Traveling to Meet your Asian Bride

by Matt Champlin

How to prepare for your Overseas Trip

Topics included: preparing for international travel (immunizations, funding), unexpected problems can occur while traveling (landslides, melting glaciers), and issues in culturally appropriate dress, behavior and speech.  Perhaps the most important element in preparing for international travel is to anticipate the need for medical care. Here is some practical advice on preparing for international travel,  personal health-care checklist, and recommended contents of medical kit.

Medical Checklist 

• Travelers, particularly to developing nations should effectively avoid the consumption of the local tap water.
• Travel includes insurance tips for international travelers and expatriates.
• Travel includes travel and restricted goods alerts; travel tips; sample declaration form; regulations and information for leaving and returning to the United States; and inspection information.
• Travelers should be seen by a doctor at least 4-6 weeks prior to departure; therefore, they should call to schedule their appointment 6-8 weeks ahead.
• Travel clinics will provide these services and stock needed immunizations. They can assist with timely solutions to provide the best health protection including abbreviated immunization schedules and loading doses of medications.
• Traveler’s diarrhea can occur in upwards of 50% ofindividuals traveling to underdeveloped countries.
• Travellers themselves should peel all fresh fruits and vegetables.  

General Checklist:

• Traveling abroad involves living in a country that is not your own.
• Traveling abroad requires a Passport and in some cases a Visa, but many people fail to make back-up copies of these important documents.
• Give your travel itinerary to friends or relatives before leaving the country.
• One of the most important first class international travel tips available is also the one travelers most often ignore – don't carry too much cash or too many credit cards.
• Whether traveling first class or coach, don't drink alcohol when flying internationally. Much like antibiotics, malaria medicine won't be effective unless you take the full dosage as prescribed, which means remembering to take it during your travels.