Packing List and flight info!!

Packing List
Luggage
Having an internal frame backpack instead of a suitcase is usually a much easier way to go. It is not a necessity, but it is much easier to carry. If you don’t have one then you may want to borrow one from a friend. Suitcases with well-working, strong, large wheels will work, too. Each person can only bring 1 piece of luggage to check. You can also bring one carry-on bag to take on the plane, but make sure it is small enough that they will let you carry it on.

This is a suggested packing list. Not all items are needed, nor is the list exclusive. Remember that the less that you bring, the less that you have to carry. If you can’t carry your luggage by yourself you have too much.

Things to Keep in Mind When Packing
It is not necessary for you to bring an excessive amount of outfits (actually, please don’t). We have access to laundry service at the hostel in Pretoria. Be prepared to live in close community with others, to share and to have limited personal space. The hostel will provide bed linens but not towels. They have a kitchen and any supplies needed to cook, etc. For a small cost there is access to a computer with internet, a pay phone and laundry. If you don’t have your passport when you arrive in Denver you are not going to be able to get on the plane to South Africa and for most of you it will be too late to have it sent or brought to you. Please, check and re-check that you have your passport with you.

Packing Tips: When packing, you will want to place all of your valuables, basic toiletries, medications & documents, etc. in your carry-on. Put an extra T-shirt and underwear in your carry-on too in case your luggage is delayed. Make sure any prescription medicine you bring is in its’ original container to avoid suspicion.

In your main luggage, roll clothing and use small items to fill empty space. Use Zip Lock freezer bags around stuff that could break to prevent it from ruining everything.

[ ]Bible (the smaller the better)
[ ]Journal
[ ]Pens
[ ]a few Photos of friends and family

Toiletries

[ ]Toothbrush, toothpaste
[ ]Deodorant
[ ]Razor, shaving cream
[ ]Shampoo, conditioner
[ ]Soap
[ ]Sunscreen/Sunglasses
[ ]Travel packages of Kleenex/toilet paper
[ ]Eyeglass prescription
[ ]Contacts, solution
[ ]Hand lotion, Hand Sanitizer (‘Purell’, etc)
[ ]Prescription Medication to last through the project (In original containers)


General Packing List for Everyone

[ ] ATM Card for money for souvenirs (this is easier than bringing cash), you can also use a debit/credit card at the big grocery store in town
[ ] Passport-if you don’t have this with you in Denver you will be unable to go! (passport needs to have one full clean page and cannot expire before February 09)
[ ] Color Copy of Passport for staff to hold on to
[ ] copy of debit/credit cards if you want
[ ] a Student ID which will give you discounts in a couple places
[ ] a pair of Tennis shoes for sports activities or dirty work
[ ] Comfortable Walking Shoes
[ ] Shower shoes for community bathrooms in hostel
[ ] Small daypack/bag for campus
[ ] Towel and wash cloth
[ ] some batteries if needed
[ ] Camera
[ ] Travel Alarm clock (battery operated) (a wristwatch with alarm might work better)
[ ] a head lamp or small light if you have it- do not go out and buy one if you don’t. We can all share.
[ ] Small travel games, cards
[ ] Food items- snacks for travel. Don’t bring much- we have access to a lot in South Africa. We promise that you won’t go without!
[ ] Electric Adapters (make sure its wattage matches your appliance’s wattage. Africa is the 3 prongs in the shape of a triangle)
[ ] Poncho &/or umbrella (doesn’t rain much during winter)


Clothes
Africa will be in its winter season and it will probably be mild during the day (60s high) and get colder at night (40s low). Don’t bring a new outfit for everyday. Just expect to wear the same things multiple times. At the hostel we will have access to laundry and also there is a laundry service near the university that we can use. It can get cold at night and we will hang out in the yard area of the hostel a lot. So, bring appropriate layers, jacket, etc. We will most likely wear pants/jeans every day so don’t bring many shorts. You won’t need a swimsuit or anything like that.

Suggested clothes:
There is NO need to be flashly. This is not the time to bring your designer stuff if you have it (or even look-alike). It is also not smart to bring extra attention to yourself especially with crime there. No need to impress anyone this summer.
[ ] socks
[ ] underwear
[ ] jeans/pants
[ ] clothes to wear at the development center – we may be playing with kids, helping clean, serving meals, etc. You will most likely get dirty. You could bring clothes to wear that you can leave for BEAM at the end of project, but you don’t have to.
[ ] clothes to wear on campus. Students wear pants/jeans on campus. It feels similar to being in the States. We will be bringing you a project T-shirt. I wore jeans and a t-shirt everyday on campus and always brought a jacket for when the sun would go down.
[ ] warm PJs
[ ] 1 set of clothes to be active in (sports, etc)
[ ] jacket/fleece for night
[ ] shirts that can easily layer (thin long sleeved, etc)
[ ] something maybe nicer for church. (meaning-just one outfit) Ladies, you don’t have to bring a skirt but can if you would like. Jeans and a nice top are fine for everyone.
[ ] a stocking hat and light gloves if you get cold easily. Could be nice to have at nights. It is chilling in the evenings and in the mornings.

Suggestion: You may not want to bring anything clothing –wise that you are super attached to. Be prepared to be flexible with weather and what we are doing. If we have to be smelly, or wear the same stuff over and over, then we can all do it together! J Honestly, it is good for us to learn to live with less. Most foreigners own way less clothing than we do and it is the norm to wear them over and over.



Medications
Please be sure to bring any medications that you normally use and enough for an entire month. There is a grocery store close where we can get all the basic stuff like cold medicine, pain relievers, shampoo, etc.


Flight Info:
All these flights are United or a Star Alliance Partner. I would recommend getting a United frequent flyer number and earning some points.


CO DATE CITY-AIRPORT TIME FLIGHT NBR/CLASS ST SERV/AMNT
-- ---- ------------ ---- ---------------- -- ---------
A TH 03JUL LV DENVER 730A UNITED 400Y OK
AR NYC/LAGUARDIA 103P 0STOP 319
MILES 1628 ELAPSED 3.33
ARRIVE TERMINAL M

A TH 03JUL LV NEW YORK/KENNEDY 520P SOUTH AFRICAN 204T OK BREAKFAST
04JUL AR JOHANNESBURG 500P 1STOP 343
VIA DAKAR
MILES 7963 ELAPSED 17.40
DEPART TERMINAL 4 ARRIVE TERMINAL A

A FR 18JUL LV JOHANNESBURG 1100A SOUTH AFRICAN 327B OK SNACK
AR CAPETOWN 110P 0STOP 738
MILES 788 ELAPSED 2.10
DEPART TERMINAL B

A SU 20JUL LV CAPETOWN 310P SOUTH AFRICAN 346B OK SNACK
AR JOHANNESBURG 510P 0STOP 346
MILES 788 ELAPSED 2.00
ARRIVE TERMINAL B

A TU 29JUL LV JOHANNESBURG 710P SOUTH AFRICAN 203T OK BREAKFAST
30JUL AR NEW YORK/KENNEDY 705A 1STOP 343
VIA DAKAR
MILES 7963 ELAPSED 17.55
DEPART TERMINAL A ARRIVE TERMINAL 4

A WE 30JUL LV NYC/LAGUARDIA 1055A UNITED 405Y OK
AR DENVER 126P 0STOP 757
MILES 1628 ELAPSED 4.31
DEPART TERMINAL M

Meet Thuli Mzezewa Sidile!

We thought it would be fun to introduce everyone to Thuli for a couple reasons. One, her family lives in South Africa (which is what she also calls home), and two, because she will already be there when we leave from Denver in July (so she won't be at briefing with us).
Both of Thuli's parents are from South Africa, but moved to Zimbabawe for a while where Thuli was born. Later, her parent's moved back to S Africa where they live just outside of Johannesburg. Thuli is a student at Johnson & Wales in Denver.

I asked Thuli to answer some questions:

Q.What are you studying?
A. I am studying hotel management.

Q. How many languages do you speak and what are they?
A. I speak four languages.. English, Zulu, Ndebele and Shona (but Shona is from Zimbabwe).

Q. Why did you come to the US for school?
A. I didnt come to US for school, i was in Switzerland, and then came to America to do an internship at a hotel, while i was there Johnson and Wales offered me a scholarship, which ended up making college cheaper for my parents, so i moved here.

Q. What is your favorite part about S Africa?
A. I love the beaches and the mountains, so Durban and the entire Mpumalanga area.

Q. What is an interesting fact about S Africa that most people in the group probably don't know?
A. That alot of English is spoken in South Africa and johannesburg, the biggest city in south africa is twice the size of Denver.

Q. What is one thing that you think will surprise people about life in S Africa?
A. That its not all bush and tress and huts as commonly shown on T.V.

Q. What are you most excited for this summer on project?
A. I'm excited to meet new people in Christ.

Are you ready?

Welcome to the offical blog site for the 2008 summer project to Pretoria South Africa. You will want to come back here periodically for pictures, updates and helpful information about the summer.

First things first....you need to print off your summer project notebook. Click on the notebook link and print off EVERY page. Your first assignment is to read through the entire notebook and begin to follow directions given inside. Download Notebook.