International Travel Training
Seminar
February 24. 2012
Sponsored By:
Department of International Health
Center for Global Health
Johns Hopkins Travel and Tropical Medicine
Travel Training Seminar
Purpose:
•Personal Responsibility for Preparation
•Prevent Panic
•Provide resources
•Discuss cases and provide suggestions on
preparing for travel
•Discuss health considerations
Tools to Plan your Trip
Center for Global Health Website
•http://www.hopkinsglobalhealth.org/travel_gra
nts/travel_info/index.html
•CGH Overseas Travel handbook
•CGH Overseas Travel Release Form
•CGH Emergency Information Sheet
•CGH Personal Health Information and Checklist
•Plan ahead for housing
I’ve Been in an Accident and
I Need Some Help!
24 Hour Worldwide Assistance and Emergency Evacuation Services
http://www.internationalsos.com/en/index.htm
http://www.jhu.edu/purchasing/travel/intl_sos.pdf
Visas
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U.S. State Department Visas Page:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
Guidance on Visa’s.
Obtained following with country-specific
embassy instructions.
• International Students work with embassy of
citizenship
International Health
Travel Policy and forms
Required forms and policies for students in the
Department of International Health
•Information to Students Traveling Abroad
•International Travel Checklist
•Travel to Countries with Travel Warnings Form
•http://tinyurl.com/IHTravel2012
Online Training: Johns Hopkins Berman
Institute of Bioethics
• Ethical Challenges in Short-Term Global Health
Training
• A series of ten cases that may arise during
short term training abroad.
• Complete before travel and PDF certificates
for submission
• http://twistedladdermedia.com/ghethicalchall
enges/index.shtml
Chemsha Bongo
In Swahili it literally it means to
boil (chemsha) brain (Ubongo, shortened into bongo).
This term refers to any question that proves of difficult solution
and needs much attention
The following cases are challenging situations based on real
situations experienced by students and/or faculty
• For each of the following cases:
• Discuss with the person next to you for 1 min
• Then we will discuss as a group
Chemsha Bongo Case 1
You are given some aspect of the study to
help with (e.g., sampling) and, based on what
you learned in biostats, disagree with a decision
that is made by the local team.
•What do you do?
Chemsha Bongo Case 2
Your responsibilities include organizing, observing, and
taking notes during focus group discussions and/or oneon-one interviews. Through this process you hear
comments and details from individuals that you find
interesting, humorous, unique, fascinating or sad.
You want to share your experiences with your friends
through a blog you’ve set up to document your
internship experience, or through Facebook.
•What do you think is appropriate for social media?
Chemsha Bongo Case 3
You need to go with a co-worker
over to the nearby market, about
500m away, and he motions you
over to jump on the back of his
motorbike.
•What should you do?
•What are things you should
consider with transportation?
Chemsha Bongo Case 4
You are working with a coworker on regular
basis and have developed a good working
relationship. She comes to you and informs you
that her sister needs money urgently for an
operation that can only be done in the capital
city, and will require resources that would
substantial for her, but manageable for you.
•Should you give her money or how do you say
no? What do you consider?
Chemsha Bongo Case 5
You are doing your internship in a country where
women are expected to dress modestly, covering
their legs and/or arms. You enjoy running in the
morning, and because it is 35C and humid you wear
shorts and a t-shirt. A coworker tells you women
shouldn’t go running, but if you insist, you should
wear long pants and long sleeves.
•How do you decide?
•What do you wear?
Chemsha Bongo Case 6
You are told that the program where you are
doing your internship will help you find
housing. Once you arrive, it becomes clear that
the housing they had in mind costs more than
you can afford/had planned on.
•What are your options?
•What can you do before leaving to avoid this
sort of situation?
Chemsha Bongo Case 7
Your project is situated in an urban area
where there is a large expat
community. You spend evenings or free
time with some of the Peace Corps or
other NGO staff that have been there
for longer than you.
•What are some “do’s and don’ts” to
consider for social interactions in
developing countries?
Additional Cases to discussion with
your PI/Mentor before travel
Additional Case 1
You are working on a health survey with a local
NGO. Your job is to review the surveys and
develop the database for analysis. In doing your
job you notice differences in the way teams are
collecting and documenting the data. Today you
are invited to attend a meeting with the local
investigator, IRB members and some members of
the Ministry of Health. You feel you have
information they should know.
• What is appropriate interaction for a student in
higher level meetings?
Additional Case 2
You get off the plane and report
to your field site. You were told
that your housing and meal
expenses would be covered by
the project so you didn’t bring
much cash with you. You
convert to local currency and
then find out that expenses are
reimbursed, not paid directly.
•How could this happen?
•You need to eat. What can you
do in this situation?
Additional Case 3
You’ve worked on a daily basis with a coworker
for the past six months and have developed a
good working relationship. She comes to work
one morning with a bruised eye, and says she
needs money so that she can leave her
husband who has been beating her.
•How might you respond?
•What are your options?
•Do you lend her money?
Additional Case 4
You are working in a town in Africa where
you feel fairly safe. You regularly walk
across town between offices of your field
site and the partner NGO across town.
Although you are dressed in accordance
with local customs, you get ‘cat calls’
every time you walk across town. Once, a
man on a bike follows you for a few
blocks and makes kissing noises at you.
•What do you do?
Examples of Don’ts
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Don’t wear tight or revealing clothing.
Don’t wear shoes inside someone’s home.
Don’t touch someone with your feet. Even playfully kicking someone is offensive.
Don’t eat food or pass objects with your left hand.
Don’t be offended by intrusive questions. “why aren’t you married?”
Visiting a temple or mosque – do not wear shoes inside, do not wear tank tops, short
shorts, or short skirts. Keep a shawl with you in case you need to cover your head.
Men, don’t put your hand out to shake hands with an Indian women unless she offers
first.
Beggers - Giving money to beggers usually means dozens more will show up in seconds.
If you want to give something, carry prepackaged biscuits.
Do not show valuables to strangers/ leave your purse open or phone on a table
Do not take photos of government property, including airports and certain buildings.
Do not drink tap water. Drink double filtered or bottled water.
Do not visit street stalls unless your stomach is made of iron (you know who you are).
Street stalls do not have soaped washed dishes and are low in sanitation of food.
http://thebigfatindianwedding.com/2011/dos-and-donts-when-visiting-india/
Examples of Do’s
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Do mingle and meet new friends.
Do enjoy and have fun!
Do ask questions
Do taste the foods.
Do explore your area.
Do be street smart. Watch out for pickpocketing
Do be prepared for poverty like you may never
have seen before.
• Do smile and take lots of photos!
• Do Represent Johns Hopkins Well.