THIRD ORIENTATION BULLETIN
15 February 2016
To all Vienna Summer School students and parents or guardians:
Since the Hope Business Office is sending out financial statements independently in March, this bulletin contains
more cheery information, especially about housing and clothing and communication to and from Vienna. Please mark
your calendars, however, for a mandatory meeting on behavioral issues (especially alcohol problems) on
Saturday 5 March from 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Martha Miller 1st Floor Rotunda Lounge. Coffee and
donut holes will be provided. Students (only those with very good excuses) unable to attend this meeting must let me
know at once and must then attend the alternative mandatory meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Sunday 6
March in the Martha Miller 1st Floor Rotunda Lounge.
33. Flight Update: Thanks to all who finalized flight arrangements and paid deposits to Witte Travel on time or who
have sent me information on your independent travel arrangements. Flight reservations were difficult this year
because so many students needed different return cities and dates. I have been in contact with Cindy Gless at Witte
Travel frequently for the past five weeks, and she deserves much commendation. Final payment by check to Witte
Travel is due on Monday, February 29. If you did not supply your passport number to Witte earlier, please do
so now (or as soon as you receive it). Since almost all students attending the first session or both sessions are
departing on the group flight from Chicago on Tuesday, May 10, and arriving in Vienna on Wednesday, May 11, Prof.
Janis Gibbs and I will board the bus from Holland with most of you and be on the same flight. Since most students
attending the second session are flying out on Thursday, June 2, and arriving in Vienna on a few different flights at
about the same time on Friday, June 3, I will meet you all at the Vienna airport.
34. Class Registration: I have registered each of you online for the course numbers which you have indicated.
Eternal optimist, I am presuming that everyone has already applied for her/his passport and International Student
Identity Card. I expect 83 student participants this summer; 64 students will attend the first session; 49 students will
attend the second session--19 new students will join the 30 staying for both sessions.
35. Financial Statement: Holli Overbeek, Manager of Accounts Receivable in the Hope College Business Office,
will mail a copy of your financial statement in early March. The amount due will be part of the monthly Student
Account Billing Statement. The bill should include the entire cost of the program minus the deposit and any tuition
waiver or scholarship. The bill will indicate a total amount due and also include a payment schedule at the bottom.
The first half of this balance is now due on April 1, and the second half is due on May 2. For instance, if you are
attending both sessions ($7,000) and have paid the $300 deposit and received a $1,500 scholarship, you owe $5,200
($2,600 each on April 1 and May 2). Please address billing questions to Ms. Overbeek at overbeek@hope.edu or 616395-7815. Please make checks payable to Hope College Vienna Summer School and mail or bring them to the Hope
College Business Services, 100 East 8th St., Suite 280, Holland, MI 49423.
If you need more time for payments, please talk with me at once. The Business Services website states: “Payments
will be accepted via check, ACH transaction, and credit card. VISA will not be accepted for tuition payments due to
VISA's policy. There will be a convenience fee with paying via credit card.” If you are applying for a student loan and
the money will not be available until May, I need a confirmation note from the Financial Aid Office to guarantee that
the money will be transferred later to the Hope College Vienna Summer School account.
36. Time Difference: There is a six-hour time difference between Vienna and Michigan. At 4:00 p.m. in Vienna, for
example, it is 10:00 a.m. in Grand Rapids or New York or Atlanta; it is 9:00 a.m. in Chicago, 8:00 a.m. in Denver,
7:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, and 6:00 a.m. in Anchorage.
37. Mailing Address in Vienna: All mail sent to you in Vienna should be addressed as follows:
Your Name
Hope College Vienna Summer School
Austro-American Institute of Education
Operngasse 4
A-1010 Vienna, AUSTRIA
Please do not use this address for current inquiries; this address is where your classes will be held and is for use only
during the summer. Mail should never be addressed to your apartment or home address in Vienna. Please remind all
of your relatives and friends to send letters airmail and allow at least one week for delivery.
38. Phones and Fax in Vienna: In case more rapid communication is necessary, the phone number of the AustroAmerican Institute is 011-43-1-512-7720. If this line is busy, try 011-43-1-512-4330. The Institute is usually open
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (in June, the Friday closing is often 2:00 p.m.). Since these are
office numbers, they should not be used for casual conversations. The Fax number there is 011-43-1-513-9130. Later,
I shall provide students and parents with business cards that include these numbers and this address, as well as my
own email address (hemenway@hope.edu) and Austrian cell phone number (011-43-676-412-8321).
Each of you will receive a personal cell phone upon arrival in Vienna. You will probably receive the actual phone
number for your personal cell phone and a phone number for your private residence in Vienna before your departure
(but no later than your second day in Austria). Each cell phone will be provided with ten Euros worth of “call time” to
be used in case of emergencies. If you choose (as most do) to purchase more time for local calls (inexpensive) or calls
to the USA (more expensive), you must still keep at least five Euros on the phone for those emergency calls. The
phones also allow for inexpensive text messaging in Vienna and on weekend trips.
You can buy Ladebons (slips of paper with coded numbers to be keyed into your phone for extra minutes and usually
sold in amounts of ten, twenty, or forty Euros) at phone stores and tobacco/magazine shops everywhere in the city.
Parents and friends in the USA are encouraged to call you at your personal cell phone because that does not use up
your minutes. They will also be able to telephone your host family, if necessary, but many Austrians have dropped
landlines in favor of cell phones, and calls to host families should occur before 10 p.m. (4 p.m., Michigan time).
Many students also bring their own cell phones with them to Vienna because they also allow access to email. Check
with your USA provider about costs and limitations. Prof. David Cunningham will send out a special email with much
more specific information on the use of cell phones in Europe. This year we hope to install a special program similar
to the emergency alert system currently used at Hope.
39. Computers and Email Access in Vienna: 2016 marks the eighth summer that wireless access, along with patch
cable outlets, will be available at the Austro-American Institute for students who bring their laptop computers or
tablets. Alas, the Institute has phased out its student computers since the computer room is now needed as a classroom
and almost everyone brings a laptop. A few host families let students use their home computers. Most students find a
laptop handy, but check with a student who participated in the program last year to see if you really need to bring
yours. Most classes do require some research work. A library is available at the Institute, but many students depend
on the Internet these days for research information. I have a handy printer in my office.
40. Housing in Vienna: You will reside in homes or apartments in many districts of this capital city (larger than
Detroit, smaller than Chicago). Last year, students lived in seventeen of Vienna’s twenty-three districts. Generally,
two students share living quarters, though several singles and a few triples and quadruples (and occasionally
quintuples!) are available. Students often shy away from requesting singles but end up envying those who get them!
It is usually not possible for a student staying for both sessions to live with a student staying for only one
session, although I can try to arrange this; you will definitely need a back-up plan. Each student will receive a
green housing sheet to fill out at the March 5 and 6 behavior meetings; the deadline for specific requests in
regard to roommates or housing is Wednesday, March 9. Please submit the green housing sheet at the behavior
meetings, or mail it to me in care of the English Dept., Hope College.
Occasionally, a student indicates that she/he wants to room with a particular person, but that person has selected
someone else, and I get caught in the middle; that is why I request the green form from each individual. Many students
have been flexible and willing to room with anyone for this short time; I thank you in advance. On your Medical and
Mental History Form, you have indicated allergies to pets, smoke, etc. Make sure that your prospective roommate
shares your preferences. Please mention again whether you are a smoker or a non-smoker in your housing
request. One year, about 20 female smokers (not an exaggeration!) claimed to be non-smokers but “lied,” and it
caused many problems. Another year, only one student listed himself as a smoker, but about a dozen students smoked.
I have accommodated legally blind students, students in wheelchairs, students with a heart transplant or leg brace, etc.,
but you need to inform me of special needs at once. If you prefer a family with or without children or would like to
stay with a family that once housed a friend of yours, let me know. Do not specify that you need an apartment close to
the center or a suburban home; each place has advantages, and we are lucky to have enough housing, especially for
those who are staying only one term! I shall try to accommodate all written requests, but this is a tricky task.
In many cases, your "family" will be a widow living alone or a couple whose children have grown and moved away,
but several are young couples with children. Most families have housed Hope students for several summers (some for
decades!), but a few new ones are expected. Usually a "Hausfrau" (landlady) is present to get your breakfast, keep the
house clean, and orient you to the neighborhood. She will launder your clothing and provide weekly changes of towels
and bed linens. Just as each of you comes from a unique home, living arrangements in Vienna vary. Some will live in
older apartments closer to the center of town; others will live in suburban homes with gardens; some will get bigger
breakfasts; others will be invited to family parties. In almost every home, someone speaks very good English. If you
do have conversational ability in German, your family will be eager to speak with you in German.
In most cases, someone from your "family" will pick you up at a Vienna reception on Friday 13 May or Friday 3 June.
The extent to which you will feel "at home" depends on your own interest in relating to your "hosts." Most are longtime friends and acquaintances of mine who enjoy opening their homes and interacting with American students. Your
relationship with your hosts can make your summer extra special. You can learn much about Austria from these
wonderful resource persons rather than always clinging to fellow students. Two students even spent part of their
honeymoon (years later) in the homes where they stayed that summer in Vienna. It does disappoint some of the
families, however, when students constantly turn down invitations because they “must party” with their friends.
41. Gifts: I recommend bringing a few gifts/souvenirs for your Viennese family. A memento from your hometown
(probably not wooden shoes!) or school is a most acceptable gift to your host family or an Austrian friend. Books
about your home state, T-shirts from your college or with nature-oriented themes, something you have made—all are
appropriate. If the gift reflects your own interests, the more it will be appreciated. Since everyone will have a
"Hausfrau" (probably middle-aged), think of what you would give to a favorite aunt. I am also inviting Senior Seminar
students to bring a small stuffed animal for orphanage children helped by two of our speakers (extra credit!).
42. Transportation in Vienna: Vienna has a superb, safe, and efficient public transportation system. You will
receive transportation passes valid on all streetcars (trams), buses, subways, and some trains in Vienna and its
suburbs. The Vienna transportation system works on the honor system, so you simply carry your pass with you at all
times. Most of you will live within twenty-five to fifty minutes by public transportation from the Institute, which is in
the heart of the city and just above the intersection of the three major subway lines. If you forget your transportation
pass and are randomly checked, the fine is hefty.
43. Weather: Weather is unpredictable, but Austrian and Michigan summers are similar. Here is my study of weather
patterns over the past 40 years! Vienna was very hot in 1976 and 1991-1994; pleasant and mild in 1977, 1980-84,
1990, 1995-2000, 2005-2006, 2008, 2011, and 2012 (with sunshine galore on the 2012 Alpine hike in June); chilly in
1978, 1986, and 2001; very rainy in 1979, 1985, and 2010 (yes, some rain fell on all 23 days of the first session and on
14 of the 24 days of the second session!). In 1987 and 1988 and 2014, May was cold, but June was sublime and sunny.
In 1989, after much rain in May, the sun dominated. In 2002, a balmy first session preceded a very hot second session.
In 2003, Vienna experienced the hottest June on record since 1815, and Hope students swamped swimming pools! In
2004, May-June weather was cold and rainy, and no one visited a pool during the first three weeks. Weather in 2007
and 2009 was delightful, except for a few horrendous storms in late June. In 2013, cold and rain dominated in May;
more sun came in June, but flooding caused changes in our scheduled stops on the Budapest weekend. 2015 featured
ideal weather except for 4 chilly days in May and 4 steamy days in June. I predict perfect weather for 2016 (I do this
every year), but be prepared for anything. Check the clothing list to learn what to pack for any kind of weather!
44. Guide to Packing for BOTH Men and Women: For transatlantic flights (as well as connections), travelers are
allowed two pieces of checked luggage. Austrian Airlines charges nothing for the first checked bag overseas, but
$100 for a second checked bag (neither may exceed a weight of 50 pounds). Similar amounts (in Euros) apply to
return flights. Check airline websites for the latest regulations in April since changes are constant. The sum of the
three dimensions of one bag shall not exceed 158 cm (62 inches). Carry-on baggage or hand luggage (one piece
allowed) must fit in overhead compartments or underneath the seat in front of you and cannot exceed 45 linear inches
(9 by 14 by 22). Cameras and film, computers, jewelry, prescription medicine, important documents, etc., should be in
your carry-on luggage. Check www.tsa.gov for the recent 3-1-1 rules for liquid or gel carry-ons (“3-ounce bottle or
less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-loc bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin”).
If you buy new luggage, avoid heavy pieces. Old luggage (as long as it holds together) is adequate and makes you look
like a pro. Checked luggage should not be locked unless you have a special TSA (Transportation Security
Administration) lock. For a while, I used SearchAlert, a lock that operates with a three-digit code and is designed so
that security agents can open your luggage without destroying the lock. Its security window changes color from green
to red to let you know if security has opened your lock. My lock got destroyed, so now I travel unlocked. You may
want a lock for your luggage on weekend bus trips. Attach an identifying object to your luggage—a sticker, a ribbon, a
Witte Travel tag, a Hope logo. Have identification labels inside and outside your luggage. Some favor frame
backpacks, but others find them awkward. You probably will not need one unless you plan to stay in hostels after the
program. A small knapsack or large shoulder bag for weekend trips and daily use is convenient and serves as a carryon for the flight. It is wise to pack a change of clothes in a small carry-on in case luggage arrives late.
The most common mistake travelers make is to take too much of everything (I still do, and I write this advice). You
can survive with fewer clothes. Pack your bags and carry them when you are tired. See how heavy they are? Now
eliminate non-essential items. Name brands of most necessities can be purchased in Vienna, so do not bring large
amounts. Transfer liquids from glass to plastic and place them in a small zippered case—cosmetic bag for women,
shaving kit for men. Do not fill the case to the top; allow for changes in atmospheric pressure.
Two factors should govern your choice of clothing—comfort and appropriateness. You will spend most of the
summer living in a Viennese residence, attending classes, and trying to become a part of the European community.
Coordinate your wardrobe around a single color or two, and plan clothes for layering. Think mix-and-match, wrinkleresistant, and wash-and-wear. Do not wear clothes that flaunt your American background inappropriately.
45-47. Vienna Summer School Checklists for Packing: These checklists, detachable for your convenience, are on
both sides of the following page. These lists have been prepared with the help of students who have participated in the
Vienna program during the past several summers.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen I. Hemenway
Director, Vienna Summer School
VIENNA SUMMER SCHOOL CHECKLISTS FOR PACKING
45. Checklist for BOTH Men and Women:
___
Passport, International Student Identity Card, and Health Insurance Card. Photocopy the front page of your passport and make
sure the number can be seen clearly. Leave one copy at home and bring another one or two with you, but carry them separately
from passport.
___
"Restaurant Guide to Affordable Eating in Vienna." This will be forthcoming online; print out pages that interest you or use hard
copies provided in Vienna. Former students and I have spent much time preparing this 64-page guide to help you keep food
costs to a minimum.
___
Knapsack or lightweight backpack.
___
Billfold, money belt (important if traveling afterwards), or safety pouch.
___
Travelers cheques (American Express is the most recognized brand, but its exchange fees are highway robbery). If you buy
them, leave a copy of the numbers at home, keep a copy with you, and give the numbers to one other person in the group. My
travel agent in Vienna tells me that more and more establishments are rejecting travelers cheques.
___
Credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards (Visa and MasterCard are accepted throughout Europe, but let your company or bank
know when and where you plan to be overseas). Photocopy card numbers and expiration dates. These days more students rely
on these cards than on travelers cheques; so do I.
___
German-English phrase book or small dictionary.
___
Notebook for classes and perhaps one of those hard-covered or fabric-covered notebooks for journal writing (nice to use on long
bus rides or for Art/Architecture or Senior Seminar journal assignments).
___
Paperback books, iPods and/or headphones with favorite tapes/CDs for long bus trips, cell phone.
___
Ballpoint pens, pencils.
___ Laptop computer or tablet.
___
Pocket calculator (if you expect to have trouble converting exchange rates).
___
Airmail stationery and envelopes (you cannot use U.S. stamps abroad) and address book.
___
Camera, plenty of film (students often run out of film, and it is more expensive in Europe), and one extra set of batteries. Film
(whether unused or shot) should be in carry-on luggage as X-ray machines for checked baggage can damage film.
___
Travel alarm clock.
___
Plastic bags (for wet swim suits, towels, soiled laundry) and "Ziploc" bags (for medicine, snacks, loose change from other
countries). I’ll bring the duct tape.
___
Plastic water container (with screw-on top so it won't leak)—a handy way to avoid spending all of your spare change on soft
drinks or whatever; most Austrian restaurants do not serve free water with meals, so don’t complain.
___
Umbrella (collapsible).
___
All-weather coat or rain poncho or windbreaker—one with zip-out lining is a good choice.
___
Sweaters—one or two; most students buy souvenir University of Vienna sweatshirts in Austria.
___
Handkerchiefs or travel-size Kleenex or "Handi-Wipes."
___
At least two pairs of shoes—choose from among comfortable walking shoes, dress shoes, sandals, tennis shoes (especially for
joggers), clogs, flip-flops, Birkenstocks, etc. Lightweight hiking shoes are nice for the mountains.
___
Shorts—comfortable on bus trips, at the beaches.
___
Underwear—about seven changes.
___
T-shirts—avoid those with inappropriate words or pictures.
___
Jeans—acceptable everywhere in Europe.
___
Bathing suit and beach towel.
___
Extra towels and washcloths—only if you need very frequent changes; these are provided in your homes.
___
Soap in a plastic case—travel-size soaps are handy for weekends.
___
Shampoo (travel-size for weekends), toothpaste, contact lens solution. Pack most in checked luggage or in 3-ounce container in
Ziploc bag for carry on because of TSA restrictions (see 3-1-1 rule in bulletin item 44).
___
Toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, sunscreen, lip moisturizer.
___
Medicine. Prescription medicine cannot be sent through the mail, so take enough for the summer, and put it in carry-on
luggage. Make up your own first aid kit with prescription medicine (photocopy prescriptions), aspirin, non-drowsy cold and
flu tablets and lozenges, stomach settlers (e.g., Imodium or Pepto Bismol), motion sickness pills, vitamins, and any other
medications that you are accustomed to taking. Again, watch the 3-1-1 rule for liquids or gels.
___
Nail clipper, Q-tips, moleskin, Ace bandages, band-aids, etc.
___
Eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses. Take an extra pair or a copy of your prescription, in case you break or lose a pair.
___
Electric hair dryer or rollers do not work on European current, and even converters do not always eliminate burning out
appliances. In Austria or America, you can buy a dryer that operates on European current for about $30.
___
Razor—safety razor is more practical; however, if you want to take your electric razor, be sure it will run on both 110 and 220
current, or buy a small transformer and adapter.
___
Swiss Army knife and small flashlight (now available in flat pocket-size). Most of you will probably not need these, but a recent
survey of 500 travel writers called them indispensable. Do not put the knife in carry-on luggage.
___
Gifts (see item 41). Don’t wrap gifts; they may be opened by inspectors.
46. Extra Checklist for Men:
___
One dark suitcoat or jacket and tie(s) for receptions, concerts.
___
One or two pairs of slacks.
___
Seven pairs of socks, two belts.
___
Pajamas or light robe.
___
Shirts—one or two dress, a few short-sleeved.
___
Grooming gear—shaving cream, lotion, etc.
Pack in checked luggage.
47. Extra Checklist for Women:
___
One or two dress-up outfits for receptions, concerts, etc.
___
Cotton tops—three or four (mixture of sleeveless, long- and short-sleeved).
___
Scarves (very popular in Europe).
___
Cotton dresses, skirt outfits, and/or dress pants (emphasis on cool and comfortable); black pants are very popular.
___
Socks and nylons.
___
Nightgowns and robe.
___
Large shoulder purse that leaves your hands free for luggage and packages; be sure it has a safe compartment for your money.
___
Personal items—cosmetics, perfume, hair spray, etc. American brands are readily available, though "feminine hygiene
products" tend to be more expensive in Austria. Pack in checked luggage.
Value the intangibles of travel—
they are treasures that are more beautiful than
gold or diamonds.
-Alexandra Stoddard
The seasoned traveler accepts the surprises
and inconveniences which are an inevitable
part of any trip.
-Jane Stanton Hitchcock