We're Going to Europe! Now, How Do I Pack?

I'm studying and touring in Europe for nearly three weeks and you want me to take just one checked bag?

Yes!

But you can use a carry-on bag, too.

A few weeks ago, Professor Crowe and I were lucky to be part of a group hearing a lecture by travel expert Rick Steves.

Professor Pisarski with Rick Steves in Des Moines, October 2014

During the lecture, we learned a lot about best practices for travel and travel seminars.  Rick is a proponent of immersive experiences.  He believes, as we do, that being a tourist implies that you should try to fit in with the natives as they live their everyday lives. Travel is a a great learning experience but only if you are willing to let go of some preconceived notions.  Rick has a philosophy that everyone can learn a few key words in another language, and then use problem-solving skills to "understand" the rest.  He believes, as we do, that travel requires an open mind.

Here is a link to Rick Steves' philosophy about packing for foreign travel.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light


And here is a link to a USA Today article enumerating weight and size limits for luggage used for foreign travel.  Remember, size of the luggage includes adding together the dimensions for length, width and height.  If your luggage has spinners (not just rollers) then the dimensions have to include the size of the spinners (in other words, your suitcase's interior dimensions will be smaller).

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/baggage-requirements-international-airline-travel-12505.html

The article has some sponsored links that remind us about Cyber Monday deals, in case you don't have luggage sturdy enough for international travel.


Our next post will be about passports and travel documents.

How to Pay your Trip Deposit

Now that you have applied for a spot in our travel seminar, what happens next?

The International Office reviews each student's application, which takes about 10 days from the time you complete the application.  Once they are done and you receive a message that you are "approved" you have 10 days to pay your $500 deposit.

Deposits can be paid in these ways:

1.      Pay in person at the Cashier’s Office (115 Old Main), hours are 8 AM – 4:30 PM

a.      Cash

b.      Check (provide ID, trip destination on Memo line)

c.      Debit

2.      Pay online via the My Drake Account tab in blueView

*Click on Pay Your Bill

*Click on eDeposit

*Choose Summer 2015

a.      E-Check

b.      Debit

c.      Credit (2.75% fee assessed)

3.      Mail a check (provide ID, trip destination on Memo line) to the address below

Drake University – Cashier’s Office

115 Old Main

2507 University Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50311

How to Register for Our MayTerm Travel Seminar

Drake University's travel seminars are not accessible by the DUSIS system.  Instead, students register by a separate system called Horizons.  Here is a snapshot of what the logon screen looks like:

You can register in the system even before you are ready to commit to our class.  Access the site here:  https://drake-horizons.symplicity.com/student Log into the system using your Drake email address and password.


Your MayTerm tuition is covered for the travel seminar, thanks to a tuition adjustment Drake made about two years ago.  Your travel cost is just the cost of the travels.  If you have a friend at another university who is interested in this travel seminar, that non-Drake person would pay both the travel and the tuition.  No one can travel without paying the tuition.  Learning is integral to every activity and every event, so we cannot have non-students accompany us.