Hey everyone!

My name is Danielle Gonzales and I just finished my sophomore year at Stanford.  I am super excited about Indonesia and just traveling in general.  This will be pretty much my first time outside the country and I can't wait!  I have always loved traveling but I have swam competitively most of my life and my training didn't allow me to travel much, until now!  This year I am planning to travel to Indonesia (obviously!) and then I am heading to Paris and a study abroad program in Madrid.  I am studying Human Biology and I will probably be focusing on Sports Rehab.  So yeah, that's a little explanation of who I am and I can't wait to meet all of you in a couple weeks.  

Also, I just got Skype and am obsessed with it, so if any of you want to chat and get to know each other better then we should Skype! :) And I am arriving in Surabaya on the 27th, a day early (I think).  So if anyone is getting in that day or will already be there, let me know and we should hang out!

See you soon

Danielle 

Power Adapter

I told another volunteer this but definitely invest some money in a power adapter if you're going to needing one. Cheap ones short circuit and like, blow up whatever you're powering. That's an exagerration but the point is that good ones are well worth the money. I know REI sells pretty trustable ones. The type of outlet they use in Indonesia is

Indonesia

110/220V

If 110V, then use A If 220V, then use E

They are two long cylindrical prongs 4.8mm in diameter. They look like this:

8 Things to Remember

hey Crew!

we are fastly approaching departure date and I want to give REMINDERS FOR VOLUNTEERS -

8 things you must not forget!
- Passport
- Insurance documents
- Some foreign currency and your bank card
- Access to emergency funds (e.g. credit card)
- Prescription medication (packed in carry on bag)
- Gift for your host family (souvenir from your home country max cost $20 (£10))
- Name, address and phone number of orientation place (below)
- Your Program Directors email address and phone number (teresatarn@gmail.com and I will post the phone number for the hostel as soon as I get it)

So soon!

-Teresa

IMPORTANT: Surabaya Hostel Information

As promised, I posted the hostel address and parts of my last e-mail below!

Anyway, below is the address of the hostel we are staying at for orientation:

Jalan Duku II/190 Pondok Tjandra Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

Show your taxi driver this at the airport and he will drive you there. Some tips on traveling:

Last year, I hired a taxi from the official taxi rental place for a fixed price of 70000 RP (about $8US). If you are going to get a taxi from the taxi circle, choose one that looks legit (i.e. Blue Bird taxis). These will charge based on a ticker. As a warning, sketchy people will accost you and try to get you to their service. If you and another volunteer get in at around the same time, you could split the cost of a taxi and get in together.

Hey, I'm Josh Feola. Originally I was going to direct a pilot program in Yunnan, China through LE, but that fell through for the summer due to some bureaucratic difficulties. Luckily there was still space for volunteers in this program, so I am psyched to be teaching in Indonesia this summer. I'm kind of travel addicted at the moment, and I definitely plan on roaming SE/East Asia for a while after the program ends. My tentative plans are to spend about a week in Bali after August 4, then head to Bangkok for a few days and finish out the month in China. Uh... I'm currently a super senior at Boston University planning to graduate in December. I study Art History and Archaeology. Right now I'm taking a class called "applied math" to fulfill a general ed. requirement. It sucks.

See you soon
Josh
leantimes@gmail.com

Hi all,I'm Brianna, a rising junior at the George Washington University, born and raised in Boston, MA. I'll graduate with a bachelors in International Affairs with a concentration in Development studies and minors in Human Services and Spanish. I am SO excited to have the opportunity to travel to Asia for the first time this summer, and be afforded with the chance to experience a new culture and teach.I'll actually be heading to Ghana from Indonesia for study abroad for the fall 2008 semester. Kelina, I know you mentioned you will be hanging out until the 10th, I will actually be too! My flight leaves from Surabaya then as well, so coordinating a trip to travel around a bit is definitely something I'd be interested in doing.Hope to hear from the rest of you before we meet in 5 weeks (crazy it's so soon!)Teresa- is there any way we will know what age group we will be teaching BEFORE leaving the states? Because I'd definitely feel more confident organizing lesson plans during the time leading up to departure..Hope everyone's finals went well, and that you are all enjoying the start of your summers!Feel free to email me briannac@gwu.edu, or hit me up on facebook.All the best,Brianna

Hi All,

My name is Caitlin Ryan. I just wrapped up my sophomore year at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and am so excited to meet all of you and be in Indonesia(!). At Georgetown I study international politics with a focus on international law. I am originally from Minnesota and have spent time in Japan, Thailand, and of course Washington, DC. I am also working towards a certificate (similar to a minor) in Asian studies. I love the city and am shocked and saddened to realize I am already halfway through my time here. I have no idea what I want to do post-graduation.

I will actually be arriving a day or two late for orientation because of obligations at school, so please don't forget about me! I look forward to getting to know more about you via the internet until we finally get to meet in June.

Best wishes for the start of summer.

Peace,

Caitlin