Tidewater-North Africa Cultural Exchange Program (TiNA)

What to Bring:

• All of your essential identification papers documents and emergency personal items should be carried on your person or in your hand baggage DO NOT PUT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN BAGS YOU HAVE CHECKED ONTO THE PLANE - KEEP THEM WITH YOU.
• Valid passport and visa
• Prescription medication and documentation for prescription medications
• Airplane ticket(s)
• Cash, traveler’s checks, or international bank card
• Phone numbers and e-mail addresses of emergency contacts at home and in the country you are visiting. (Give your family a copy of this contact Information)
• Clothing appropriate for the season of your arrival in the country you are visiting
• A good bilingual dictionary, or phrase-book for the country you are visiting
• Books, manuals, or journals that you think may be useful for reference
• Pictures of your family, home, and country, for yourself and to show to your new friends
• Phone numbers and e-mail addresses of relatives and friends
• Items from your culture, such as musical instruments, recordings of traditional and contemporary music, picture books, arts and crafts, and small gifts to share your talents and customs with people in the United States. For festive occasions, you may consider bringing traditional dress and accessories from your country.
• Your completed and validated immunization record, documentation of treatment you have received for chronic medical problems, and medical insurance information

What Not to Bring:

• Expensive jewelry, treasured possessions, family heirlooms, or delicate things, because there is always a chance that these items can get lost, stolen, or damaged during travel or during your stay.
• DO NOT CARRY LARGE SUMS OF CURRENCY (no more than $300 U.S. dollars in cash)
• Firearms, knives, weapons, or articles that could be perceived as weapons
• Narcotics or drugs
• Medications, unless you have written prescriptions from a doctor
• Any article of clothing, artifact, or medicine made from endangered animals
• Electrical appliances
• Things you can easily buy in the country you are visiting
• Food, seeds, or plants (Most countries have very strict restrictions on importing foods, perishables, and agricultural goods into the country.)
• Books that can easily be obtained in libraries (Some universities have their library catalog on the Internet, where you can check the availability of books. You can also contact the university library staff to verify the availability of any essential books. You can usually also obtain books through interlibrary loans.)