Here are sme little known international mobile phone use tips:

• Emergency Call
  Even small childre in the US know to dial 911. However, that is very much an Amerian thing. The corresonding number in other countries varis. However, mobil phones have a feature that if you dial 112 it will find a network with the best signal and connect you to their emergency system. This is sad to work even on a lockd key pad.

• Hidden Battery Power
  If you battery is very, very low, you can ccess reserve batter power by dialing *3370# and your phone will restart itself and provide some extra power in an emergency.

• How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone
  First, check your phone's serial number by dialing *#06# and a 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your phone. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your pone so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

• Free Directory Service in the US
  You can void the pricey mobile phone company charges for 411 calls by simply dialing 800-FREE411 (800-373-3411). McDonald's sponsors this free service.

Avoiding Travel Stress International travel creates stress for everyone but there are things you can do to minimize stresss and its effects on you. In addition to the obvious "get plenty of rest and eat right" the advice listed below should help.

• Plan ahead to avoid last-minute panic. Follow the Trip Preparation Time Line, and Check List faithfully so that you do not have to spend the last few days in a whirlwind of activity.
• Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to check in, clear security, locate your gate, etc.
• Consult the Transportion Safety Administration website for their latest information on security matters.
• Do not pack anything in your carryon luggage that might cause problems at security check points, nor anything in your checked luggage that require you to have to go to security and explain why you have a questionable item. (There are provisions for transporting a restricted item if you clear it in advance with the airline and make security aware what you bag contains)
• Be sure your medications are properly labeled and packed according to packing tips for prescriptions.
• Be certain to have on your person or in you carryon anything that you must have should your bags be delayed or even lost.
• Cut back on sugar and caffeine before and during your trip. These stimulants will exacerbate anxiety and prevent rest.
• Drink lots of water on very long flights
• Control whatever you can around you, light, fan, seat position, foot room, etc.
• Be prepared to keep yourself occupied with reading material, CD player etc. The flight will offer music, movies, and short videos, but you may not be interested in what they offer so have your own.
• Finally, do not stress over safety. You already survived the most dangerous part of your trip, travel to the airport!

Staying Awake, Getting Some Sleep

On my first couple of trips to Uganda, the excitment of international travel was so strong that I stay awake the whole flight to Europe. Upon arrival, I was wasted. Now is recommend the following. On your way to Uganda (almost always and overnight flight), sleep. On you way from Europe to Uganda from Amsterdam, stay awake as much as possible as the flight arrives late a night and you will then be ready to sleep upon arrival. If you fly from London, the leg to Uganda is also an overnight flight so you can sleep some, but do not sleep the whole flight. All of this is to help reset your body clock.

Some Sleeping Tips Soon after the meal has been served, I recommend you recline your seat, take some aspirin or whatever you prefered pain reducer is, wrap up in the airline provided blanket, put on an eye mask (example to the right) and go to sleep. Some folks use ear plugs too or even listen to music. Someone else told me about taking the aspirin as it relieves being uncomfortable and helps you sleep. Many folks also take a sleeping pill which is a prescription item and you need to talk with your health care giver about this.

Travel Agencies

I am often asked to recommend a travel agency. The two that I have used and gotten great service from are Ministry Travel and Wilcox Travel. Both work faithfully with Christian missionary travel. At Wilcox our group has a long standing relationship with. Please understand these two recommendations are just my personal experience and I am sure there are other fine agencies that can help you as well. At either, please tell them Pastor Bob Hayes from Africa Christian Training Institute suggested you contact them.

A word of caution concering Internet Travel Sites Make certain you are getting "round trip tickets" and not "point to point." The difference is round trip is a complete package and the same rules apply for baggage and if one flight is delayed and you miss a connection, you will be put on another flight to your final destination whether going or coming. If your bags are delayed, they will eventally catch up with you.

With point to point, ticket 1 takes you from point A to point B. Ticket 2 takes you from point B to point C. Ticket 3 takes you from point C to point D. In this scheme, which is always cheaper than round trip, the rules can change from flight to flight and if you fail to arrive at one destination on time and miss the next flight,even if it was in no way your fault, you are considered a "no show" and your remaining tickets will most likely be canceled. Neither the airline that failed to get you there on time or the airline that left without you has any obligation to get you back on track. Airline one will say, "we agreed to get you to pint B and we did that." Airline two will say "we agreed to take you from pint B at a certain time and you were not there so we left without you. Sorry!" To resume travel, you will have to pull out your credit card and buy a "full fare, day of travel ticket" which is always the highest rate there is. Also, with point to point there is a potential baggage fee every time you change planes and delayed bags will suffer the same fate. I have used Internet travel sites and will continue to do so, just beware of the pitfalls.

U.S. Passport

You must have a valid* U.S. passport with an expiration date of at least six months after the end of your trip inorder to travel overseas. To get a passport, you must make application several months in advance to make sure it arrives in time. In most cities you will go to the main U.S. Post Office. In the past I outlined the entire process here but forms, web pages, fees, etc., kept changing so it is easier to just say all the info you need is at State Department Passport Services. The documentation (birth certificate, etc.) rquired to obtain a passport will be returned to in the same package as your new passprt.

When traveling, I recommend making a couple of photocopies of the photo ID and signature page of your Passport. Take one of the copies with you and keep it separate from where you keep your Passport and leave the other at home where it could faxed tp the US Embassy should it be necessary.

In many cities the Passport Services window operates on limited hours (e.g. 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) so you should call before you go to make sure service is available when you get there.

For those needing to replace an expired passport the web page listed above contains that information as well.

The web page linked above also contains information for expidited receipt of a passport should you need one in a hurry. It will just cost more money.

*A VALID Passport is one that has been signed with black ink, is in good condition, does not expire for at least six months after your planned travel, and has blank pages for rubber stamping arrival, departure, and visa information.

Ugandan Visa

U.S. citizens are required to have a Uganda Entrance Visa to enter the country. You can accomplish through the Ugandan Embassy in Washington, DC, or upon arrival at Entebbe Airport. There are positive and negatives that can be said about getting the visa in advance and waiting to Entebbe Airport. One positive for waiting is they visa is cheaper at the Airport.

If done in advance, I highly recommend the team leaders collect all the team passports and completed applications and send them in one package to the Ugandan Embassy in Washington. A certified check is required) to cover all costs. Consult Embassy Visa Page for current costs and any new requirement that might have been added.

Send the documents to the Ugandan Embassy in Washington via an express shipping service with a pre-addressed pre-paid return envelope so once completed by the Consular staff, they can simply place them in the return envelope for pick up. Not only does this give you express shipping both ways, it is also trackable should they get missdirected. Be sure to keep a record of the tracking numbers on both shipping and return labels.

A VALID Ugandan Entrance Visa is rubber stamped on a page of your Passport, (see example) then validated and signed by a Ugandan Visa Officer and covers the dates you plan to be in Uganda. If you get a visa in advance, it will be checked by Ugandan customs official upon arrival at Entebbe Airport. If you wait and get you visa upon arrival at the airport, both steps are covered at once.

Your passport will be stamped and signed again upon your depature.

Items necessary to complete the Visa application process:

• A valid US Passport (see definition above)
• A completed Ugandan Visa Application Form, (see Sample instructions here)
• Two (2) Passport type color photographs

I also send a cover letter listing the full names and addresses of each applicant, when we plan to travel to Uganda and for what purpose (teaching/missionary work), phone, fax, and email contacts for myself.

Some Commonly Used Metric Conversions

• 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
• 1 kilometer = .6 miles
• 1 liter = 1.06 quarts
• 1 gallon = 3.78 liters

You may wish to consult the following Unit Conversion Calculator