Here are some miscellaneous important things to remember before departure:

• Please download (or even better, print out, since phones tend to die at the lease opportune time) the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before heading to the airport. I sent you a DM on WhatsApp with a pdf of each of your arrival cards. Please make sure the information is correct, and let me know if there are necessary corrections so I can make them and send you a new pdf file.
• Please download (and even better, print out) your health insurance ID form. The instructions are on Canvas; under the Health and Safety Canvas module, there is a section labeled “International Health Insurance Policy”. Click on that, and follow the instructions.
• Please download (or even better, print out) the hotel reservations for the Holiday Inn Sukhumvit. They may ask for this at immigration. And it has the address, so you can let ground transportation know where you need to go.
• Please download (or even better, print out) the Emergency Action Plan. This will be important information to have in case of an emergency.
• Please read over the instructions on successfully navigating the airport upon arrival. This is especially important for those of you who are flying without one of the faculty leaders.
• I’m sending each group of students who arrive at similar times instructions on how to meet up, so please make sure you have these instructions.
• Pack one back to check (less than 50 lbs., less than 62 inches combined height, length and width – check with your airline to confirm baggage limits). You can also have one bag (and a personal item) to carry on. Make sure this is small (less than 15 lbs, again, check your airline for limits).
• I emailed you a packing checklist. USE IT!!! You can also modify the one we sent you, but I highly recommend you literally check things off as you pack.
• Make sure you bring your Westminster ID with you, as well as a packable travel towel and a smaller bag to pack for our stay in the first village (Ban Nam Hom). Remember, we CANNOT bring all our luggage to the first village, you’re only allowed a smaller bagful.
• Make sure you have identification on the bag. A sticker or some other mark can differentiate your bag from others for easy retrieval. If you’re super paranoid, you can use an Apple AirTag (or similar tracker) to keep track of where your bag is.
• Don’t forget your passport!
• Do you have a plan for your phone? There’s an assignment on Canvas in regards to this, PLEASE COMPLETE IT! Do you have an unlocked phone and plan on getting a Thai SIM card? Or did you enroll in an international plan and keeping your US phone number? Make sure you have a plan for this, you are REQUIRED to have a way to communicate with us at all times, not only when you happen to have Wifi access.
• Make sure you call your bank/credit card company and let them know where you will be traveling. If you don’t, they will think it’s fraud and your transaction may not go through.
• I have some suggestions on making the long flight a bit more comfortable here.
• Please go over the recent blog post for orientation details. In particular, read over the posts on baggage, personal items to bring, clothing, money, electronic items, additional items, paperwork, and a first aid kit. Again, I sent you a checklist to help you stay organized. Here are the highlights for each post:
  • Bring about 7 days worth of clothes. Focus on versatile pieces. Make sure you have at least one outfit that you can “dress up” for more formal occasions.
  • Call your credit/debit card companies, so that they know there will be legitimate charges/withdrawals in Thailand. Otherwise, they will mark it stolen, and you won’t be able to use it.
  • The critical personal items to bring are sunscreen (Thailand doesn’t quite have the selection we have, especially with high SPF sunscreens), insect repellant (again, not as much of a selection), any prescription medications/eyeglass prescriptions, and anything else that you are particular about. Otherwise, you can get it in Bangkok.
  • Don’t bring cash. Bring an ATM card with a memorized PIN (and enough money in the account!) You should also bring a credit card for emergencies (preferably NOT an American Express), a driver’s license and your Westminster ID. Leave everything else at home.
  • Make two copies of everything you bring (passport, IDs, etc.) Leave one copy with someone at home, and bring the other copy with you. Make sure you make copies of the back as well. It’s also a good idea to upload copies on a password-protected Cloud drive (like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive, etc.) Most are free, and it’s a good way to backup important documents.
  • Make sure you get your family and friends your Thai phone number if you are planning on getting a Thai SIM card, as well as the faculty’s. Also, make sure they have instructions on how to call you.
  • Thailand now has a requirement for a Thailand Digital Arrival card that you can register for free 3 days prior to departure. I will submit our information for all of us and email you the entry card. You can print it out and bring a hard copy, or you can download it onto your phone to show it at immigration when we arrive in Bangkok. Stay tuned for this email!
• Please bring a small first aid kit. I have a post about this here. The faculty are not your personal pharmacy.
• Safety issues are covered here. Health issues are covered here and here. Notes on motion sickness are covered here.
• Get to the airport at LEAST 2 hours before departure! Stuff always seems to pop up, and better to be there early and wait than rushing to the airport and stressing out about potentially missing your flight!

I think that’s it for now. If you have any questions or comments, please call me, email me, or stop by my office. See you soon!