Orientation Meeting #2: Thursday 3 December, 5:00-6:30

* Please review the following information regarding our program. We ask that you save this information in a safe place, so that you can refer to it when needed.
 

1. Flight Information / Airline Tickets

SUNDAY 3 January 1999 - arrive at Philadelphia Int. Airport by 5:00 a.m.

Continental flight 1773K

Leaves Philadelphia : 6:15 a.m. EST Arrives Houston IAH 8:39 a.m.

Continental flight 770K

Leaves Houston IAH: 9:45 a.m. Arrives San José 1:06 p.m.
 

FRIDAY 5 February 1999 - the group will split and return on two different flights

(please refer to e-mail communications to confirm the flight with which you will return).
 

Continental flight 1720H - 50 students, and C. Bradley will return on this flight

Leaves San José: 6:50 a.m. Arrives Houston IAH 12:24 p.m.

Continental flight 1774H

Leaves Houston IAH 1:20 p.m. Arrives Philadelphia 5:26 p.m.
 

Continental flight 773H - 15 students, and A. Martínez-Lewis will return

Leaves San José: 2:00 p.m. Arrives Houston IAH 5:35 p.m.

Continental flight 1778H

Leaves Houston IAH 6:55 p.m. Arrives Philadelphia 11:06 p.m.
 

-You will receive an e-mail message from us when the airline tickets arrive. You will then go to Lisa Chieffo's office, 422 Smith, to pick them up. No tickets will be released to any student who has not paid the entire program fee or submitted a notarized waiver form.
 

2. How to reach the Directors during the Winter Break

Home phone numbers:

América Martínez-Lewis (302) 475-4531

Courtney Bradley (302) 325-3078

Suzanne Tierney Gula - (302) 738-6828 *Reminder - I leave for Costa Rica on 31 Dec.*

Lisa Chieffo - (302) 368-4113 (please do not call after 10:00 p.m.)
 

3. How you (and your parents) can reach the Directors in Costa Rica

We will all be staying at the "Ave del Paraíso Hotel", located right near the "Facultad de Letras" building of the Universidad de Costa Rica.

Address: Apdo. Postal 612 , 2050 San Pedro

tel/fax: 011-506-225-8515; 253-5138; 283-6017

e-mail: aparaiso@sol.racsa.co.cr
 

In Tamarindo: 1/8-10

Tamarindo Diriá tel/fax: 011-506-654-4031

Apartado 4211 , San José 1000, Costa Rica
 

In Manuel Antonio: 1/15-18

(Martínez-Lewis and Bradley) - Villabosque 011-506-777-0463 (fax) 011-506-777-0401

(Tierney Gula) Villas El Parque 011-506-777-0096 (fax) 011-506-777-0538

Apartado 111 , Quepos, Costa Rica
 

In Arenal: 1/24-26

Las Cabañitas 011-506-479-9400; 479-9343; (fax) 011-506-479-9408

e-mail: gasguis@sol.racsa.co.cr
 

4. Classes: Registration, books, drop/add

Please call the Udphone to be sure you have correctly registered for your classes. Everyone should be registered for a section of SPAN 207, and either SPAN 107 OR

Span 206. Please see us if you are not sure about your proper section number.

Please remember to purchase the required textbooks. For SPAN 107 and SPAN 206, go to the Univ. Bookstore to purchase the texts. For SPAN 207, go to Rainbow Books and Music, on Main Street, to purchase the "Costa Rica Handbook". You must go to the counter, and identify yourself as a participant in the program to purchase the book.

Important information concerning Drop/Add:

*8 Jan (Fri.)* This date is the deadline for free drop/add. After that students pay a $15 late fee, a grade of W will go on their transcript for the course from which they withdrew, they must get dean's approval, and they must pay tuition for the course. (So, if a student withdraws from your program and comes home after the first drop/add date, they will not get any tuition back, and then will get "Ws" on their transcript.)
 

*22 Jan (Fri.)* The second deadline is the absolute last day to change one's

registration at all, and students must have dean's approval.
 

(NOTE: The process for changing one's registration after the drop/add period is so complicated, especially from abroad, that we strongly discourage students from requesting to do so. Please understand this before going abroad.)
 

5. Other Suggestions
 

-bring travelers checks rather than cash. Remember that most costs (meals, hotel stays for three weekends, etc.) have already been paid with your Program Fee. When planning how much spending money to bring, consider what plans you want to make for your free weekend, as well as any souvenirs you plan to buy.

-bring a major credit card (Visa or Mastercard) for emergencies (or, if you prefer to make purchases with a credit card).

-bring an internationally recognized phone card (AT&T, MCI, etc.). You may use it at public phones. It is unlikely that you will be permitted to use the phone of your host family to make calls to the US. Once you arrive and get settled with your host family, arrange a time for your parents and friends from home to call you there - this way is cheaper and less of a hassle.

-most students bring a gift for their host family. Talk to your roommate and decide on something appropriate. Students in past programs have brought pottery, Univ. of DE memorabilia, Hickory Farms packaged goods, etc.

-pack well (meaning - don't bring too much. . . just the essentials!) The "essentials" include: a camera, a travel alarm clock, a money pouch, a light-weight nylon jacket, comfortable shoes, sun screen, and any medications you take (Remember to leave them in the original, marked containers - don't bring "loose" pills!) If you are prone to motion sickness, consider buying plenty of "Dramamine", too.

-the most important thing to have in this study abroad program is an open mind! You will be seeing many new things and meeting many different people. Relax and be patient with your language skills. Leave your "American lifestyle" at home and get ready for the experience of a life time!