Preparing for my very first international trip was a process for sure and took several attempts to get my passport. In addition, to lots of phone calls and research.
First I had to order my birth certificate from another state. Then once it came in I went to send off for my passport I was first told that I needed to have a certified copy of my marriage license because my name didn't match the name on my birth certificate. I left feeling defeated but ordered a certified copy of it, tried again only to be the post office I went to only takes the first 22 people. This of course was no where listed anywhere. I called several other post office locations to only be told that I needed to be there at like 4-5 am to get in line to get my passport. I finally reached a location that told me to be there 7:30ish am and I should be able to get a place in line. This time I was the 9th person in line but again they only take the first 22 people. Once it was my turn I handed all my paper work to the employee and she told me I didn't need a certified copy of my marriage license - SERIOUSLY!! GRRRRRR - but everything else was in order and I was told 6-8 weeks for it to come in. I was super surprised when it came in the mail after only 3 weeks.
Adding to my preparation is getting my shots for international travel. I called the travel office with my doctor's office and initially was told that I needed vaccinations for hepatitis a & b, yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus, and malaria. But, when I went in to get my shots I was told I only needed hepatitis shots and. I called to double check because that was much less than what I was initially told only to be told that I did not need yellow fever since I'm coming from the U.S. and it's not a problem here. I also did not need typhoid because if I'm staying in nice hotels and am going to have access to clean, filtered water I should be fine but was told not to eat any salads or "exotic/street" food because it's possible that it filtered water was not used. For malaria I was told that unless I am going to into the Congo region or Kruger National Park I don't need the medication which is multiple days of pills before, during, and after time in those areas. I did need to get the hepatitis a & b and tetanus though.
In addition to mandatory vaccinations and documents I want to be able to document my travels fully. To be able to do that I needed a new camera and finally decided on the Panasonic Luminex FZ300 and it is a lot of camera but I feel like it is going to be able to get the pictures I want. I also decided to get a GoPro since I'm gonna be underwater and I didn't want to worry about trying to hold a camera while I'm watching sharks. I didn't realize that getting a GoPro would be as much research as a camera but there was and ended up getting the GoPro Hero Black 5 and a head strap.
Since it is winter in S. Africa I have to prepare for the weather there. From the information I received from dive company the weather during Aug varies from lows of 40-55 degrees at night and 55-68 during the day. Now of course while I am on the water it is going to be colder so I have to prepare and bring layers to make it through the day. It is hard to imagine leaving TX in 100+ weather and having to prepare for arriving at my final destination at night when it's cold.
First I had to order my birth certificate from another state. Then once it came in I went to send off for my passport I was first told that I needed to have a certified copy of my marriage license because my name didn't match the name on my birth certificate. I left feeling defeated but ordered a certified copy of it, tried again only to be the post office I went to only takes the first 22 people. This of course was no where listed anywhere. I called several other post office locations to only be told that I needed to be there at like 4-5 am to get in line to get my passport. I finally reached a location that told me to be there 7:30ish am and I should be able to get a place in line. This time I was the 9th person in line but again they only take the first 22 people. Once it was my turn I handed all my paper work to the employee and she told me I didn't need a certified copy of my marriage license - SERIOUSLY!! GRRRRRR - but everything else was in order and I was told 6-8 weeks for it to come in. I was super surprised when it came in the mail after only 3 weeks.
Adding to my preparation is getting my shots for international travel. I called the travel office with my doctor's office and initially was told that I needed vaccinations for hepatitis a & b, yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus, and malaria. But, when I went in to get my shots I was told I only needed hepatitis shots and. I called to double check because that was much less than what I was initially told only to be told that I did not need yellow fever since I'm coming from the U.S. and it's not a problem here. I also did not need typhoid because if I'm staying in nice hotels and am going to have access to clean, filtered water I should be fine but was told not to eat any salads or "exotic/street" food because it's possible that it filtered water was not used. For malaria I was told that unless I am going to into the Congo region or Kruger National Park I don't need the medication which is multiple days of pills before, during, and after time in those areas. I did need to get the hepatitis a & b and tetanus though.
In addition to mandatory vaccinations and documents I want to be able to document my travels fully. To be able to do that I needed a new camera and finally decided on the Panasonic Luminex FZ300 and it is a lot of camera but I feel like it is going to be able to get the pictures I want. I also decided to get a GoPro since I'm gonna be underwater and I didn't want to worry about trying to hold a camera while I'm watching sharks. I didn't realize that getting a GoPro would be as much research as a camera but there was and ended up getting the GoPro Hero Black 5 and a head strap.
Since it is winter in S. Africa I have to prepare for the weather there. From the information I received from dive company the weather during Aug varies from lows of 40-55 degrees at night and 55-68 during the day. Now of course while I am on the water it is going to be colder so I have to prepare and bring layers to make it through the day. It is hard to imagine leaving TX in 100+ weather and having to prepare for arriving at my final destination at night when it's cold.
Wow... bureaucracy at it's best... at least you are 'there' in terms of what you must have.... HAVE FUN!
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