Transcript from November 12 Orientation

November 12, 2015—Orientation Meeting #2
Put your forms in the indicated boxes:
Medical Release Form
Assumption of Risk Form
Permission to Release Information Form
If taken for 1st time: Preventing Sexual Harassment Training
Certificate
Hebrew Words (phonetic):
 Hello/Goodbye: Shalom
 Good Morning: Boker tov
 Good Evening: Erev tov
 Restrooms: WC (ok, that’s not Hebrew)
 Please: Bevakasha
 Thank you: Toda (very much: toda raba)
 Excuse me: Slikha
 Yes: Ken
 No: Lo
 I do not understand: Ani lo Mevin
 I love Israel: Ani Ohev et Israel
 Ice Cream: Glida
Arabic Words (phonetic):
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Hello/Goodbye: marhaban/ma’as salamah
Good Morning: sabahul kahyr
Good Evening: masaa al kahyr
Where is the toilet: ayn al-hammam
Thank you: shukran
Excuse me: al-ma’dirah
Yes: naam
No: la
I do not understand: la afham
I love Jordan: uhib Jordan
Ice Cream: Ice-cream 
Sorry: asif
Based on previous experience with Dehoney Travel.
Hotel lists with addresses and phone numbers will be posted on
www.mvnu.edu/bibletrips/orientation.asp.
Israel examples:
www.danhotels.com/
www.david-deadsea.com/
Jordan examples:
www.guesthouse-petra.com/en/PhotoGallery/
www.marinaplazahotel.com/
Hotel Amenities:
 Israel and Jordan:
 Wifi in almost every hotel (room and/or lobby), it may cost
in some locations
 Breakfast and dinner buffets (set menu in some hotels)
 Very nice accommodations
Food in Hotels:
 Plentiful, healthy and tasty. Be open minded! Kosher
section (Israel)
 Native cooking. Your chance to try new dishes (lots of
olives, tomatoes and cucumbers -- yes, even for
breakfast!).
 Breakfasts are buffet style and no charge for coffee, tea or
juice. Eggs (usually hardboiled, scrambled), deli meats,
cheeses, all kinds of wonderful bread, and cold cereal
(sometimes hot).
Hotel Dinners:
 Dinner is usually served from 7 or 7:30 pm until very late.
They tend to eat later than we do.
 Drinks are extra, we can share large bottles of water.
 Israel: usually buffet; consists of healthy appetizers like
olives, tomatoes and cucumbers, salad mixtures, etc.
Bread is plentiful and usually two kinds of soup, then a
main dish area and a dessert area.
 Jordan: usually served in courses: soup and salad, bread,
main dishes and dessert.
Lunches:
 Between $5 and $10 and drinks an additional $1-$3.
 If you eat a good breakfast you may not eat lunch or you
may split a lunch with others.
 Many are buffet, or the guide will pick out 2-3 items that
are native dishes from that area and let us choose from
them - often the waiter will bring out the food so we can
see it.
 And then there’s desserts!!!
Transportation
 Flights:
 Long!  Columbus to Newark (NJ) – about 1 hour.
 Newark to Tel-Aviv – about 10:30 hours.
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Take a small travel pillow, wear comfortable clothing and
shoes you can take off easily
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Very large planes (8 to 10 seats wide), so motion is minor—unless we
encounter turbulence
They provide food, drinks and snacks (movies/recorded TV, games)
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 Flight schedules will be posted on
www.mvnu.edu/bibletrips/orientation.asp
 Buses:
 Modern, clean, comfortable tour buses (some have emergency
bathroom on bus )
Packing Stuff
 Dress conservatively, remain discreet, blend in
 No shorts—considered “uncouth” and in some places legs and
arms are to be covered.
 Travel light—Suitcase: One 26” to 28” tall; checked bag: 50lbs
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max, 62” dimension max (length+height+width)
A carry-on (back-pack/day bag)
Bring a minimum amount of valuables
Rooms have hair dryer, soap, bath gel, shampoo.
 No washcloths provided—bring one if you need it.
Bring laptop, tablet etc., if want to. Can download pictures each
evening & keep up journal.
 Cell phones: either buy an international plan (don’t
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recommend) or buy a phone card, or use Pinger/TextFree for
int’l calls/texts; if wifi is strong can Skype/FaceTime, etc.
Swimsuit: Most of the hotels have pools, some outdoor pools
might be closed. You’ll be able to float in Dead Sea.
Scarves: Occasionally women are required to wear head
coverings in Muslim, Jewish or Christian sacred places.
Comfortable walking/hiking shoes.
Temps range between 45-80 degrees. Light jacket/hoodie, ball
cap, hat, scarf; maybe a portable umbrella?
Bring camera/digital cards and a way to identify pictures
(journal?)
Bible and Text(s) (electronic versions, if possible)
Take a photo
of your
suitcase!
(in case we need to place a
claim on it)
Adaptor plugs
(if your appliance is dual voltage)
Is my appliance dual voltage?
Transformer With
Adaptor Plugs
(for non dual voltage appliances)
Money & Miscellaneous
 How much money should I take?
 Approx. 13 days x $10 (lunch & drinks) = $130 – rough estimate – up to you!
 Souvenirs’ cost are up to you. Expensive items will take a credit card.
 Bring cash in US bills, $1, $5, $20 no larger.
 Get a VISA/MasterCard if possible as a back-up. Capital One Venture credit card doesn’t
charge foreign transaction fees. Debit cards with a PIN # should work. VISA/MasterCard
gift cards won’t work.
 No need to exchange money.
 Helpful Apps for your phone, tablet or computer (Apple Store/Google Play)
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Pinger/Text Free (free texting/calling)
Facetime / Skype
Converter+ (for currency, temperature, distance, weight, etc. conversion)
Translator (iHandy)
Bible app (YouVersion)
Kindle
Food and Water in General
 Buy bottled water
 Bring own water bottle – important to stay hydrated!
 Don’t drink tap water in Jordan
 Water in Israel is safe to drink – but you may want to buy
bottled water because of mineral taste.
 All raw food is subject to contamination so only eat raw food
that has been peeled by you. (Unless the guide says the food is
good to eat.)
OTHER ISSUES
 Our rooms will be non-smoking, but they might have “recently” been
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designated. Bring Febreze! Also good as bathroom deodorizer!
Know as much as possible about the countries we’re visiting.
Use common sense
Keep a low profile/avoid scam artists/watch your valuables
Take a patient and calm approach
Radiate confidence
Respect local sensitivities to photography
Carry official documentation (passport) with you at ALL times
You are subject to the laws of the country you are visiting
NEVER go out to walk by yourself and stay with the group during tours.
Never travel in groups of less than 3.
 Take the business card of hotel where you are staying which
has the address in English, Hebrew and/or Arabic and contact
police if you get lost.
 Security, Customs, and Immigration checks are now much
more extensive and thorough than they were before 9/11.
Don’t be stupid! If you try to take illegal substances, you will
be caught.
 DO NOT offer or agree to carry anything back home for
anyone, no matter who asks, because it’s unsafe and illegal. Be
especially suspicious if you are approached at the airport.
 Do not leave your suitcase or carry-on unattended. You can
use a TSA lock on your suitcase.
 Roommate List to be available at next mtg.
 Questions?
 Next orientation:
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 from 6-7 pm, CC302
 DEHONEY TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Address: 3008 Charlestown Crossing
New Albany, IN 47150
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Tel : (800) 325-6708 or 812-206-1080
Fax : 812-206-1085
Website: www.dehoneytravel.com
Email: [email protected]
Before you leave:
 Get your Medical Release form notarized by Rochel Furniss.
 Turn in all your forms:
 Medical Release Form
 Assumption of Risk Form
 Permission to Release Information Form
 If taken for 1st time: Preventing Sexual Harassment Training
Certificate
 If you’re taking a class talk to your prof.
All your forms, tonight’s PowerPoint and Travel Tips are
online at:
www.mvnu.edu/bibletrips/orientation.asp