Preparations
ADDITIONAL PREPARATIONS
Before packing your bags, a few other considerations need to be addressed. The proceeding pages will provide guidance as you consider topics such as: visa information, shots and immunizations, and what to bring with you for the trip. Please consult the remainder of this acceptance packet while making these preparations.
VISA INFORMATION
While traveling abroad, know that your passport must to up to date and valid at least three months beyond your intended stay (i.e. the end of the semester). For Fiji, no pre-approved visa is required for any stay under three months. As your time there will consist of a thirty-day period, no additional work is required unless you intend to return there after the program for a longer stay.
Australia requires either a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), valid for up to three months. ETA is recommended over a visa, and can be issued through any travel agent or via telephone with an Australian bound airline carrier. A visa can be obtained through a local embassy, or the main location in Washington, D.C. We recommend that you pursue this while purchasing your ticket to Hawaii. Also, ETA must be obtained approximately 30 days before departure, simply meaning before you leave for Hawaii.
- MEDICAL VACCINATIONS
- An important resource for information about health concerns for international travelers is the Center for Disease Control, with up to date information posted at www.cdc.gov. Students should consult this information even if they’re already aware of what vaccinations they need or if they have visited before. Recommended vaccinations for travel in Fiji and Australia include:
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- Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
- Rabies if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
- Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
- As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles, and a one-time dose of polio for adults.
- Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children 11–12 years of age who did not receive the series as infants. Other medical concerns include the student's exposure to any of the following: traveler’s diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria, and typhoid fever. While these are serious concerns, a few preventative measures can insure that your stay in the South Pacific is safe and enjoyable. A few recommendations while abroad:
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive defensively. Avoid travel at night if possible and always use seat belts.
- Don’t eat or drink dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
- Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself.
- Never eat undercooked ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and non-pasteurized dairy products. Raw shellfish is particularly dangerous to persons who have liver disease or compromised immune systems.
- While in Fiji:
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- Be defensive about what you drink. Drink bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an “absolute 1-micron or less” filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. “Absolute 1-micron filters” are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
- If you visit an area where there is risk for malaria, take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your doctor for a prescription.) · Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals), and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
- To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
Travelers are advised to follow food and water precautions, especially when dining outside of major hotels and resorts. Such precautions include drinking canned or bottled beverages and those made with boiled or purified water, avoiding ice cubes, selecting well-cooked foods served piping hot, and avoiding salads, dairy products made with non-pasteurized milk, and food cooked at roadside stands. Travelers are advised to carry medication for symptomatic relief of cramps and diarrhea and an antibiotic for emergency self-treatment of traveler’s diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs, take Imodium A-D according to label instructions. If you have more than three loose stools per day, take one Cipro tablet.
Finally, know that a family doctor or campus physician can be an invaluable resource in making these preparations. Please make an early appointment in order to go over a workable schedule for your vaccinations and plan to purchase any prescription medication before leaving. Otherwise, take some time to look over the gear list while you begin packing. We’re excited to have you with us and look forward to meeting up in Hawaii.
