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 Pre-trip Preparation
El
Salvador
Payments,
Cancellation & Insurance
Payments: A non-refundable deposit was required with your
application. The balance of the payment is due 6-8 weeks prior
to departure. Please check your travel seminar brochure for the
specific deadline. You may pay part or all of your balance with
a Visa or MasterCard. For some programs, you may be billed
directly by the organization or group sponsoring your travel
seminar.
Cancellation: Notice of cancellation must be received by the
Center for Global Education in writing. Your deposit is
non-refundable. A cancellation notice received up to 75 days
before departure will be assessed only the deposit plus any
non-recoverable costs (i.e. flight deposits, visa fee, etc.). A
cancellation notice received 60-75 days before departure will be
assessed 25% of the total travel seminar cost; a cancellation
notice received 30-60 days before departure will be assessed 50%
of the total cost. No refund will be issued for a cancellation
received within 30 days of departure.
Note: Without a written cancellation notice, the Center for
Global Education will assume that you are participating in the
travel seminar and expenses may be incurred on your behalf.
This may include airline deposits or visa fees. In some
circumstances these expenses may be incurred 60-90 days prior to
departure and you will be responsible for the cost of these
items.
In
the case of extraordinary circumstances, such as a family
emergency, personal illness, natural disaster or U.S. State
Department Travel Warning, the Center for Global Education will
work with you to determine fair handling and compensation for a
cancellation.
Travel Insurance: The Center for Global Education strongly
recommends that you purchase travel insurance covering
cancellation and medical evacuation. You can find travel
insurance providers by doing a search on the Internet or
contacting a travel agency.
Medical Insurance: The Center for Global Education requires
that you have health insurance coverage while on a travel
seminar, and we encourage you to carry your medical insurance
card with you. Make sure you know what is covered by your policy
while you are outside the country. You may want to consider
purchasing supplemental travel insurance (see above).
If
you need to obtain health insurance for your travel seminar, or
if you wish to add or expand your international coverage, the
Center for Global Education has an account with HTH Worldwide
Insurance Services, which provides health coverage including
emergency medical evacuation at a discounted group rate:
Ages 0-49: $8.75/week
Ages 50-64: $35.00/week
Ages 65-75: $70.00/week
You
do not have to be a student to enroll. To enroll, visit
http://www.hthstudents.com and use access code BIH-2227. If
you need assistance with registering online, please contact our
office. Augsburg College students traveling with the Center for
Global Education for credit are directly enrolled with HTH.
Passport, Visa
& Entry Requirements
Passport: The information below addresses passport requirements
for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Citizens of other countries
living in the U.S. and Canada should contact the Center for
Global Education for further information.
El
Salvador requires you to have a passport that is valid for at
least three months past the scheduled date of departure. While
the average processing time for a standard passport application
is six weeks, it can take much longer. If your trip is
departing within six weeks, we recommend using Expedited
Service. Consult the U.S. Department of State’s Web page for
fees and procedures:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html
Once you receive your new or renewed passport, you sign it on
the designated page opposite your picture to validate it. Please
send us a photocopy of this page after signing it. Make sure
you also have a photocopy for yourself to keep with you during
the trip separately from where you keep your passport. It is
also a good idea to leave a photocopy with a family member or
friend at home.
Keep any documents inserted into your passport or given to you
by immigration officials upon arriving in the destination
country. You will need to present them upon departure.
Visa & Entry Requirements: The information below addresses
entry requirements for U.S. and Canadian citizens residing in
the United States. U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. and
Canada, and citizens of other countries living in the U.S. and
Canada, should contact CGE for further information. If you are a
citizen of a country other than the U.S., check with your
nation’s consulate for visa and entry requirements. CGE will
assist you in reviewing information, but the responsibility for
obtaining and paying for proper documentation is yours.
There is no special visa requirement for short-term stays in El
Salvador. You will receive a tourist card/entry card en route
or at the airport. On this form, you should state that your
reason for visiting El Salvador is “tourism.” If you check that
your purpose is to study, customs officials might mistakenly
assume that you need a student visa. The tourist/entry card is
to be presented along with your passport to the immigration
official upon arrival.
There is a USD $10 entry tax that you must pay as you go through
immigration and customs upon arrival in the San Salvador
airport. This fee is not covered in your program cost, so please
have a $10 bill handy when you arrive. There is also a USD $40
exit tax, but this is normally included in the cost of your
airfare. The only experience we have with this not being
included in the airfare is if the ticket is obtained through
frequent flyer mile credits. CGE does not cover entry or exit
taxes for travel seminars, so if you are using a ticket obtained
by cashing in frequent flyer miles, you will need an additional
USD $40 in cash to leave San Salvador.
For
those who have an extended stay in El Salvador that requires a
visa, be sure to check that your passport has at least two blank
pages in the visa section. This is a new security requirement
for those who travel with a U.S. passport.
Air
Travel Arrangements, Deviations & Time Zone
Air
Travel Arrangements & Deviations: Your air travel, if included
in the cost of the program, will be arranged out of the city
designated in the travel seminar brochure. The Center for
Global Education will use the most convenient connections,
efficient routing, and lowest fares possible. Some cities have
limited service that may result in multiple connections or long
layovers. If you will be making your own travel arrangements,
traveling in the country prior to or after the travel seminar,
or if you have special travel needs, please contact the Center
for Global Education as soon as possible.
It
is essential that the name on your travel documents be identical
to your name as it appears on your passport. If there is a
discrepancy, you could be delayed or required to purchase
another ticket. Please check your ticket as soon as you receive
it and contact the Center for Global Education of there is a
discrepancy. In the event that changes need to be made to the
itinerary due to illness, strikes, terrorism, weather, or other
causes, these changes will be made to ensure the well-being of
all participants. Additional expenses, if any, will be the
responsibility of the travel seminar participant, although the
Center for Global Education will make every effort to minimize
such expenses.
Time Zone: The time is the same as U.S. Central Standard Time.
However, El Salvador does not observe daylight savings time, so
the time will be one hour behind Central Standard Time during
daylight savings time.
Packing
List & Luggage
Packing List: Be sure to put essential items such as
medications, toiletries and camera film (new security equipment
at U.S. airports will destroy film in checked luggage) in your
carry-on bag in case of a delay or lost luggage.
Pack comfortable, modest clothing. Cotton slacks, neat blue
jeans, t-shirts without logos and button-down shirts are
appropriate – shorts, sweat suits, athletic gear, and tank tops
or any other revealing clothing are not.
Pack as lightly as you can. Consider wearing outfits at least
twice during the trip. Remember, laundry facilities may be
available as well.
You
will be meeting with speakers many days. For church,
government, and professional sector visits, pack at least one
formal outfit. For men, consider a nice button-down shirt and
slacks (ties are not required). For women, a dress, or
skirt/slacks and blouse (not a t-shirt) are appropriate.
Plan to bring items that are lightweight and can be layered in
case of temperature or weather changes or air-conditioned rooms.
Do
not bring anything with a camouflage pattern or of a military
style
CGE
strongly recommends leaving expensive jewelry/watches at home
**No matter the time of year be sure to
bring insect repellent, a flashlight and a rain jacket**
Items to include:
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Comfortable walking shoes with a closed toe for rural areas
and markets, where there may be mud or biting insects
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Lightweight robe, and sandals or house shoes for shared
bathrooms as well as for health and safety reasons (e.g.
scorpions)
-
Swimsuit (some trips may visit a lake or pool)
-
Sweater, sweatshirt or jacket for cool evenings,
air-conditioned rooms
-
Rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella
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Sleep sack or flat sheet (for homestays)
-
Dressier outfit for church or meetings (described above)
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Medications, toiletries – many common medications and
toiletries are not readily available (e.g. tampons,
mouthwash, disposable razors); the most common ailments are
traveler’s diarrhea and motion sickness
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Sun & insect protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect
repellent
-
Camera, extra batteries, film (film is expensive in El
Salvador)
-
Small flashlight & extra batteries (for dark streets, rural
areas)
-
Refillable water bottle
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Power bars or high-protein snacks (especially if you are
vegetarian)
-
Small backpack or shoulder bag for daytime excursions
-
Small bag or luggage that can be used for short in-country
trips
-
Notebook or journal
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Reading material, deck of cards, etc. for waiting times or
delays
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Travel clock, watch or other timepiece
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Money belt or neck pouch to hold valuables
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ATM card, credit cards
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Moist towelettes and hand sanitizer
-
Two-prong plug adapter (if you are bringing electrical
appliances)
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Passport and photocopy of the photo page (pack separately)
Luggage: Due to luggage capacity restraints for most
vehicles in El Salvador, you are allowed to only pack one large,
soft-covered bag and one carry-on, plus a purse, camera case or
briefcase. Pack as lightly as you can. In general, if you
cannot comfortably walk five city blocks with all of your gear,
you have packed too much.
International travel baggage restrictions and fees for excess
cargo may vary by airline and destination. In general, the
maximum allowance per piece of checked luggage is 50 pounds and
62 linear inches (total length + width + height) for
international flights.
Weather
The
following are average temperatures, not the extremes. As in the
U.S., weather patterns can vary frequently. We recommend
checking weather sites on the Internet for the region and time
of year you will be traveling.
In
El Salvador there are two distinct seasons: rainy and dry. The
rainy season extends from May to October. During this time it
rains frequently, and the total monthly rainfall may range from
5 to 11 inches. It is also very warm, with temperatures ranging
from 80° to 95°F during the day. During the dry season
(November to April), it is hot and rain is infrequent (one or
two days per month). February through May is usually the
hottest time of the year with temperatures reaching between 90°
and 100°F.
Money
Most participants find $150-$250 to be sufficient spending money
for a two-week seminar to El Salvador. Of course, how much you
bring should depend on your personal spending habits. Remember
that all meals and programs expenses are covered in your seminar
cost.
It
is helpful to have some cash in small bills. Try to bring new
bills, as some past participants have encountered difficulty in
changing bills that are worn, written upon or torn. We strongly
encourage you to bring a money belt.
It
can be difficult and expensive to cash traveler’s checks. Plan
to bring mostly cash, U.S. dollars are used as frequently as the
Salvadoran colones. ATMs can be found, but access to
international networks is limited. If you bring an ATM card,
make sure it has the PLUS and/or CIRRUS logos. A Visa or
MasterCard may be used for cash advances in local currency at
Credomatic offices as well as some banks.
Credit cards may also be accepted in many of the more elegant
shops and restaurants. Important: It is a good idea to call your
credit card company to let them know that you will be using you
card outside of the country for a set time. Some people
encounter trouble using a credit card abroad because the credit
card company assumes the card is stolen.
For
current information concerning exchange rates, visit
http://www.xe.com
Accommodations
& Electrical Current
Accommodations: In El Salvador groups stay in modest hotels or
guesthouses. Accommodations in the countryside will be more
basic than those in the major cities. Some travel seminars may
include a homestay. Under these circumstances, you may not
always have access to hot water or standard mattresses. We are
confident that this experience will enhance your understanding
of the country in a challenging, experiential manner.
Electrical Current: The electrical current is the same as in the
U.S. (110 volts, 60 cycles). However, most outlets cannot
accommodate a grounding prong or wide flange. If you are
bringing electrical appliances, you will need to bring a
two-prong adapter to fit an outlet with two narrow slots.
Health & Safety
Information
Health: Review your vaccinations: Check with your doctor or the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding recommended
vaccinations for travel to El Salvador. Currently, the CDC
recommends that you be up-to-date on diphtheria-tetanus and
measles, and that you consider an immune globulin vaccine for
protection against Hepatitis A. You may call the CDC at
404/332-4559 or visit their website at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
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Bring enough medical/health supplies. If you take a
prescription or medication, make sure you bring enough to
last your entire seminar, including a possible day or two of
delay. Be prepared, and bring medical and health supplies
for potential problems. Many medications, including common
over-the-counter items, may not be readily available.
-
Drink only purified water. It is best to drink
bottled water or water from trusted sources. You will be
provided with purified water during your seminar. Don’t
forget to use purified water when you brush your teeth.
Avoid ice cubes.
-
Drink enough water. Besides drinking contaminated
water, the most common health problem on travel seminars is
not drinking enough water and getting dehydrated and/or
constipated.
-
Wash your hands with soap whenever possible or use
hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available. Clean
food and water can be contaminated by dirty hands.
-
Watch your food. Eat meat, fish and vegetables only
if they are well cooked, and avoid salads unless the greens
have been washed with purified water. Fruit that you peel
is the safest. CGE staff will give you more information on
safe eating and drinking habits.
-
Pace yourself. While strenuous walking is not a
regular part of any travel seminar, there may be an occasion
when a long walk is necessary to reach a certain location.
Varying road conditions make anticipating this walk
impossible, although CGE staff will keep you informed
whenever possible. If a particular health condition makes
strenuous walking a concern, please be prepared to
communicate your limitations with your group leader and CGE
staff.
-
Be aware of your environment. The pollution in most
large cities can be very bad. This tends to be especially
true during the dry season (November to April). If you have
a history of allergies, other respiratory illness or heart
problems, you could experience complications during your
stay. If you use any type of medication for these problems,
be sure to bring an adequate amount after consulting your
doctor.
-
If you get sick, please let your trip leader or CGE
staff know right away. This will help to pinpoint problems
with food and water, and help you to get better and arrange
a visit to a doctor or medical clinic if necessary.
Possible Ailments:
Traveler’s Diarrhea:
Just the change in food, water and
climate can lead to an upset stomach. If you get diarrhea,
treat it with Pepto-Bismol and drink lots of water. When you
are ready to eat again, start with rice, bread, crackers, and
broth (bring bouillon cubes or dry soup). Imodium (Loperamide
is the generic equivalent) is a stronger medication to be used
only when absolutely necessary. It does not cure the diarrhea
but slows down the digestive system, which can lead to other
problems. Some herbal teas are thought to aid in the prevention
and treatment of diarrhea such as ginger root, raspberry,
comfrey, and peppermint – bring some tea bags with you.
Hepatitis A: Studies have shown that many cases of
travel-related Hepatitis A happen to travelers in developing
countries with “standard” itineraries, accommodations, and food
consumption behavior. Hepatitis A vaccine is preferred for
persons who plan to travel repeatedly or reside for long periods
of time in intermediate or high-risk areas. Immune globulin is
recommended for persons of all ages who desire only short-term
protection.
Malaria: Malaria is a mosquito-borne illness that is
present in El Salvador (primarily in rural areas), depending on
the time of year and the area of the region.
Cholera: Cholera is active in El Salvador. There is no
satisfactory vaccine against it. Avoiding contaminated food and
water is the best way to prevent cholera: “Boil it, cook it,
peel it, or forget it!”
Dengue Fever:
This disease is primarily an urban viral
infection transmitted by mosquitoes. Since there is no
preventative medicine for dengue fever, take measures to avoid
mosquito bites such as using DEET repellent and keeping your
arms and legs covered, especially from dusk to dawn.
Typhoid: Typhoid Fever is a bacterial infection transmitted
through contaminated food and/or water, or directly between
people. The CDC recommends a typhoid vaccination for those
traveling to rural areas or staying long term (more than six
weeks).
Safety
Your safety is our highest concern. Since 1982, more than 9,000
people have participated in CGE travel seminars. CGE has thus
gained a great deal of experience with group travel, and having
in-country staff helps to ensure an understanding of the
situation and realities of El Salvador. CGE will not hesitate
to cancel a trip should something occur that would make it
appear to be unsafe to travel to a specific country or area.
Out
of our extensive experience we have developed the following
guidelines for you to observe before and during your travel
seminar. These guidelines come out of important safety, security
and cultural concerns. At times, the reasons for these
guidelines may not always seem obvious to you. Keep in mind that
following these guidelines helps to ensure the safety of travel
seminar participants, staff and resource people. In addition,
it enhances the group’s educational experience and fosters
long-term relationships of trust and mutual respect which the
Center seeks to develop in the region.
If
all participants follow these guidelines, it means less
inconvenience for you and the group and less work for our
staff. Thanks!
Please read these guidelines carefully and be familiar with them
before your departure.
As
you prepare for your travel seminar to El Salvador, please keep
the following in mind:
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Shorts, short skirts, tank tops or flip flops are often not
appropriate for meetings with resource people. However, you
may use this clothing during your free time.
-
Military clothing and hats could be mistaken for military
apparel and should not be taken on the trip. Apparel with
U.S. patriotic messages or symbols (such as conspicuously
displayed flags) could provoke aggressive responses and
should be left at home.
-
Bring a small lock for your bag. You should also bring a
money belt that can be hidden under your clothes in which to
keep your money and important documents.
-
Please do not bring flashy jewelry. Any expensive jewelry or
watches, or any that looks expensive, should be left at
home.
-
Bring a pair of closed-toed, flat, non-athletic shoes for
factors and government visits.
If
in doubt about the appropriateness of an item, it is best to err
on the side of caution.
When you arrive at the airport in El Salvador:
You
may be asked by the officials what your itinerary and schedule
is. If so, simply respond: you don't know what your schedule is.
(You will receive a tentative schedule of appointments from the
Center staff upon arrival in El Salvador). Identify yourself as
a tourist if asked; the official purpose of your trip is
educational tourism. Watch your bags and documents at the
airport, as bags have been stolen before and while loading
luggage into the vans.
Do's and Don'ts
While on the travel seminar . . .
Do . . .
-
Listen carefully to all safety information during your
in-country orientation.
-
Keep your passport with you at all times, inside your
clothing if possible (unless our staff directs you
otherwise).
-
Stay close together as a group when you are out in public
and always travel in groups of two or more.
-
Always ask permission of a person before taping or
photographing.
-
Be cautious about what you say in public (including
airplanes, airports, restaurants and hotel lobbies). There
will most likely be people around you who will understand
English. Also, North Americans tend to speak in louder
voices, so keep your voice at a low level--even when in your
hotel room.
-
Be respectful of resource people, even those with whom your
views differ. This doesn’t mean that you have to avoid
asking the “hard” questions, just ask them in a
non-confrontational way.
-
Be respectful of other group members. Before asking multiple
questions of resource people, look around to see if other
people have questions and remember that people have varied
learning styles and may need more time before asking
questions. Remember that you are part of a learning
community and not simply an independent traveler.
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Drink a lot of water to maintain good health. When the
weather is hot, you will dehydrate much more quickly! Our
field staff will give you guidelines for finding sources of
safe water.
Don't . . .
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Leave suitcases, bags, or purses unattended, even for a
minute!
-
Handle large amounts of money in public. Know how much you
have and where it is.
-
Give anybody any reason to rob you. That means don’t wear
flashy (or any) jewelry, watches, bulging pockets, or
expensive-looking sunglasses.
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Disclose the tentative schedule or names of resource persons
and groups of which you may be aware. This information
should not be given either to "friendly strangers," to other
resource persons on the program, or to anyone outside of
your group. If you want to ask someone about information
provided by another resource person/organization, find a way
to do this without mentioning the other person/organization
(e.g. "I read before I came that. . .").
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Photograph military personnel or military installations. In
many countries, airports and bridges are included in this
prohibition. This is true for U.S. immigration and customs
areas as well.
Your group will have an orientation session upon arrival in El
Salvador. You will receive additional information and have the
opportunity to ask questions at that time. In the meantime, if
you have any questions about the information above, call the
International Travel Seminars Staff at the Center.
NOTE: It's likely you will hear the above guidelines again at
various points during your travel seminar. We ask for and
appreciate your patience with this fact in advance of your trip.
Policy on Controlled
Substances
Policy on Controlled Substances: Because of a past incident with
one of our travel seminar groups, we would like to bring the
following information to your attention:
The
use, possession, transport, or purchase of “controlled
substances” (i.e., illegal drugs) by a travel seminar
participant carries significant risks and penalties for the
participant, the entire group, and the reputation and legal
status of the Center for Global Education in the countries in
which we work.
A
participant who uses illegal drugs while on a Center for Global
Education program will be sent home at his or her own expense.
If the participant is detained or arrested, legal officials in
the site of the arrest (U.S. or foreign country) likely will not
permit Center for Global Education staff to contact or assist
the detained person in any way. The Center for Global
Education’s responsibility for the participant ends at the time
of detention or arrest for drug violations.
United States law prohibits the transport of illegal drugs
across its borders. Also, U.S. law does not protect U.S.
citizens, U.S. residents, or others traveling abroad who violate
foreign drug laws. The laws that prevail are those of the
country in which the law was broken.
Please reference the U.S. State Department’s Travel Warning on
Drugs Abroad for more information
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/drugs/drugs_1237.html
And remember:
The
police and customs officials have the right to search your
luggage for drugs.
In
many countries local laws make no distinction between hard and
soft drugs.
United States laws DO NOT apply to Americans abroad who violate
foreign laws. Once you are overseas, you are subject to the
same penalties for drug violations as the nationals of the
country you are visiting.
In
some countries, anyone who is caught with even a very small
quantity of drugs for personal use may be tried and receive the
same sentence as a large-scale trafficker.
If
you are arrested for drug possession abroad you may be subject
to interrogation and/or solitary confinement for up to a year
before trial and receive a mandatory prison sentence of seven
years to life if you are convicted.
Suggested
Publication Guidelines
Suggested Publication Guidelines: Some participants write an
article for their community newspaper, organizational newsletter
or other media outlet following their travel seminar. In order
to minimize risks to the security of resource persons who will
meet with your group, without obscuring the written information
or losing the strength or credibility of the article, we suggest
the following publication guidelines. You will learn more about
security-related issues when you arrive in each country. We
appreciate your consideration of these guidelines.
-
Some people and organizations with which you meet may ask
that you not identify them by name in anything published
about your visit.
-
In order to be more forthcoming in his/her presentation, a
resource person may request no photographs, tape recordings
or videotaping.
-
Visits to United States Embassies are considered by the
Embassies as background briefings only and are officially
"off the record." Embassy personnel ask not to be quoted or
identified by name.
-
Cameras and tape recorders usually aren't allowed inside
U.S. Embassies.
-
Some government offices require that cameras and tape
recorders be inspected prior to granting permission to take
these items inside the building.
-
We request respect for all speakers, whether you agree or
disagree with their perspective. Ask the "hard questions,"
but be aware of the manner and tone in which they are
stated.
-
Discussing sensitive issues on the phone during your travel
seminar is not advisable.
The following are some examples of journalism following the
suggested guidelines:
"Some of the church people that had gathered after the trial was
canceled were bitter. 'Here you don't see any justice,' said
one woman, 'only injustice.'"
"American diplomats and Salvadoran political analysts argue that
the gains in curbing gross human rights abuses, stabilizing the
economy, training the army and supporting an elected civilian
government are essential and hard-won first steps."
"'It's going to take a long time,' says a knowledgeable military
expert closely associated with the war effort."
"Local religious sources and foreign development workers in
different parts of the country report that . . ."
"'We often go hungry to feed our children,' says an agricultural
laborer with three children."
Gift Giving
The
Center for Global Education is committed to building
long-lasting relationships with the communities in our host
countries. As part of that commitment we have a policy of not
giving gifts, no matter how small or inexpensive, to people on
the streets, including not giving candy to children. Regardless
of the intentions, the practice of gift-giving can lead to ill
feelings among both givers and receivers. It also reinforces
the stereotype of North Americans as patronizing, wealthy
foreigners. If you wish to share something with the people you
meet, we suggest you bring postcards, photos or mementoes from
your home community and family.
Some groups may decide to make a monetary donation to one or
more of the organizations with which they meet. This is always
done in coordination with the Center for Global Education staff,
and the donation is given to a responsible individual within the
organization to ensure that it goes for the intended purpose.
This type of gift-giving is always voluntary.
Contact Information
Due
to the relatively short duration of your travel seminar, friends
and family should not expect to send you mail. However, friends
and family may place a direct-dial call to you. Before your
departure, CGE will provide you with direct-dial emergency
numbers for the places you will be staying. It is much less
expensive to call from the U.S. to El Salvador than vice versa.
Most of the accommodations CGE uses do not have phones in the
rooms. We recommend that for international calls, participants
use an AT&T, MCI or Sprint calling card. Pre-paid calling cards
purchased in the U.S. do not usually work abroad.
After-Hours emergency cell phone carried by a Minneapolis staff
member whenever a travel seminar is in progress: 612/817-2830
Center for Global Education at Augsburg College
Campus Box 307
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis MN 55454
Local: 612/330-1159
Toll-Free: 800/299-8889
Fax: 612/330-1695
globaled@augsburg.edu
Overnight Service and Certified or Registered Mail:
2222 7½ Street
Minneapolis MN 55454
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