Frequently Asked Questions about the Gambia trip:
1) How do I pay for the trip?
The fee for the trip ($3500) is a “course fee” attached to PS249 (fall semester). You will receive a bill from Juniata College. Because this is a course fee, you are allowed to use your financial aid (grants, student loans) to pay for the trip. But you must speak with the JC financial aid office to see if you are eligible to do this. The billing is split into two payments. You are billed $1750 at the start of the semester, and then $1750 in January.
You must sign a statement of financial obligation in October (I will give you advance warning). This is required because Juniata must pay for your airline ticket and if you decide not to go on the trip Juniata loses the payment for the airfare.
The details of the payment schedule and your financial responsibilities will be spelled out in the statement of financial obligation that you will receive in class.
2) Are there scholarships?
Students with high or moderate financial need can apply for a Kepple Scholarship: http://juniata.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=28750
3) How do I get a passport and/or Gambian visa?
If you do not currently have a passport you must apply for one as soon as possible. Please refer to this page for information about getting a passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html You should also visit the JC study abroad office to get advice about applying for a passport or to find out whether they have a passport night scheduled on campus.
The $100 fee for the Gambia visa is included in the trip fee (i.e. we pay this for you). I will take care of your visa. Don’t worry about this now. Just make sure you have a passport before October 1.
4) Do I need to get vaccinations?
You are required to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. This webpage gives you detailed medical advice for travel to the Gambia: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/the-gambia.htm You must speak with your family doctor to find out what vaccinations you have already received. Your doctor can also tell you where to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. Prior to the trip you will be required to sign a statement confirming that you have reviewed the information on the CDC webpage (see above).
5) Do I need to get malaria medicine?
You must get malaria pills prior to the trip. Visit this webpage for information about malaria in the Gambia: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/the-gambia.htm You must speak with your family doctor for advice about which type of malaria medicine you should take.
6) What are the dates of our flights?
Our tentative flight schedule:
Departing from New York on December 28; Returning to New York on January 18.
7) How do we get to and from New York for our flights?
You must find your own transportation to and from New York.
8) Is the Gambia a safe country?
Nobody can guarantee your personal safety in any city in the world – including Huntingdon, PA. There are risks involved with travel to any location (and risks when you don’t travel), but the Gambia is a safe country and on the previous 14 short-term Juniata trips to the Gambia the worst crime we have encountered was the theft of a phone. You will receive much guidance before and during the trip concerning personal safety issues in the Gambia. For example, you are not allowed to go anywhere by yourself. It is common to hear students (after the trip) say that they felt just as safe in the Gambia as they did in Huntingdon, PA. Nonetheless, we take safety very seriously and it is a priority throughout the trip.
The Gambia is one of the most stable countries in Africa in terms of religious and ethnic conflict. One of the reasons that I chose the Gambia as the location for Juniata’s study abroad programs in Africa is that it is such a peaceful country.
Please review this information from the US Department of State about travel and safety in the Gambia: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/the-gambia.html
9) Do I need to get extra medical insurance?
Your trip fee includes medical insurance while you are on the trip. We purchase insurance for everyone on the trip. During the fall semester I will give you information about what this insurance covers.
10) Will I be able to call home during the trip?
When we arrive in the Gambia the students will receive Gambian cell phones (if you wish to use one). You can receive calls from the US (and elsewhere) on this phone. Wifi is expanding throughout the Gambia, so you will be able to access the internet using your US phone. On recent trips, most students used their US phone to skype and send emails (and all that other dumb stuff you young people do with your phones).
11) What will we do during the trip?
The itinerary is different on every trip. It is impossible to know in advance which organizations are willing to meet with us, and when they will meet us. The tentative schedule below shows a list of things we have done on previous trips, but it doesn’t show things that “popped up” at the last second during these previous trips – such as: attending a Jola male circumcision festival and attending the President’s private birthday party. The departure and return dates are correct (see our confirmed flight itinerary above).
OUR ITINERARY (tentative) (This schedule assumes that our flights will go through Cassblanca, which not be the case)
Day 1 Depart from New York
Day 2 Full day in Casablanca, Morocco
Day 3 Land in Banjul, The Gambia/ US Embassy/ Relax at the Beach
Day 4 Peace Corps Office/ Gamcotrap Women’s Rights Organization
Day 5 Tour of Banjul/ Royal Victorian Teaching Hospital/ Albert Market
Day 6 CIAM Public Health NGO/ Abuko Nature Park
Day 7 University of The Gambia/ The Point newspaper
Day 8 Alliance for Democracy in Africa women’s empowerment project
Day 9 Bijilo Hospital/ Traditional Medicine Clinic
Day 10 Serekunda Local Market/ Free Day
Day 11 Gambia is Good Organic Farm
Day 12 Bakau Market/ Holy Crocodile Pond/ Museum
Day 13 Drive to Tendaba Nature Camp/ Visit Bwiam Rural Hospital
Day 14 Tendaba Nature Camp/ Long Nature Hike/ Peanut Warehouse
Day 15 Drive to Janjangbureh Nature Camp/ Visit Ancient Stone Circles at Wassu Day 16 Visit Bansang Rural Hospital/ Donate medical supplies
Day 17 Jabang Cultural Festival
Day 18 Long drive back to the coast
Day 19 Free Day
Day 19 Fly from Banjul to Casablanca to New York
12) What kind of weather should I expect?
Go here for average monthly temperatures and levels of rainfall in the Gambia:
http://www.gambia.co.uk/docs/travel-info/know-before-you-go/climate.aspx
13) Can I do laundry during the trip?
You will have the chance to get laundry done during the trip. This cost is included in your course fee.
14) What kind of clothing should I pack?
Several weeks prior to our departure you will receive a “recommended packing list” from some of the students who went on the summer 2017 trip.
15) Should I bring extra medical supplies for myself?
There are pharmacies and grocery stores in the Gambia, but we have learned on the past trips that it is wise to bring your own medical supplies. Dr. Lindsay Briggs (a JC alumna who also takes students to the Gambia) compiled this list of items she recommends that you bring with you:
Personal Medical Kit
These are just suggestions of things you may want to consider packing in a personal medical kit. For medicines I try and use the general or chemical formula name so as not to appear in favor of one brand over another. It doesn’t matter what kind you buy. But I also include the “common” name in case you don’t know what I’m talking about. In general you can go with a low count package (12, 24). If you know you are prone to something (e.g. headaches) you might want to consider a larger count. Chances are likely you won’t need all of these things, but it is better to have them and not need them, rather than be suffering and not have them.
Over-The-Counter Items
Medicine
· Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-for pain, for fever
· Ibuprofen (Advil)-for pain
· Loperamide (Imodium)-for light diarrhea
· Pepto Bismol (I recommend the caplets)-for general upset stomachs
· Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)-if you are prone to motion sickness
· Sleeping aid (Tylenol PM, Unisom, Nytol, Sominex)-many people experience insomnia when traveling, particularly in “overwhelming” places
· Multi-symptom Cold Remedy and/or Antihistamine (Tylenol Cold)-air quality is much different in Africa, combined with common travel issues can result in colds or even just mild hay fever
First Aid
· Bandaids (multiple sizes)- wound care
· Gauze/gauze pads-in case of bigger wounds
· Medical tape-for use with gauze
· First Aid Topical Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin)-for wound care
· Hydrocortisone Topical Cream (Cortizone, Cortaid)-for skin irritations, itchy skin
Miscellaneous
· Vitamins-multi and specialty (e.g. Emergen-C, Airborne)-general health
· For women: OTC vaginal yeast infection treatment (Femstat, Gyne-Lotrimin, Monistat)-it’s hot and sweaty, sometimes it just happens, increased likelihood if you take an antibiotic
Again, just to stress, you probably will not need these, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Drug availability and quality throughout Africa is sketchy. Most doctors will be willing to give you a prescription if you explain your situation to them and assure them that these would only be taken in a case of last resort. Discuss with your doctor what is best for your personal situation.
Prescriptions to Consider
· General Antibiotic (Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Azithromycin, Doxycycline)-for use in many illnesses, strep throat, sinus infections, etc.
· Ciprofloxacin-used to treat severe diarrhea
· For women: fluconazole (Diflucan)-in case OTC just won’t do it, also this is one pill rather than a multi-day suppository
· EpiPen Auto-Injector-if you know you are prone to severe allergic reactions
· Any other prescriptions you normally take-just a reminder, sometimes little things get overlooked when packing
This is by no means an exhaustive list; rather, just some suggestions of common items that many people have found helpful in the past. Think about your personal situation to determine what you may need on this trip. I am not a doctor so I cannot legally advise you or be personally responsible for your decisions about prescription medicines; however, with my extensive work with medical teams this list is some of the most common things that come up that I thought you may want to consider.
16) What kind of food will we eat?
It is important that you try many diverse Gambian dishes during the trip. The Gambians eat rice with almost every meal. They also eat a lot of fish. Most of our meals will have fish or chicken and rice. Typically, a vegetarian option is available. The Gambians use peanuts in many of their dishes. If you have a peanut allergy it is very important that you tell me.
We will not eat only Gambian food. For some of our meals you will be able to choose your own plate from the menu.
You have the option of purchasing your own food (which we frown upon) if you don’t wish to eat the food that is served to the group. On previous trips some students were very picky eaters and they refused to eat the Gambian food. They chose to visit a restaurant to buy American-style food, but they had to pay for this food on their own.
On each of the previous trips there were several students who loved the Gambian food, but there were also some students who hated the food and dreamed of eating pizzas and Big Macs every day.
I remind all of you that the motto for our trip (and for all study abroad) is: “If you want things to be the way they are at home, then you should stay at home.”
17) How much money will I need to bring on the trip?
This depends on how much “personal” stuff you want to buy. All of your meals and drinks (i.e. bottled water) are covered. If you wish to buy any food or drinks beyond what are provided in the three meals, you will have to purchase this on your own. Most likely, your biggest expense will be souvenirs – there are many beautiful items in the local craft markets.
Many students have spent less than $100 on the trip. Others have spent $1000. The average amount spent per student is probably $200.
18) What if I have a medical emergency during the trip?
There are medical clinics in the Gambia that are close to western standards. These clinics are private and are too expensive for 95% of the Gambians (although inexpensive by US standards). Your insurance coverage (see above) will cover your medical care. If there is a major medical emergency, the clinic will provide immediate care and then you will be flown by an “Air-Ambulance” to a modern hospital in Dakar, Senegal (a 25 minute flight). When you are well enough, you will be flown to a hospital in the US.
19) Should I bring cash?
I recommend that you bring $200 cash and a Visa ATM card. There are ATM machines in the Gambia, but some students have had difficulty getting their card to work on the ATMs. Please don’t bring traveler’s checks. In an emergency you can receive money from the US by MoneyGram.