l PASSPORT  If you already have one, make sure that it is valid until after your return from exchange.

l THE PROPER VISA FOR BOTH THE USA & CANADA.  Our district is international and you will need to cross the border on several occasions.  

l MAKE A PHOTOCOPY of your important travel documents - Airline ticket, Passport, Visas - and pack them in a different location than the original copies.

l PINS  LOTS OF PINS! Get as many as you can!  Everyone will want to trade pins.  Ask your local Rotary club for suggestions as to how and where to get pins. 

l YOUR NATIONAL FLAG  Bring both large and small if possible. These are excellent hand-outs, and you may want to present your country's flag to your host Rotary club or school. Flag pins are also extremely popular. 

l TAPES OR CDS of music from your country.  People here will enjoy listening to typical music from your country as well as whatever music you enjoy.

l TRADITIONAL CLOTHING If you have room for it in your luggage.  There will be many special events and activities when you will have the opportunity to wear or display traditional clothing.

l SLIDES AND PHOTOS:  Bring both photos and slides if you can.  Slides are best for presentations at your host Rotary club, school, and photos are good for small groups.  Everyone will want to see pictures of your home (inside and out); your family, your friends; your school, community, and surrounding area, etc. 

l PAMPHLETS & MAPS   A large map of your country will be useful in making presentations. Many of the people here may not have seen your country on anything but a map of the world, and may have no idea of the location of your state/province, and certainly not your community.   

l STUDY District 5080's Rules for Exchange Students very carefully. It is critically important that you adhere to them, or you could find yourself back home much earlier than you had planned!   A good rule is "when in doubt: Don't!"

l GIFTS FOR HOST FAMILIES   You do not need to bring expensive gifts!  Most families appreciate something that is typical of your culture; crafts, food, small items of clothing, etc.  It is good to bring small gifts for the children in a family as well.   Make sure your gifts that are not too heavy or bulky to pack.

l GIFT SOUVENIRS   Bring lots of small gifts to be given as a "Thank You !" to people you meet, like pins of your district, pencils, place mats, etc. 

l A "LITTLE BLACK BOOK"  Get yourself a new address book now, and start filling it in. Make sure that you include your sponsor Rotary Club's President and Youth Exchange Program person, the District 5080 Youth Exchange Committee Vice Chair that you are dealing with, the District 5080 Youth Exchange Committee Chair, etc. 

l SOME LUGGAGE SUGGESTIONS:   Bring good, but not necessarily new, luggage. It should be lightweight and strong, and capable of handling at least most of the things that you will be bringing home. Important hint:  Tie a small piece of colored ribbon or cloth to the handles of each of your bags.  This will make it very easy for airline employees to find your bag if it should get lost.

l CLOTHING  Take as little clothing with you as you think you can manage with. Mixing and matching your clothing will help to keep the quantity down.  If you have specific questions about clothing try to contact your first host family.

Students from tropical countries may have difficulty in finding proper winter clothes before they arrive here.  If possible, contact your host club or first host family and they can advise you.  In many cases the best thing will be to purchase winter clothing when you arrive.

l ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES  Keep in mind that our electrical service is 110 Volts, so any hairdryers or other electrical items you bring will not work unless they can accept 110 volts.

l LEARNING ENGLISH  Try to learn the basics before you arrive.  You will not find many people in our district who can speak your language.  If you speak English well enough when you arrive to carry a basic conversation this will help you to make new friends and fit into the school system much more quickly.