An overview: From now until departure

!Please some note dates and costs may shift as we haven’t signed off on all figures, as of yet.

This section outlines logistical needs and when you need to act on them. You can refer to this list easily as we prepare for the field school. In coming weeks and months, we will work together to:

1. Determine makeup of groups I & J
2. Plan small group projects
3. Develop field-schoolers’ service opportunities and major projects
4. Fundraise – possibilities include dinner, t-shirts, ashram gifts, tea fundraiser
5. Lock down logistical aspects of travel including flights and dates, visas & passports, health & travel insurance

*Regular preparation meetings will keep us on track. We understand you may not be able to attend all the meetings, but they are collectively an important element of the process. Please make every effort to arrange your schedules to allow for your full participation.

May 2019 – January 2020

• Your first India program fee deposit (not refundable) of $250 is due May 1, 2019 through the MRU fees office.

• Determine membership in Groups I and J September 2019: _Since 2012, we have always divided the field school into 2 groups (A & B, 2012; C & D, 2014; E & F, 2016; G & H, 2018). This year, groups I and J are going to India! The purpose of these smaller groups is to keep our numbers manageable while visiting the Ashram. Group I will leave after Block Week I while Group J will leave Calgary a week later.

• Your second India program fee deposit of $1797 is due Oct.1, 2019 through the MRU fees office.

*Your final India program fee deposit of $1797 is due March 1, 2020 through the MRU fees office

• Investigate costs and options for flights, trip insurance and medical insurance and make notes.

• Attend all meetings, please. Dates posted in our Google Calendar.

• Review SAMRU’s experiential learning fund and see if you can apply on November 1; Otherwise, apply on the March 1 deadline.

• Do you need a new passport? We need a passport number for you that is valid through January 1, 2021 . We require it to book your trains/hotels in India, and you’ll need it for flights, and to obtain a visa to travel in India. If your passport expires before January 2021, please renew it now.

• Risk Assessment: MRU requires that field school professors prepare a comprehensive risk assessment and risk mediation plan. You will be provided with this plan in January 2020, and we will have a full discussion of risks inherent in traveling and any risks specific to India. Participants are then asked to sign a document confirming they understand such risks.

• Make a packing list. It seems early to do so but it is not. Making a list now gives you time to obtain items you need for the trip, or to borrow items (like a backpack) instead of buying one.

• Taking electronics? Check out costs of phone plans, and ensure that your technological items are insured.

February – March

India Field School To Do

• You will pay your third and final program fee deposit of $1797 on March 1, 2020.

• Obtain your India visa. Details on this process are located here in the guide, and we will review this in class as well. A visa will cost about $100 CDN.

• Book your flights, and make an effort to connect with other field schoolers about your plans so that you can fly in small groups.

• Flights generally arrive between midnight and 3 a.m., Delhi time. Check Field School Schedule and check with your professors before booking flights.

Note: we will arrange for you a transfer from the airport to the hotel.

• Start packing. Review your packing guide, located here.

• Vaccinations and some medications will need to be administered in advance of your departure. Please talk to your doctor/pharmacist. We have had good luck dealing with the pharmacy in Wycham House, but go with whatever pharmacy you wish.

• Register with Canadian government your travel plans here

• Register for the SOS app provided to you by Trinda from the Office of International Education at MRU.

Personal Travel Plans To Do

• Planning to extend your stay in India, or arrive earlier if you are in the second travel group (Group J )? You’ll need to extend your travel/medical insurance; connect with other field-schoolers to travel with; consider the additional cost; connect with our trusted travel agent if you need train, air or hotel travel support. Contact info TBA.

• Don’t leave it to the last minute! Train bookings, for example, need be done 60 days in advance of travel.

April 2020

• Course fees – estimated at $1410 for the two India courses, are due this month. The International Education office will register you in the two courses and inform you when that has been done.

• Vaccines and some medications will need to be administered before departure. Please talk to your doctor/pharmacist about when.

• Contact your bank to report your out-of-country travel plans and change all access pin codes to 4 digits.

• Paperwork and photocopying
  - Make 4 photocopies each of your passport main page
  - Make 4 photocopies of your India visa
  - Make 4 copies of your flight itinerary (e-ticket) as you won’t be allowed into the Delhi airport upon your return if you cannot show guards a copy of your ticket.
  - Make copies of your travel insurance policy number and important contact numbers; note credit/debit card numbers, and phone numbers to report a lost card.

• We inquired about ensuring you had some India Rupees from a currency exchange or bank, prior to departure. However, it’s not legal to bring Rupees into India any longer. Once you get there, please exchange some American currency for Rupees at the airport. We will ensure we stop at bank machines from time to time. Ensure your debit or credit card has a 4-digit password. Anything more than 4-digits doesn’t typically work well, there. $1.00 CAN = approx. $50 INR. So $20 CAN is about 1,000 INR.

• Obtain about $150 US in cash in small bills that you can change at a bank if there is an ATM problem.

• Consider getting a roaming plan for your phone for emergency calls. We will have wifi access in most if not all the hotels and host facilities we visit.

!Please use your devices sparingly as students have reported too much technology can sidetrack your journey, taking you out of the moment, and away from your adventure. An ideal way to keep your friends, partners, and families updated is by asking them to follow our Facebook page, which is here. This will help you happily fall into bed without feeling pressured to give everyone back home a personal update on typically slow WiFi platforms.