EASC Study Tour 2003: FAQs

• Can I drive to O'Hare and leave my car at the airport?
• What happens if we try some kind of food and really can't eat it? Are we rude to leave it?
• Will we have the opportunity to do laundry and when?
• Will we have access to the internet?
• Where can I purchase a used kimono?
• Where can I go to a public bath (sento)?
• Do you recommend that we have business cards made in Japanese?
• How can I obtain the International Teacher Identity Card that comes with travel insurance?
  
• Can I earn flight mileage for this trip?
  
• What inoculations are mandatory and optional for our study tour?
  
• Can we use electrical appliances from the U.S. in Japan?
  
• Is water safe to drink in Japan?
  
• Can we attend religious services during the tour?
  
• Can we attend religious services around Indiana University campus during the orientation?
  
• What is the dress code for orientation? Are jeans allowed?
  
  

Answers

Can I drive to O'Hare and leave my car at the airport?

A: Long-term international parking is the answer. For more information and coupons for better deals on international long-term parking, please visit http://www.airportdiscountparking.com.

What happens if we try some kind of food and really can't eat it. Are we rude to leave it?

A: Just apologize politely for leaving it (you can say "Sumimasen" and bow!). If you are served something that you know you can't eat, don't even try it but just offer it to someone else so that you won't waste it (again, apologize for not eating the food that was prepared for you). In any case, don't make a face or say anything offensive (e.g. "Disgusting!").

Will we have the opportunity to do laundry and when?

A: At least one coin laundry (i.e. laundromat) is located within a 5-minute walk from most of the hotels where we will be staying (ask each hotel for specific directions). Coin laundries are usually open until late, and many are open 24 hours. Check the detailed itinerary to see when you will have some free time after dinner.

Will we have access to the Internet?

A: Internet cafes and/or Kinko's are available near most of the hotels we will be staying (ask each hotel for specific direction). Many of those shops are open for 24 hours.

Where can I purchase a used kimono?

A: Last year, many participants bought their kimonos in the following stores in Harajuku, Tokyo: "Oriental Bazaar" and "Chicago" (see a walking tour that points out where these store are). They had hundreds of kimonos, and the prices were in all ranges. Our participants spent $50-100 per kimono. One participant also mentioned that she wished she had waited until she went to Kyoto because she saw some kimonos in better condition in the Handicraft Center and some other shops.

Where can I go to a public bath (sento)?

A: Some public bath facilities are still available in most of the cities we will be visiting. Ask each hotel where the nearest sento is. The public bath is open until late, and the admission is about 400 yen. Make sure to follow the bathing etiquette (also see these illustrated instructions!). There are also hot springs/spas (onsen) available in many cities, but the admission is much higher (contact Mayumi if you want more info on onsen in a particular location).

Do you recommend that we have business cards made in Japanese?

A: Only if you want to. Although you won't be formally presenting your business cards in any of the group events, you are welcome to give your cards informally to people you will meet. Still, it isn't really necessary to have your cards translated into Japanese (unless you want to) because your office (a school) and occupation (teacher) will be easily understood by most Japanese. Besides, most of the information that would appear on your Japanese business card (your name, school, city, state, and what you teach) has already been translated at the Japanese version of our study tour website and given to our contacts in Japan.

How can I obtain the International Teacher Identity Card?

A: Please take a look at the detailed information at the Council Travel's website.


Q: Can I earn flight mileage for this trip?

A: Yes, you can earn mileage with either Japan Airlines or American Airlines (we will be flying on JAL which has a partnership with AA). Since our tickets are at a special group rate, you will earn only 75 % of the actual flight mileage. If you want to earn mileage, please send us your frequent flyer number by no later than the orientation in May. We will pass all the information to our travel agent. If you want to enroll in JAL's frequent flyer program, you can do so by visiting: http://www.japanair.com/. Likewise, AA's website address is http://www.aa.com.

Q: What inoculations are mandatory and optional for our study tour?

A: Although nothing is mandatory, some vaccines might be recommended. Please consult CDC Travel Information-East Asia and Travel Health Online.

Q: Can we use electrical appliances from the US in Japan?

A: The voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. There are two kinds of frequencies in use: 50 Hertz in eastern Japan (e.g. Tokyo) and 60 Hertz in western Japan (e.g. Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima). 2-flat-pin-plug outlets are used, but not 3-pin-plug outlets.  Although electrical appliances from Japan can be usually used in the US without a voltage converter, it is strongly advised to use a "step-down transformer" for the US electrical appliances you will bring to Japan. Here are some sites where you can get more information on using your electrical appliances overseas and purchase step-down transformers (dual transformers are also available): Voltage Valet, VoltageConverters.com, DVD Overseas Electrics.

Q: Is water safe to drink in Japan?

A: The tap water in Japan is usually filtered and chemically treated for drinking, except for some water in restrooms (especially on trains), which is usually not intended for drinking (you usually see the sign posted in both Japanese and English, something like "Not for Drinking"). However, you may want to buy bottled water anyway because safe water doesn't necessarily taste good and some people might be sensitive to chemicals used in tap water.  There are a variety of brands sold all over Japan for as little as $1 or less. 

Q: Can we attend religious services during the tour?

A: You may attend any religious services during your free time, but we are not setting up special time for worship per se because it would be impossible for us to accommodate everybody's spiritual needs if we consider different religions/denominations as well as the limited time we will have during the tour. You will get some free evenings/days, but they may not correspond to your religion's worship time. Since such religious canons as the Bible, Koran, and some Buddhist sutras are usually available at most of the hotels, you could perform your own service if you wish (you may also have a group worship with some other participants who believe in the same religion). Besides, some airports and hotels may be equipped with places of worship, or at least, they should be able to provide you some information on the nearest churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and so on although some religious organizations are more difficult to find than others. Our Tour Highlights sections list links to some hotels and airport, and we ask you to do your own research by visiting these websites and making any necessary contacts. You should be able to obtain some general information in guidebooks on Japan as well. We encourage you to share your findings with us so that other people can benefit from your research.

Q: Can we attend religious services around Indiana University campus during the orientation?

A: Please take a look at Indiana Daily Student Religious Directory and contact each religious organizations.

Q: What is the dress code for orientation? Are jeans allowed?

You may dress casually during the orientation and the pre-departure orientation.