On money, etc.

So you are going out of the country, and you don't want to carry much cash. Makes sense. So bring some to exchange when we get there, but also check with your bank and find out the following things:

• Does your bank participate in any of the major ATM networks, especially ones that include some Serbian banks?
• How much does your bank charge for cash withdrawals in other countries? Don't forget to also see if there is a foreign transaction fee above and beyond the ATM fees.
• If you are bringing a credit card, make sure that you have called your card company and given them your travel dates. Make sure to tell them we will be traveling via Munich, in case you want to use a card in the airport.
• Also, find out what the foreign transaction fees are for the credit card.
• You will NOT want to do cash withdrawals with a credit card, but you may be able to use an ATM card with the Visa or MC logo in some places. Mostly, you'll need cash -- hence finding out about how much cash you can access directly from your account, and what fees will be charged.

And in the meantime, here's a picture of the van we'll be traveling in:

And...just a reminder: Check your baggage limits, pack as lightly as possible with layers, bring any valuables (if you must) and prescription meds in your carry-on (a spare pair of underwear and an extra t-shirt is also not a bad idea), and make sure you obey the TSA restrictions on traveling with liquids, ointments, gels, creams, and even mascara/lipstick. If it can't fit into a one-quart zip-lock bag, AND/OR is over 100ml, it has to be checked> Checking anything liquid? Double zip lock bags. If you have blood pressure, circulation, or are out of shape/overweight, you should probably call your doctor this week and ask if it's a good idea to start taking one baby aspirin a day to keep your blood thin. You may also want to buy a pair of compression socks. Here's a short pamphlet put out by the FAA. Make sure to drink plenty of water in the few days before we leave. You may want to bring a water bottle with you. If you do make sure it's empty before we get in line before security. And also? if you are a panic bunny like me, you'll want to make sure you know where your Passport is now!

Power conversion over there

In case you're still wondering about power conversion, here is a good site about Serbia's voltage. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I won't need a power converter for my macbook or iphone (the only electronic devices I'm bringing). Macbooks and iphones and most other modern phones and computers have a power converter built in. If you're wondering about your device, look at its charger or its specs and see if it says it can operate in 220-240 volts. (Standard US voltage is 110-120, but in Europe it's 220-240.)

If you're bringing a hair-dryer, though, you will need a power converter, unless you have a fancy one with a switch that changes its voltage to 220-240.

BUT - no matter what, you will need a plug adapter because European outlets are a different shape than ours. I have one like this from a previous trip that has all the different configurations built in. You can also buy sets of the different plugs.

There are also kits you can buy that have the power converter and plug adapter all together.

What our trip looks like (more or less)

Milos has made up a map of our general itinerary for us, so people can have an idea of where we're going, and the distances we'll be traveling. By the way, feel free to let your families and friends know about the blog, and that they can leave comments!

Eating in Serbia -- what's different?

As in many parts of Europe, a late lunch is the main meal of the day in Serbia. Meals are often built around grilled meat. Dinner is usually something much lighter, and might be followed by walk or a visit to a pub. This makes our schedule a little different than what we're used to here in the US. Some of the things we will probably try are the Serbian version of gyros/doner kebab, pizza (it's different in every country!) and local sausage, cheese and bread. We may also try a Greek or Turkish restaurant. On Sunday, we'll have a meal with our host family. I've also been told there is a small restaurant of the "only locals go there" type in Zlatibor, which we might want to try, although our apartments also have kitchens. I'm just thinking we might not want the hassle of trying to put meals together after a long day! You can find pictures and descriptions of some typical Serbian food here.*











*where you can also see one of the disadvantages of the "anybody can edit a wiki" philosophy. I'll leave you to guess what I'm talking about, although since anybody can edit, perhaps the commentary will not be quite so inventive :-)

New Look!

I made some changes -- how do you like the new look?

Welcome!

This is the main blog for Shenandoah University's Global Citizenship Project 2012 Serbia Trip. We'll be blogging our travels as we can, depending on internet connectivity. Links will take you to members' blogs, and to the blogs of other GCP groups, present and past. By the way -- design is very much subject to change. I'm not loving the color scheme, or the template so much...