1 Month and counting...
Hi everyone,
One month from today most of you will meet each other for the first time at JFK's Air India counter area to begin your spring semester in India. All of us at PVI are eager to help make this experience a truly unforgettable journey of learning and discovery. I'm writing now to go over a few preparatory matters and to invite you to get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your upcoming adventure.
Top priority:
1. Have you received your India visa? If not, you need to take care of this right away. Detailed instructions for doing this are available on your program's Village Voices blog.
2. We need a photocopy of your passport's signature/photo page. If you've not already done so, please send a copy to us at PVI's NYC address: 4818 43rd St., #4C, Woodside, NY, 11377
3. If you've not yet mailed your program tuition balance, please expedite payment asap or contact us if you need to discuss this matter.
4. If you have decided to take any medications (anti-malaria, etc) since submitting your health forms, you need to let us know the relevant drug and dosage information.
5. A few of you have yet to submit your completed health and medical paperwork, including a physician's approval and signature. We must receive this in order for you to participate on the program.
6. Have you purchased supplemental emergency medical/evacuation insurance? If so, please send us your policy number and the contact telephone number should we need to coordinate any claims on your behalf. If you do not have emergency medical/evacuation coverage or your current health insurance does not cover you in India, you can easily purchase it online by visiting SOS International's website
7. Have you received and read your Student Manual? If you haven't received it, let us know right away. It is very important that you have carefully read the manual prior to departure.
8. Please take a couple of minutes to register yourself online with the US Embassy in India. This is a free service of the State Department that can provide an additional layer of assistance for US citizens abroad in the event of an emergency. You should register as a "New Short-Term Traveler"
Additional items:
1. Please email a recent photo of yourself--this will help us spot you at JFK. Indicate if for any reason you do not want this photo posted with your self-introduction on your program's blog.
2. Photocopy several photos of your family, friends, pets, etc onto an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. You should bring at least 3 copies of this photo collage/page to share with your homestay families (you'll be doing multi-week homestays in Varanasi, Ladakh, and Dharamsala and each of your families will greatly appreciate having a glimpse of your life in the US).
3. Several of you have asked about bringing your iPods. This is fine and you will appreciate having music to listen to and share on long bus/train rides. You will need to get an adapter to recharge it, but once you have that you can charge any place that has electricity (which will be every place you sleep with the exception of Ladakh at the end of the program).
4. If you have a relatively compact digital video camera you should feel free to bring it. If you have any video editing experience or are looking for a reason to learn, Current TV is seeking video submissions of a few seconds to a few minutes length, called Pods, and will pay you $500-$1,000 if they choose yours for broadcast. Under their "Caring" category they specifically mention an interest in video pods focusing on positive change in developing countries, something you will be learning about and engaging in all spring.
Google Video's beta site just launched and is another place you could upload video. A friend of mine just posted a 5 minute video about the great and growing popularity of baseball in Manipur, a Himalayan state in northeastern India.
You'll be hearing from your program directors soon to go over any additional questions you may have and to confirm details for meeting in New York on Feb. 12th.
In the meantime, feel free to email or call anytime.
Best,
John