Hints, Tips and Collective Wisdom

A place to share hints and tips about preparing and packing for trips, traveling to, in and through Russia, communicating within teams, contacts and anyone else, and just successfully being in Russia for team leaders and team members. Inside jokes are welcome. Some possible categories are listed. Send more thoughts as they occur to you!

Planning

• Inflexible and successful are mutually exclusive.

Packing

• Manual "space saver" vacuum bags are great. Bring extras in case one rips or you expand your wardrobe.

Communicating

• You will most likely get back to the states before any postcards or letters you send will.
• Internet access is becoming more and more available, but unless you have a pre-established point of contact with internet access, don't count on reliable or quick access.
• Teams or members wishing to send a daily email update to interested parties back home should strongly consider using a "listserve," an automated emailing list. There are a number of advantages to using a listserv vs. "CCing" the daily update to everyone who is interested. Contact the webservant to discuss this free option which will make sending email updates significantly easier for teams in country!

Acclimating

• Time in Moscow at the beginning of the trip is not "just" tourist time-- these days help teams solidify, help members recover from jet lag, and, perhaps most importantly, gain a perspective on Russian culture and history.

Surviving

• "Take a chance at a bathroom whenever you can."

Host Gifts

• It is a common rumor that "all Russians crave peanut butter." This is not true.