What I Wish I Knew Before Travel - Things to Consider

Thoughts from a delegate after they arrived home:

• Red shirts leave stains on khaki pants when wet.
  
• Sitting on a blue magazine because your bottom and seat are all wet from when you spilt water, will turn your khaki pants a very bright shade of blue.
• When your delegation manager says a 10 minute walk, expect a walk a bit longer. :)
• When you are expecting to walk for at least an hour, wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring band-aids wherever you go.
• The second toilet looking thing, isn't a toilet!
• Don't sneak out, there may be people to people from another delegation right above you that notices you are out past your curfew and videotape you to show delegation leaders (I was the one with the camera!)
• I brought a credit card, debit card, American cash and foreign currency. This was the best combination of money.
• Drinking water is very, very important and eating something even if you aren't terribly hungry.
  
• Sleep on the plane.
  
• Be prepared for any kind of response from natives in visited countries; some may welcome us with open arms, others may not.
• Journaling may not be the most exciting thing to do but it is wonderful to have when you get home. It is worth every minute you can put into it; from what you ate, a fact you learned, to something that is different back home. Also, if you see flyers at a place you visit or at a hotel take one and bring home to put into your scrapbook.
  
• Electronics will be important. Definitely bring a digital camera and some sort of I-Pod.