Personal tips - for extra precaution

On a recent trip to Europe, my bag was stolen with all the most important content. With no money, passport or cell phone, it is a nightmare!

Some handy tips.

• Carry extra visa photos in all suitcases ( 2 in each) if needed. 
• Visa can only be applied for from  the country of departure ( exit) Make sure that you enter and exit from the same country-, making it easier. Otherwise, you have to trod from one country to another to the correct S A Embassy.
• Carry additional chronic medication in all bags, an " impossibility to obtain your chronic medication at any pharmacy even if your Dr. faxes its composition. This varies from country to country in terms of its own laws and regulations. In a developing country, like India, it is easier to obtain your medication.
• if cash is needed, carry a small amount and take the rest on your card.
• Carry duplicate copies of passport and other travel documents, insurance in all bags, including certified copies of your Identity Document.
• Crime is prevalent in all countries.  There are gangs operating all over, normally well dressed, kind, cool and look  professional.
• Always look and walk with confidence and know your routes. If information is needed , ask reliable sources.
• Hotels have their own rules and are quite lax in the way they allow entry to their breakfast lounges and diner areas. Be ware of this and take extra precaution if there is NO CONTROL or monitoring by the hotel of guests coming in and out.
• Ensure all official reports ( police ) are  translated in English and have their official stamp. ( not copies)
• Keep you passport on your body-- do not take it off.
• Always have your bank details kept handy, inform your bank on your days away.

Sounding a bit extreme! This is not the usual but you could be that one in a million.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP! DONT GET PARANOID OF THE ABOVE,  JUST BE SENSIBLE

Gulshera

PACKING LIST

Packing list: (1 on, 1 in cupboard, 1 drying principle!)
underwear
stockings/knee highs/socks
vests/longjohns
sleepwear
'walking' shoes - you need something comfortable because you are on your feet for many hours each day
'smarter' shoes - for evenings but not essential
warm overcoat/jacket
1 smartish outfit - you can wear the same one every time or just have something different to wear over your daywear!
African evening wear (outfit or jewellery or whatever!)
skirts/slacks and tops - I tried to get things that matched with everything
team T-shirts for the plane journey – useful if anyone gets lost to look for bright yellow etc!
tracksuit
jersey/jacket

NB: be careful about glass containers (can break) and when opening containers after the flight because the pressure makes them 'pop'. I put my goodies inside plastic bags and film containerssoap
face cloth
toothpaste and toothbrush
shampoo
moisturising cream
powder
makeup goodies
hair goodies - all plugs are 2-pin
mirror
toilet bag
tissues
washing powder (there is a laundry with a tumble drier and drying cupboard but I handwashed daily. A little washline in my shower would have been useful but there is somewhere to hang things, apart from the showerhead, taps etc!)

any kind of medicine that you might/do need. I took antibiotics, just in case, and really needed themcough sweets (Halls saved my bacon because I had coughing spasms and couldn't find anything as strong there!)headache pills, Enos etc

diary - small notebook to write down names, daily happenings etcpen/pencil

camera and film,passport and tickets,money no fancy jewellery unless you wear it at all times (I lost my earrings on the plane when using the earphones)

sweets/chocolate if you like something to snack on!, juice and biscuits for long waits at airport, and maybe in the res

gifts: from Port Shepstone twinning delegates, schools, organisations etc
gifts from mayors to Oskarshamn mayor and twinning board (if there are enough)
from you personally to those who take you out and treat you specially. There are times you'll go out
one on one.
from the whole group (if you all go somewhere not linked through twinning people and want to saythanks) from the whole group to everyone at the farewell function (if you haven't given them the group gift already!)
always have spares, like ballpoint pens and little things, just in case!
NB: make lists of which gift to whom! We did and it helped a lot keep gifts in one person's room



sensible, strong handbag that is easy to carry everywhere and hold all your goodies safely
suitcase (15 + 8 = 23kg) and hand luggage bag (7kg)
little padlocks to lock cases
labels on suitcases

visiting cards

information/handouts/photographs/videos/music etc for presentations - here you need to look at the programme and if you are going to a school, take something of interest that you can show the children there and if possible, leave with them.

NB: Clothes etc for the plane
Your feet swell madly on the aeroplane so make sure that your shoes are not tight fitting. They give you socks for your feet and a blanket to keep you warm while you 'sleep' (ha ha!), as well as toothpaste and toothbrush, and a mask for your eyes to keep out the light.

Also you have to sit for hours so wear clothes that are very comfortable and preferably loose around the waist.

Take spare undies and a small makeup bag for the morning. We actually used the Ladies at Heathrow Airport to make ourselves look respectable because the loo queues on the plane were very long! It pays to go early, while most are still sleeping.

And nothing, but nothing sharp in your hand luggage or hand bag. This includes nail files, scissors, pen knives etc. At every airport you have to put your bags through security checks and if they 'ping', they'll open them. Also expect to be 'bodyfrisked', especially if you go 'ping' when going through security.

No liquids either. If you have any liquids, they have to be under 100ml and put in Ziploc plastics so that they can be seen easily. It’s best to put most things in your main luggage.

Now they only allow 1 bag, so handbag will have to fit into hand luggage. Check how big your hand luggage bag can be. I think 5kg is limit in weight.

I can't think of anything else. Hope this helps.

Pauline

PREPARATION OF DELEGATION

2009 PSTA PREPARATION OF DELEGATES TO SWEDEN

History of the Twinning
Sweden/SA during years of apartheid
Oskarshamn/Port Shepstone
Twin Town Agreement
Projects
Oskarshamn Ambassador Gulshera Khan

Projects
Time Travel
Triangle
Global School Journey
Global Supplement
Donations to projects
Volunteer to Child Welfare; Emseni
Ugu Municipality/Soderhamn Municipality
Hibiscus Coast Municipality/Oskarshamn Municipality
HIV & Aids
eSayidi FETC/Lars Kagg Skolan

Information
Democracy
Rural visit/cultural orientation
Ugu/HCM boundaries and services
Meeting with past delegates, especially most recent delegation
Information/documents for presentations in Sweden – if any
Knowledge of national anthem, national symbols etc
Orienation on topical issues eg HIV/Aids; crime etc

Essentials for travel to Sweden
Passport
Apply well in advance
Photographs

Visa
Photographs
Application forms with all information filled in – accurately
Documents required
Insurance – medical; baggage optional
Bank statement for past 3 months
Visa medical indemnity signed
Invitation from Sweden identifying duration of visit; who will be paying costs; accommodation addresses in Sweden
Itinerary/reason for visit to Sweden
Everything thoroughly checked before sending
Letter of permission from schools
Letter of permission from employer for time absent from work



Preparation by PSTA of delegates for visit
Meeting the delegates
Membership of PSTA
Financial contribution by delegates to PSTA for admin etc
Phone numbers, e-mail addresses etc
For communication during preparation with PSTA and one another
For communication with family members when delegates in Sweden
Regular feedback to, and involvement of, delegates’ organisations during preparation period
Involvement of family members
Pledge
Indemnity form
Farewell function – delegates provide eats and entertainment
Transport to and from airport – delegates to organise
Copies of tickets, invitation, insurance etc in case of loss
Saying goodbye to delegation on day of departure

Delegation
Teamwork
Attendance of all preparation sessions
Effective communication with PSTA and fellow delegates
Sharing of responsibilities for preparation
Purchase of personal gifts for presentation to hosts etc
Request from Ugu and HCM for gifts
Various roles: group leader; treasurer; airport guide
Gathering of information required for presentations etc
Transparency
Declaration of gifts and offers of assistance from Sweden

In Sweden
Ambassadorial roles
No requests for assistance from Sweden
Daily summary of events attended; people met
Notes on accommodation, transport and other logistics of interest to improve the visits or learn from for delegations visiting SA
Final evaluation form

On return
Written report for submission to PSTA, OSAK and Swedish hosts
Verbal presentation to committee and general meeting
Reports to delegates’ organisations
Assistance with outbound and inbound delegations
Attendance of PSTA meetings, AGMs and functions

Essentials to purchase/get for visit
Money bag/belt
Medical requirements/prescription
2-pin plugs
Coloured ribbon for bags
Same colour T-shirts for travel
Ziploc bags for hand luggage and items that may leak
SA e-mail addresses and telephone numbers if sending mail or phoning from Sweden
SA meal ingredients
Notebook, and stationery
Gifts
PS Twinning certificates
Letters from mayors
Cameras; batteries; cds for downloading of photos
Calling cards
Padlocks for cases
Backpack or hand luggage
Suitcase
Sweets
Sugar!
SA flag
SA music
SA/Sweden pins
Something to read – if you have any spare time or can stay awake!

Packing list
Luggage weight allowed
Suitcase: 20kg (15kg for clothes + 5kg for gifts etc)
Hand luggage: 5kg; check on size allowed; only one item allowed so handbags inside hand luggage
Walking shoes
Slops/sandals
Smart shoes
Warm jacket
Socks/stockings
Vests
Underwear
Traditional outfit
3 main outfits: 1 on, one in cupboard, 1 drying
Smart outfit
Toiletries
Washing powder; pegs (useful for lots of things!)
Hairdryer etc
Plastic bags for dirty clothes etc

NB: liquids expand with air pressure so don’t fill to top and be careful when opening bottles etc after the flight. Use Ziplocs so there’s no chance of leakage onto clothes and contents of suitcases

Travel Tips
Seats:
Aisle seats give you more leg room
Window seats give you a view
Seats in the middle make it difficult to get to toilet etc
Stay together at airports and tell someone in the group where you are going if you go to the toilet/shop etc
Don’t leave bags or luggage unattended – ever
Don’t accept parcels/packages from strangers to carry or put in your luggage as they may contain drugs or worse
Pack a change of underwear
Toilet queues on the plane can be a problem, especially in the morning, so go earlier than later
No liquids bigger than 100ml in hand luggage
Have all liquids in a Ziploc in your hand luggage so that you can show them at security
No sharp objects (nail files; scissors etc) in hand luggage or pockets
Earrings are a nuisance when using the earphones
Wear loose shoes on plane as feet are inclined to swell during the long flights
Get up as often as you can and walk up and down the aisles. Otherwise move your legs and feet often to avoid blood clotting and possible heart attack. This is rare but can happen, so take all precautions.
Take any food and drink offered to you. Keep what you don’t consume in your hand luggage to eat while waiting at the airport for the next flight, or long train journey from Copehagen in Denmark to Kalmar in Sweden (4 hours!) We had trouble with unopened bottles of water when going through security to board next plane at Frankfurt in Germany.
Don’t make jokes about anything at security

There will be many things that are not in this document but that you would like to add so that the next delegation is even better prepared. Please make notes in your notebook and reports so that we can include your suggestions and ideas.

HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP AND BE EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS FOR
SOUTH AFRICA AND PORT SHEPSTONE TWINNING ASSOCIATION