Pre-Departure Checklist

Before going to Antwerp, you should...

Read about Antwerp
Get plenty of rest
Be prepared for compact (small) living quarters
Be sure to know your checking/credit card balance - increase line if necessary!
Plan for the Paris trip; research the city in advance
Plan for the Amsterdam trip; research the city in advance
Have an open mind
Get used to getting up early
Bring clothes for all different weather conditions
Be prepared to be patient (waiting in line, etc.)
Don't over pack

Be sure to bring.....

Student ID card (for discounts)
Travel umbrella
Very comfortable walking shoes
Alarm clock (battery-powered or wind-up)
Travel iron (multi-voltage)
All necessary medications (carry in hand luggage)
Voltage adapter if you use a US hair dryer/curling iron (multi-voltage appliances strongly recommended)
Duffel bag / small travel bag
Warm clothes/variety of clothes
Camera/extra film, AA batteries (much cheaper in the US)
Travel wallet
Money: Travelers checks, ATM card, check or debit card, cash (but no $100 bills), credit cards. I strongly encourage you to get and use a VISA check card (debit card)
Empty space or extra bag for gifts and souvenirs
A range of clothing (shorts, pants, sweaters, T -shirts)
A CD player for bus rides
Addresses to send postcards
A light windbreaker
Phone cards
Flip flops (for hotel)
Small lock for luggage or backpacks
Travel size items
Open mind
Good attitude
Glasses-wearers: extra pair of plastic-lens glasses

But leave behind...

Most electrical appliances (except multi-voltage travel ones)
Uncomfortable dress shoes
American attitude
Most shorts, very light summer clothes
Sandals
Tank tops
Prejudices
Jewelry
Extra recreational clothes
Loud voices

To best benefit, you should...

Be willing to try new things
Be enthusiastic
Try different foods
Keep an open mind
Be prepared for culture shock
Be prepared to walk a lot

Checklist

Passport--Do not forget it!
- Make three or four photocopies; keep one with you at all times
Clothes
- Temperature range 50 - 80 degrees F.
- One business dress outfit is required. We will be visiting governmental institutions where business dress is required. Please also bring a business dress pair of shoes that is not open-toed.
- Bring at least two pair of very comfortable (NOT NEW) walking shoes; you will do quite a bit of walking.
- For the guys, a jacket and tie would be appropriate for the visit to the EU.
Toiletries
- Current is 240 volts, 50 hertz.
- Hair dryers, curling irons, electric shavers, etc., will not work in Europe without a voltage adapter, or must be multi-voltage.
- Bring your own pharmacy supplies, e.g., cough drops, aspirin, contact lenses and cleaner/solution, etc.
Money
- Bring a VISA debit (check card) or credit card, but no Discovery, American Express, or Diners. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted.
- Travelers' checks are okay
  - But: You get a worse exchange rate, and there is often a transaction charge.
- Small-denomination dollar bills are okay. However, $100 bills are not accepted due to counterfeiting problems.
- Bring a telephone charge calling card if you possess one.
- You can buy euros in the US before departure, but it's best to wait to change in Antwerp.
  - RECOMMENDATION: Use a VISA check card (also called a "debit card") at an ATM to get money. You get the best exchange rate
  - You will have a $1 to $2 charge each time you use your VISA check card. Still, this is better than the poor exchange rates you get when changing cash or travelers' checks.
- Be sure not to forget your student ID card, as it can entitle you to some student discounts.
- Forget personal checks - they will be impossible to cash.

Other notes

The time change is 6 (EDT) to 9 (PDT) hours. Therefore, when it is 6:00 am in Virginia, it is 12:00 noon in Belgium.
Store hours are different in Europe from the US. Stores have more limited hours and may not be open in the mornings, during lunch, late evenings, or on weekends.
The length system is different in Europe. Europeans use the meter (m) instead of yard and foot (1 yard = 0.9144 meter; 1 foot = 0.3048 meter). For longer distances, Europeans use Kilometers, which are the equivalent of 1000 meters. To convert from miles to kilometers (Km), multiply by 1.609347 (1mile = 1.609347 Km). For more information about metric conversions, visit this page.
The mass system is also different in Europe. Europeans use kilograms (kg) instead of pounds (1lb = 0.4535924kg or 1Kg= 2.2lb). For more information about the mass system, visit this page.
For temperature, Europeans use Celsius system instead of Fahrenheit system. The formula to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius is a bit complicated: tc=(tF-32)/1.8. You can use an online service to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
You can learn more about other conversion factors by visiting this page. For converting online from different systems, you can use WorlWideMetric.com
Expected behavior of all students:
- Avoid noisy conversations, especially in public
- Sleeping in class and during presentations is strictly forbidden. You will lose a significant portion of your grade if you sleep in class.
- When traveling on bus, please note that bathrooms may not be available.
- On public tours and at restaurants, professional manners are expected.
- Be open and positive to accepting the food differences.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Before going to Antwerp, you should...

Be sure to bring.....

But leave behind...

To best benefit, you should...

Checklist

Other notes

Print check-list (PDF)

Conversion quick sheet (PDF)



	Pre-Departure Checklist Before going to Antwerp, you should... Read about Antwerp Get plenty of rest Be prepared for compact (small) living quarters Be sure to know your checking/credit card balance - increase line if necessary! Plan for the Paris trip; research the city in advance Plan for the Amsterdam trip; research the city in advance Have an open mind Get used to getting up early Bring clothes for all different weather conditions Be prepared to be patient (waiting in line, etc.) Don't over pack Be sure to bring..... Student ID card (for discounts) Travel umbrella Very comfortable walking shoes Alarm clock (battery-powered or wind-up) Travel iron (multi-voltage) All necessary medications (carry in hand luggage) Voltage adapter if you use a US hair dryer/curling iron (multi-voltage appliances strongly recommended) Duffel bag / small travel bag Warm clothes/variety of clothes Camera/extra film, AA batteries (much cheaper in the US) Travel wallet Money: Travelers checks, ATM card, check or debit card, cash (but no $100 bills), credit cards. I strongly encourage you to get and use a VISA check card (debit card) Empty space or extra bag for gifts and souvenirs A range of clothing (shorts, pants, sweaters, T -shirts) A CD player for bus rides Addresses to send postcards A light windbreaker Phone cards Flip flops (for hotel) Small lock for luggage or backpacks Travel size items Open mind Good attitude Glasses-wearers: extra pair of plastic-lens glasses But leave behind... Most electrical appliances (except multi-voltage travel ones) Uncomfortable dress shoes American attitude Most shorts, very light summer clothes Sandals Tank tops Prejudices Jewelry Extra recreational clothes Loud voices To best benefit, you should... Be willing to try new things Be enthusiastic Try different foods Keep an open mind Be prepared for culture shock Be prepared to walk a lot Checklist Passport--Do not forget it! Make three or four photocopies; keep one with you at all times Clothes Temperature range 50 - 80 degrees F. One business dress outfit is required. We will be visiting governmental institutions where business dress is required. Please also bring a business dress pair of shoes that is not open-toed. Bring at least two pair of very comfortable (NOT NEW) walking shoes; you will do quite a bit of walking. For the guys, a jacket and tie would be appropriate for the visit to the EU. Toiletries Current is 240 volts, 50 hertz. Hair dryers, curling irons, electric shavers, etc., will not work in Europe without a voltage adapter, or must be multi-voltage. Bring your own pharmacy supplies, e.g., cough drops, aspirin, contact lenses and cleaner/solution, etc. Money Bring a VISA debit (check card) or credit card, but no Discovery, American Express, or Diners. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Travelers' checks are okay But: You get a worse exchange rate, and there is often a transaction charge. Small-denomination dollar bills are okay. However, $100 bills are not accepted due to counterfeiting problems. Bring a telephone charge calling card if you possess one. You can buy euros in the US before departure, but it's best to wait to change in Antwerp. RECOMMENDATION: Use a VISA check card (also called a "debit card") at an ATM to get money. You get the best exchange rate You will have a $1 to $2 charge each time you use your VISA check card. Still, this is better than the poor exchange rates you get when changing cash or travelers' checks. Be sure not to forget your student ID card, as it can entitle you to some student discounts. Forget personal checks - they will be impossible to cash. Other notes The time change is 6 (EDT) to 9 (PDT) hours. Therefore, when it is 6:00 am in Virginia, it is 12:00 noon in Belgium. Store hours are different in Europe from the US. Stores have more limited hours and may not be open in the mornings, during lunch, late evenings, or on weekends. The length system is different in Europe. Europeans use the meter (m) instead of yard and foot (1 yard = 0.9144 meter; 1 foot = 0.3048 meter). For longer distances, Europeans use Kilometers, which are the equivalent of 1000 meters. To convert from miles to kilometers (Km), multiply by 1.609347 (1mile = 1.609347 Km). For more information about metric conversions, visit this page. The mass system is also different in Europe. Europeans use kilograms (kg) instead of pounds (1lb = 0.4535924kg or 1Kg= 2.2lb). For more information about the mass system, visit this page. For temperature, Europeans use Celsius system instead of Fahrenheit system. The formula to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius is a bit complicated: tc=(tF-32)/1.8. You can use an online service to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit. You can learn more about other conversion factors by visiting this page. For converting online from different systems, you can use WorlWideMetric.com Expected behavior of all students: Avoid noisy conversations, especially in public Sleeping in class and during presentations is strictly forbidden. You will lose a significant portion of your grade if you sleep in class. When traveling on bus, please note that bathrooms may not be available. On public tours and at restaurants, professional manners are expected. Be open and positive to accepting the food differences.		Print check-list (PDF) Conversion quick sheet (PDF)