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| PREPARING
TO GO ABROAD |
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You've just been told that your wish has been granted:
You're shipping out with the troops. Now what? You begin collecting
background information and figuring out how you'll file, and then
it hits you. This isn't going to be like anything else you've ever
done, no matter how much foreign travel you have under your belt.
You need advice.
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South African media trainer Karen Williams has been
there and done that--many times. Just back from Sierra Leone, she's
happy to share these tips on what to take.
- The write stuff. Take a good pen or pens along--a
rollerball usually works well. Cheap pens can't withstand the
cabin pressure on long flights, and altitude changes will make
you have to go searching for something so darn essential in a
place where nobody speaks your language.
- Food for thought. Take some chocolate--both
for energy and heat. Strangely, it's the first thing you miss
in a poor country. Also take some coffee along. You might get
really good coffee there, but then again, you might not, and it
makes a big difference. (Pack a filter, or those Starbucks-type
filter/coffee cups.) Carry salt packets too. I've found that adding
salt to food works really well when you're suffering from heat
exhaustion or cold. It alleviates symptoms really quickly.
- Essential gear. Pack a clothes hanger with
a swivel head--the wooden suit hangers usually have them. You
can't turn the top of plastic clothes hangers. This is essential
if you're somewhere very basic and are handwashing clothes. You
can put the hanger up anywhere, and it minimises creases. Also
take an extra pair of shoelaces with you (where would you get
them if one of yours broke?) and a bathplug if you're going to
be sleeping in dodgy accomodation. Also pack an extra toothbrush.
I don't know how strict airport security will be, but if you can,
take a can opener, knife, spoon and scissors. They always come
in handy. And have a wad of one-dollar bills for tipping.
- Environmental protection. If there is a problem
of bugs or scorpions or mosquitos, sleep in a light shirt. If
there are snakes, spiders and scorpions around where you're staying,
turn your shoes upside down at night before going to sleep, otherwise
the creatures crawl into them. If it's hot and sandy, take a scarf
with you and keep your head covered. Get someone to tie you a
turban--you'll see how practical they are.
- Energy booster. One thing that I find works
very well for me, is getting a series of Vitamin B injections
before I head off. Talk to your doctor about them--they hurt like
hell but work like a bomb. Basically, it boosts your immune and
nervous systems and give you a boost of energy, too.
- Drug store fundamentals. First of all, take
along some [over-the-counter] sleeping pills. You never know when
you'll need them. If you're going to be exhausted from the work,
it might be very difficult getting to sleep in a strange environment.
Get some water purification pills. Stick to mineral water to drink,
but purify the local water and use it to brush your teeth with.
Take antiseptic cream. I've found that an essential oil, Tea Tree
Oil, works brilliantly as an antiseptic. It's often a lot better
than the other stuff, and heals wounds, grazes and infections
really well. Your pharmacist could give you something for diarrhoea,
but also get them to give you pills that will restore/balance
the intestinal flora in your stomach. And get a sachet of rehydration
mix from your pharmacist.
- Online access. Get a Yahoo!, not Hotmail,
address for emails. You never know where you will get an Internet
cafe, and on slow connections Hotmail is a nightmare.
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