Your to-do list before traveling abroad includes making copies of important documents like your passport and prescriptions, notifying your bank of travel dates and locations, and bringing your travel health insurance card. You are allowed 1 carry-on bag, 1 personal item, and 1 checked bag up to 50 lbs for international travel. Prohibited carry-on items include sharp objects, firearms, and flammable materials. Essential items to pack are comfortable walking shoes, travel toiletries, bug spray, a rain jacket, empty water bottle, and medicine kit. Electronics are allowed but only bring what is necessary. Seek medical advice and ensure you have adequate prescription medication and understand local health resources. Spanish is the main language in

3. Your to do list:
Make 3 copies of your passport (picture page & any valid visas),
credit/bank cards (front & back), and travel itinerary
Call your bank/credit card companies with the dates you will
be abroad and the locations
Get official prescriptions for ANY medications you plan on
taking with you and keep them in the original containers
Bring the insurance card that was e-mailed to you by the CISI
(travel health insurance company)

4. Baggage Allowance
Each person gets…
1 carry-on bag
Dimension: 45 inches (including wheels &handles)
1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag or normal sized
backpack)
1 free checked bag
Dimension: 62 inches (outside dimensions= l+w+h)
Weight: Max 50 lbs
You may check up to 5 additional pieces of baggage at an
extra cost.

5. The 3-1-1 for Carry-On

6. Prohibited Items for Carry-On
Sharp Objects (razors, pockets knives, scissors)
Sporting Goods
Guns & Firearms
Tools
Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other
Dangerous Items
Other Items
Gel shoe inserts, aerosol

7. What to pack?
A GOOD PAIR OF WALKING SHOES
Travel sized toiletries (put in separate sandwich bags)
Bug spray
Water proof jacket/ rain poncho
Empty water bottle
A MEDICINE KIT
PACK LIGHT

8. What to bring: Electronics
Nicaragua operates
on the same voltage
and plug types as in
the US
Only bring the
electronics that you
will absolutely need
on the trip

9. Health
Special needs: Inform the staff of any special needs you may have
Visit your doctor: Inform your doctor about your plans abroad.
Make sure to discuss recommended immunizations for the country you are studying abroad in AND
any countries you may be visiting
Discuss any and all pre-existing conditions and how they may be affected abroad (including mental
health issues)
International Health insurance: Bring the information with you and know how it works
Note the emergency resources available at your host university and country
Medication: Check with the embassy of your host country regarding the legality of your prescription
medication
All prescription medication MUST be kept in the original containers
Ensure that you will have adequate medication or access to it for the time period you will be abroad

10. Language
National Language of Nicaragua is
Spanish
May meet a good number of people who
are English speakers
Good Rule of Thumb: greet in Spanish
and then ask if they speak in English

11. Staying in touch
Please, be sure to work out a way to
contact your loved ones at home, when
you arrive
Recommended: E-mail, Facetime/Skype
Mobile phones w/o international plans will
not work

13. Changing Money
IMPORTANT: Contact your bank and/or credit card company with the dates of
travel and locations
Find out the fees associated with international usage and cash withdrawls
You do not need to change your dollars into Córdoba BEFORE you leave for
Nicaragua
The arrival airport will have ATMs/cash machines for you to use your debit card to get
money in the currency of the country
DO NOT BRING or BUY Traveler’s Checks
You can bring some money in dollars in case of emergency. Check exchange
rates before you change money and fees of where your are exchanging
money
Try and change larger bills for smaller bills

14. Know the Money

15. Time
Nicaragua is one hour behind Austin
If it is noon in Austin, then it’s 11 am
in Managua

16. Safety
• Be ALERT of your surroundings
• Trust your instincts
• Use the “buddy system”
• If confronted, do not fight back
• Do not flash money or credit cards
• Think before you act
• Do as the locals do
• Carry the Emergency Contact Info Card on you at all times
• Learn the number for emergency services: 118

17. What to do when something
goes wrong?
1. Take care of any immediate physical ailments
2. Contact the authorities (i.e. police, residence hall director, program
director, faculty member etc.)
3. Make sure to contact people on site immediately so people know where
you are and what has happened (including your parents)
4. E-mail your study abroad advisor with information about the incident
5. DO NOT try to do any investigating on your own

18. Cultural Transitions Abroad

19. Transitions: Local Laws,
Regulations & Norms
Student’s responsibility to become informed of
local laws

20. Transitions: Alcohol & Drugs
Contributes to poor decision-making
Clear connection between alcohol abuse &
safety issues in study abroad environment
Excessive, disruptive alcohol use may result
in dismissal from program
Illegal drug use results in automatic dismissal