INFORMATION SESSION01 NOVEMBER 2010

Term Abroad in

NEW ZEALAND

Semester Abroad in New Zealand

- AGENDA -

1. NZ Student Visa situation – update2. Scheduling of December pre-departure session3. Liability Waiver Forms – complete, have witnessed, and

submit4. Emergency Contact Forms – complete and submit5. Certified Copies of Passports6. Offers of Place – Otago University7. Online Registration – Otago Summer School8. Insurance forms

Semester Abroad in New Zealand

- AGENDA -

9. November 15 fee payment - $270010. Course expectations for

TREN 3P18: Sustainable Transportation TREN 3F94: International Field Course –Ecological Regions and Tourism Destinations in New Zealand TOUR 306: Ecotourism & Sustainability

11. Practical matters: Baggage, clothing, weather, etc.12. Other business

NZ Student Visa situation – update

• New policy at NZ High Commission: Student visas are NO LONGER REQUIRED for the Brock Term Abroad in New Zealand!

• Visa application form and financial information is no longer required

However:• If you wish to stay longer than 6 months or work in New

Zealand, you WILL require a visa (your own responsibility)

Scheduling of December pre-departure session

• Please indicate dates of your examinations on the schedule which is circulating so we can determine a date for our last pre-departure briefing

• Must be between 14 and 24 December

Liability Waiver Forms

• complete, have witnessed, and submit

• Complete and submit

Emergency Contact Form

Certified Copies of Passports

• I must compare the copies of your passports and other travel documents with the originals, and certify them as true copies

Offers of Place – Otago University

• You should have all received an Offer of Place to the Otago University Summer School program by email

• Please respond and return Acceptance of Offer form ASAP, if you have not done so already

Online Registration – Otago Summer School

• Follow instructions to register online

Insurance realities – DFAIT website( http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=215000 )

• “Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs.

• Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy.

• Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage.

• Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell a friend or relative and a travelling companion how to contact your insurer.

• If you need medical care in New Zealand, get a detailed invoice before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.”

Insurance realities: the good news

1) Otago has contracted with a third-party provider for Studentsafe insurance (brochure in your orientation packages)

2) Cost of comprehensive coverage is only $CDN 105 for entire semester, including travel to and from New Zealand

3) Studentsafe insurance coverage is included in your fees

Insurance policies and forms

1) Complete and submit insurance commitment online ASAP

2) Review the terms and conditions of your policy in detail

3) If you have special needs (e.g., serious medical condition, other known risk issues), additional insurance may be required… please make sure you are adequately covered!

2. NOVEMBER 15 FEE PAYMENT

• $2700 installment due at Brock Finance Office

• use Payment Form 4: Accommodation fees / field course deposits ($2700)

( available online at http://www.brocku.ca/tren/nz )

3. Air tickets

• E-ticket will be provided (not traditional paper ticket). When you get it:

• Verify travel details

• Copy ticket and itinerary and leave with friends or relatives.

• Make a second copy for yourself and put it somewhere safe in your luggage

• Bring e-ticket to the airport

Brock course expectations

• TREN 3P14: Sustainable Transportation

• Dunedin, 2 x 3 hr lectures / week: Wed: 0900-1150 (attendance mandatory), Thu: 1300-1650 (attendance mandatory)

• TREN 3F95: Ecological Regions and Tourism Destinations in New Zealand

• Entire course takes place in field

TREN 3P14: Sustainable Transportation

• 2010 outline: http://www.brocku.ca/tren/courses/tren3p18/

• Synthesis session reports (2 × 35%) 70%

• Participation/class attendance/peer evaluation 30%

• Total 100 %

TREN 3F94: Ecological Regions and Tourism Destinations in New Zealand

http://www.brocku.ca/tren/courses/tren3f94/

Assignment 1: Pre-departure Destination Brief - 20%• Due Late January

Assignment 2: Field interpretation• Outline and interpretive materials: 10% (Due mid-February)• Onsite interpretation: 20% (Various dates, in field – Feb and Mar)

Assignment 3: Structured impact analysis - 20%• Due electronically by late March

Assignment 4: Reflection paper - 20%• Due electronically by late March

Participation and cooperation: 10%• Throughout trip

Otago TOUR 306: Ecotourism and Sustainable Development

http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/summerschool/papers/otago009536.html

Instructor: Dr Erlet Cater, University of Reading, United Kingdom

Course coordinator: Prof. James Higham, Chair, Dept. of Tourism, Otago University

Schedule• Lectures: Wed: 1400-1550 (week 1)• Mon, Wed: 1400-1550 (weeks 2-6)• Thu: 1200-1250 (weeks 2-4, 6)• Field trips: 13 January and 10 February 0800-1750

Otago TOUR 306: Ecotourism Operations

Evaluation (2010 – subject to change)

• Essay 40%

• Field trip report 10%

• Final examination

• (2 hours, February 2010) 50%

Practical Matters: Guidebook

Lonely Planet – New Zealand• 15th Ed. • Charles Rawlings-Way (Author), Brett

Atkinson (Author), Sarah Bennett (Author)

Paperback: 748 pages • Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 15th

edition edition (Sep 1 2010) • ISBN-10: 1741794730 • ISBN-13: 978-1741794731 • Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 12.7 x 3.2 cm • Shipping Weight: 640 g

• SEEMS CHEAPER ONLINE (CDN $18.00)

Practical Matters: Baggage

Checked Bags:• Air NZ: 2 pieces, each up to 23kg (50 lbs)• HOWEVER: Coach capacity is only ONE bag

per person on field course – plan accordingly!

Cabin bags: • one piece of cabin baggage with a maximum weight of

7kg (15lbs) and maximum total dimensions (length + width + height) of 115cm (45").

• personal items such as an overcoat, handbag, camera or slimline laptop.

Practical Matters: Baggage

Checked Bags (from Kirra Tours itinerary)• In addition to your Kirra Tours travel bag, a limit

of only one suitcase per person is allowed due to our luggage storage space on the coach. Experience compels us to recommend smaller, lighter and therefore more manageable luggage rather than a large cumbersome piece. Ideally your suitcase should not weigh more than 20 kg and recommended maximum suitcase dimensions is 75cm x 50cm x 30cm. Guest laundry and ironing facilities are readily available throughout your tour.

Practical Matters: Baggage

• This thin laptop satchel is considered a personal item and is permitted in addition to your usual cabin baggage allowance

    • This large laptop satchel

is counted as 1 piece of cabin baggage allowance

Practical Matters: Electricity

• 230 V, 50 Hz • 2x North American

voltage!! – check devices for compatibility

• Distinctive 3-pin angled plug

Practical Matters: Electricity

• Only a plug adapter is required for use with international voltage products

• A voltage converter is required to use regular 110-115v North American products

• Most new electronics (laptops, digital cameras, iPods, etc.) are internationally compatible (110-240 VAC input)

• Check your adapter for details

• Most portable appliances (hair dryers, kettles, etc.) are NOT internationally compatible

• May be cheaper to buy local appliances in NZ than buy an expensive power adapter or dual-voltage appliance

Suggestion:

• Bring a Canadian multi-outlet power bar, and purchase one heavy-duty New Zealand plug adapter

• You can plug several international voltage items into the power bar from one NZ outlet

Practical Matters: Cell Phones

• It is usually very expensive (and sometimes impossible) to use a cell phone from a Canadian service provider in New Zealand

• Suggestion: bring a cheap UNLOCKED GSM cell phone, and purchase a NZ pay-as-you-go SIMM card for the phone

• Even domestic cell phone calls are quite expensive (30 cents plus per minute)

• Calling cards are quite cheap

• Skype and Messenger are options while in Dunedin, but internet access while on the field course is variable

Practical Matters: Money (‘Dosh’)

• New Zealand dollar worth about 75 cents CDN

Practical Matters: Money

• Coins come in 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, one dollar, two dollar denominations

Practical Matters: Money

• Most Canadian ATM cards work in New Zealand – check for Cirrus / Interac / Plus logos on card, and withdrawal FEE

Practical Matters: Climate

• “If you don’t like the weather in New Zealand – wait a minute”

• Weather updates:http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=dunedin

Practical Matters:Annual Climate

[hide]               Weather averages for Dunedin               

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Average high °C (°F) 18.9(66)

18.9(66)

17.5(64)

15.3(60)

12.6(55)

10.4(51)

10.0(50)

11.1(52)

13.2(56)

14.9(59)

16.3(61)

17.5(64)

14.7(58)

Average low °C (°F) 11.3(52)

11.2(52)

10.2(50)

8.0(46)

5.7(42)

3.6(38)

3.0(37)

3.9(39)

5.5(42)

7.1(45)

8.5(47)

10.3(51)

7.4(45)

Precipitation mm (inches) 72.9(2.87)

58.7(2.31)

70.2(2.76)

61.6(2.43)

67.1(2.64)

68.1(2.68)

60.8(2.39)

55.2(2.17)

47.8(1.88)

63.7(2.51)

66.9(2.63)

75.8(2.98)

768.8(30.27)

Source: NIWA CliFlo data Musselburgh[33] 1947-02-01 to 2007-09-30

Staying in touch until December meeting

• CHECK YOUR EMAIL REGULARLY!!

• Dave Brown’s office phone: 905-688-5550 x.3293

Airport arrival

• BE AT AIRPORT 3 HOURS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE!!

• Check flight details prior to departure at http://www.gtaa.com/en/home/

Practical Matters:Miscellaneous!

• Clothing

• Medications

• Social realities

• Scheduling your work and leisure

• Computer access

• Cell phones and calling home

• Etc. etc. – your questions!!