- Registered my travel and hotel arrangements with the USA State department. https://travelregistration.state.gov/
- Alerted banks and credit cards of international travel.
- Registered for frequent flyer program for Singapore air (which seems to link to Continental Airlines somehow--but that's another day....)
- Transferred some money around in case I have trouble with my primary banking facility.
- Packed the power cord converters & transformers.
- Packed the work provided medical kit.
- Take the passport!
- Remember all your PIN numbers in case your primary ATM card has trouble overseas.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Getting Ready for the first trip
Here's some things I'm documenting for myself for future trips. I'll probably have to add to it once I make the trip.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Getting Ready -- Medical
Okay, not excited about this subject matter at all. Because I either will be or will be in contact with people from many, many countries the list of vaccinations and immunizations is quite extensive. To further add to the list, it appears that even standard inoculations such as MMR & tetanus requires booster shots before I make my final departure.
Here's whats on the list that I've got to have:
Also from the medical departments email...."Many other infectious disease are present in Malaysia for which no vaccine is available. Dengue Fever is a significant risk in both urban and rural areas of both countries. It is transmitted by a daytime biting mosquito. Day and Nighttime Insect precautions should be taken with insect repellent with DEET.
Traveler's Diarrhea is at high risk even in deluxe accommodations within these countries. Food Safety is imperative. I recommend that you drink only bottled water and include brushing your teeth with bottled water. Avoid fountain drinks and drinks with ice. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat only fully cooked fruits and vegetables. Choose fruits for which you can peel away the skins like bananas. Eat only fully cooked (well done) meats, eggs, chicken, poultry, pork and fish. If diarrhea
develops, please use the anti-diarrheal medication in your travel kit called Diamode for the first 24 hours. If you would like to have an antibiotic recommended for traveler's diarrhea, I can authorize it.
Rabies is present in all of these countries. Many of these countries do not vaccinate their domestic animals. Although I do not recommend the pre-exposure rabies vaccine, I would recommend that you avoid contact with all animals on this itinerary. If you are bitten or scratched, you need to seek immediate post-rabies treatment.
Avoid wooded areas, forests, farms, and rural areas as much as possible. Different types of Malaria exist in the region and are transmitted by night biting mosquitoes. Malaria medicines are dependent upon the region and have to be actively taken to be effective. Due to the uncertainty of your travel (cities/regions/countries) and the length of your assignment, it is not practical to prepare for medications prior to your departure. Should you go to any of these areas, please see local company medical assistance and medication.
I will FedEx you a complete travel package tomorrow to include the travel kit and a folder with specific health risks for your itinerary. The folder will contain a customized traveler's report for specific health risks on your itinerary. The medical kit is yours to keep and will be back charged to the cost center that you provided. I recommend you keep your immunization records with your passport for travel. The travel package will also include an SOS card which will provide you with resources for emergency medical evacuation. There is also a restocking form in the kit. If you need replacement items for your kit, please fax the restocking form to me. Do not send the kit back to me. If you have any questions regarding any information in the travel package, please do not hesitate to call me.
Please consider a security briefing from <<removed>>, Mgr International Corporate Security.
The health information provided represents standard advice and recommendations regarding preventive precautions and immunizations for your travel itinerary. For further individually specific information, advice from a travel medicine clinic may be sought."
In additional to this information, work provided a physical & blood work to make sure everything is good with my health before I get leave the USA. [And it is!!] They also gave me general prescription medication to have onhand in case I needed them. I feel good that we got all this started, and that they've put a lot of thought into my well-being while on assignment. I had no idea about all this when I signed up!!
Here's whats on the list that I've got to have:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Influenza
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- MMR if no history of disease or 2 adequate doses of live vaccine at anytime during your life
- TB Skin test pre-departure and post-return
- No Malaria risk in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-Use insect repellent.
Also from the medical departments email...."Many other infectious disease are present in Malaysia for which no vaccine is available. Dengue Fever is a significant risk in both urban and rural areas of both countries. It is transmitted by a daytime biting mosquito. Day and Nighttime Insect precautions should be taken with insect repellent with DEET.
Traveler's Diarrhea is at high risk even in deluxe accommodations within these countries. Food Safety is imperative. I recommend that you drink only bottled water and include brushing your teeth with bottled water. Avoid fountain drinks and drinks with ice. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat only fully cooked fruits and vegetables. Choose fruits for which you can peel away the skins like bananas. Eat only fully cooked (well done) meats, eggs, chicken, poultry, pork and fish. If diarrhea
develops, please use the anti-diarrheal medication in your travel kit called Diamode for the first 24 hours. If you would like to have an antibiotic recommended for traveler's diarrhea, I can authorize it.
Rabies is present in all of these countries. Many of these countries do not vaccinate their domestic animals. Although I do not recommend the pre-exposure rabies vaccine, I would recommend that you avoid contact with all animals on this itinerary. If you are bitten or scratched, you need to seek immediate post-rabies treatment.
Avoid wooded areas, forests, farms, and rural areas as much as possible. Different types of Malaria exist in the region and are transmitted by night biting mosquitoes. Malaria medicines are dependent upon the region and have to be actively taken to be effective. Due to the uncertainty of your travel (cities/regions/countries) and the length of your assignment, it is not practical to prepare for medications prior to your departure. Should you go to any of these areas, please see local company medical assistance and medication.
I will FedEx you a complete travel package tomorrow to include the travel kit and a folder with specific health risks for your itinerary. The folder will contain a customized traveler's report for specific health risks on your itinerary. The medical kit is yours to keep and will be back charged to the cost center that you provided. I recommend you keep your immunization records with your passport for travel. The travel package will also include an SOS card which will provide you with resources for emergency medical evacuation. There is also a restocking form in the kit. If you need replacement items for your kit, please fax the restocking form to me. Do not send the kit back to me. If you have any questions regarding any information in the travel package, please do not hesitate to call me.
Please consider a security briefing from <<removed>>, Mgr International Corporate Security.
The health information provided represents standard advice and recommendations regarding preventive precautions and immunizations for your travel itinerary. For further individually specific information, advice from a travel medicine clinic may be sought."
In additional to this information, work provided a physical & blood work to make sure everything is good with my health before I get leave the USA. [And it is!!] They also gave me general prescription medication to have onhand in case I needed them. I feel good that we got all this started, and that they've put a lot of thought into my well-being while on assignment. I had no idea about all this when I signed up!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Look and See Trip is booked
I just booked my first "look and see" trip to Malaysia. It will give me a chance to see what the office, city, culture, accommodations, etc is like in Kuala Lumpur. I'm pretty excited about it, and I've arranged it so I have almost 2 weekends in the city to explore. However I don't know how much I'll feel like getting out and about on the Saturday morning that I arrive. This trip takes a chunk of time out of my "departing home" schedule. Once I get back from this trip, I have to complete my vaccinations and make a trip to Georgia to visit family prior to my final departure! So many things to do before I leave......
Here's my flight arrangements for that first visit. Should be a lot of posts to come the next couple weeks!
Here's my flight arrangements for that first visit. Should be a lot of posts to come the next couple weeks!
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 61
Class: Business
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Houston Geo Bush, TX - IAH
Date: Apr 07,2011 Time: 5:30 PM
Arrives: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 5:45 AM
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 5324
OPERATED BY SILKAIR
Class: Economy
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 8:35 AM
Arrives: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA - KUL
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 9:30 AM
Hotel Information:
Reserved: HILTON KUALA LUMPUR
Address: 3 JALAN STESEN SENTRAL
KUALA LUMPUR MY 50470
Phone: 60-3-22642264
Check-In: Apr 09,2011
Check-Out: Apr 19,2011
Hotel Rate: 395.00 MYR per night
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 61
Class: Business
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Houston Geo Bush, TX - IAH
Date: Apr 07,2011 Time: 5:30 PM
Arrives: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 5:45 AM
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 5324
OPERATED BY SILKAIR
Class: Economy
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 8:35 AM
Arrives: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA - KUL
Date: Apr 09,2011 Time: 9:30 AM
Hotel Information:
Reserved: HILTON KUALA LUMPUR
Address: 3 JALAN STESEN SENTRAL
KUALA LUMPUR MY 50470
Phone: 60-3-22642264
Check-In: Apr 09,2011
Check-Out: Apr 19,2011
Hotel Rate: 395.00 MYR per night
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 117
Class: Business
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA - KUL
Date: Apr 19,2011 Time: 6:50 PM
Arrives: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 19,2011 Time: 7:45 PM
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 62
Class: J
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 20,2011 Time: 2:30 AM
Arrives: Houston Geo Bush, TX - IAH
Date: Apr 20,2011 Time: 2:05 PM
Airline Confirmation Numbers:
SINGAPORE AIRLINES M5S78Y $8,872 USD
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 117
Class: Business
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA - KUL
Date: Apr 19,2011 Time: 6:50 PM
Arrives: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 19,2011 Time: 7:45 PM
Flight Information:
Reserved: SINGAPORE AIRLINES 62
Class: J
Seat: Unassigned
Departs: Singapore, SINGAPORE - SIN
Date: Apr 20,2011 Time: 2:30 AM
Arrives: Houston Geo Bush, TX - IAH
Date: Apr 20,2011 Time: 2:05 PM
Airline Confirmation Numbers:
SINGAPORE AIRLINES M5S78Y $8,872 USD
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Getting Ready -- Insurance
Who knew the insurance process would be so complicated when you decide to do an overseas assignment! Here's the run-down of what I'm doing....hope I don't ever need to use any of this!
- Flood insurance. This has been the easiest of all my insurances. Since its insured with a federal program. There are no problems with having flood insurance and not actively occupying the house that is insured. Renewed and paid the premium, DONE!
- Hurricane insurance. This is also a relatively easy change. There is no difference in premium (yeah! You can't believe how expensive this one is normally). My insurance agent has to send notification to the Texas Windstorm Insurance. They will add the disclaimer that it is no longer my primary residence and then pay the premium. Hope to get this done next week!
- Homeowners insurance. Okay this one has been the problem. Still working out the details, but it appears I can list it as a secondary home, non-rental and I can insure it without paying the non-occupied, non-rental premiums. Although work pays the difference in premium, the difference in premium is 2x for secondary home, and 8x for the vacant designation. Still trying to work it out with the insurance agent, and I want it in writing that they are not going to deny a claim based on my visit frequency. Hope to get this completed next week!
- Health Insurance. Work is handling this one as you might imagine. Essentially, I am switching from my current USA medical, prescription, dental, & vision health plans to an international health plan. I continue to pay my current premiums for USA coverage and work pays the additional amount to get me global coverage. The new policy should pay for any medical issues regardless of the country I'm in.
- Automotive Insurance. Okay this one is strange also. Apparently if I don't keep some form of automotive insurance (even if I don't have a vehicle in the States) when I return to the States, I'll have to pay higher premiums due to not having continuous automotive insurance. They get you every way they can! Exploring my options here, and I still have to determine if I'm keeping or selling my current vehicle before I depart.
- Life Insurance. Not really any changes to this. Just got to get the policies up and in a secure place.
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