pictures, music, toys, foods.
Alcohol poisoning: avoid it. The laws in England allow you to drink in pubs; try to abide by the rules of conduct of our country while abroad. Discuss with your parents the implications of the lower drinking age.
Routine first aid: adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, antidiarrheal medicine and / or laxatives, antihistamines, sunburn ointment, vitamins.
Laws regarding possession of narcotics: Many countries have severe penalties for possessing drugs. It is not uncommon to spend months or years in pretrial detention. Once you leave the US, US laws and constitutional rights no longer apply. American consulates cannot get Americans out of foreign jails or intervene in a foreign country’s legal system.
Risks
We will be traveling through a former war zone in France, so avoid picking up souvenirs, such as scrap metal. Occasionally, live landmines have been found.
Theft, battery. Stay along planned itinerary routes. Travel without the group at your own risk.
Rape, sexual harassment. Dress appropriately and act appropriately to avoid unwanted attentions; travel in a group.
Be wary of holding other people’s luggage. Leave unattended baggage alone at airports, train station, and the tube. Luggage can contain narcotics or bombs.
We will outline an emergency procedure prior to leaving by discussing a case study. You will be responsible for thinking about how you will respond to emergencies.
Getting lost: buy a map and guide book; study emergency numbers; carry a notebook.
To update yourself on the country prior to travel, visit the US State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Website at: http://travel.state.gov/
A neon colored emergency contact form will be distributed prior to the trip, containing US phone numbers, 800 numbers, and information about the emergency obtaining of funds. The form will include instructions for emergency medical situations, calling an ambulance, calling a hospital or doctor, embassy or consular office, or a large hotel to ask for the doctor who assists guests in emergencies.
Wish List
Guide book, such as the Lonely Planet Guide, Eyewitness Guide, Blue Guide, Zagat’s Restaurant Guide to London.
Maps to London, Cambridge, Oxford, or England, but especially London.
Tube map of London (the London Underground)
A good volume of British History
A lightweight umbrella
A densely-knit cotton cardigan
Good walking shoes
Luggage
Converters for electrical appliances, (Great Britain uses 220volts). These are available at hardware stores such as Ace and True Value.
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