To Bring, or Not to Bring...
Bedding and Towels
Sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and pillows will be provided by your hosts or landlord/lady. You should bring a towel and washcloth to use when you are traveling.
Electrical Appliances
Voltage overseas is different from voltage in the U.S., so you will need a voltage converter and a plug adapter to use your appliances overseas. Dual voltage appliances, such as travel irons and blow dryers, can be purchased in the U.S. Converter and adapter sets are available at many electronic and travel stores. In general, you should only bring those appliances you really need. You may want to purchase your appliances overseas to save space in your luggage. Battery-operated travel clocks are a good idea as well.
Computers
You will have access to computers at our centers overseas. However, the facilities have limited hours and may be crowded during peak times. If you own a laptop computer, we encourage you to bring it with you. Having your own computer will facilitate your preparation of written assignments and save you the hassle of dealing with crowded computer facilities at the Syracuse Centers. You should also bring disks or other devices to store and save your electronic information. Printers are available at our centers. Check with your seller or local electronic store for instructions about using adapters/converters on your computer overseas.
If you bring your laptop, you should check with your insurance company to make sure it is covered against damage or theft overseas. Information on property insurance will be included in your acceptance packet or you may contact Haylor, Freyer and Coon directly at 1-800-289-1501.
Always travel with your computer as part of carry-on and never checked luggage.
Note on Internet Access:
While all of our centers abroad provide students with access to e-mail, availability is extremely limited, especially in comparison to the access people have become accustomed to in the U.S. If you need more than an hour of access to e-mail per week, be prepared to rent time from a commercial vendor. The staff at our Centers abroad will provide you with details concerning local cyber-cafes and commercial Internet services that may be available. Be sure you know your user-id and password to your home campus e-mail account if you intend to access that account from abroad. Do not expect to be able to access the Internet from your host's home. Plan to use Internet connections at our Centers or at local cyber-cafes.
University catalog (Non-Syracuse Students Only)
If you are not a Syracuse University student, you should pack a copy of your university catalog and registration information from your home campus. Keep this information in your orientation suitcase for reference during on-site registration. You should also bring a copy of the Course Approval Form (in your Academic Packet) and a list of pre-approved courses. If your home university has provided you with a written copy of their credit transfer policy, pack that as well.
Property Insurance
Each semester a couple of students lose backpacks, cameras, or laptop computers. We recommend that you check your parent's homeowners' insurance to see if your property is covered overseas, or that you purchase property insurance before you depart. You will find information on insurance in this handbook, or you may want to contact our recommended agent Haylor, Freyer, and Coon at 1-800-289-1501. Do not take anything with you that cannot be replaced. Do not bring valuable jewelry, for example, or items of great sentimental value.