CLINIC INFORMATION PREPARING FOR ROATAN

1 Thank you for volunteering with Clinica Esperanza! We are looking forward to providing you a broad, enjoyable learning experience and having you learn about a new culture and part of the world all while serving a population in great need. Below is some INFORMATION that will help as you prepare for this trip. CLINIC INFORMATION . The CLINIC is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am 6 pm. Please plan your arrival to ROATAN at least a day before you would start work ( ideally arrive the Saturday or Sunday before your rotation begins on Monday). PREPARING FOR ROATAN . Must Bring Things: PASSPORT you do NOT need a pre-arranged visa if coming from the , it is provided at no cost upon arrival. For other countries we ask that you check online with your government's web pages. Beach Towel Most places will not provide beach towels, and will not let you take room towels to the beach.

2 Snorkel gear (mask and snorkel) You are coming to one of the world's great reefs. Buying or renting snorkel gear here is very expensive and not always available. Bathing suit We suggest more than one so you'll always have a dry one ready to go. Sun-screen You're coming to the land of sun! It can be expensive to purchase on the island. Bug repellent Bring a good amount the mosquitos and sand fleas are quite pesky. Anti-itch cream You'll get a few bites no matter what. If you if you forget, you can find a tube of this at the main grocery store for about $ Small flashlight and extra batteries this is important to take with you, especially if you will be out after dark. The sun sets here on the island between 5:30 and 6:30 pm year-round. Travel Insurance It is strongly recommended that all volunteers purchase travel insurance that provides for emergency air evacuation.

3 Some options are listed below: o Travel Guard International 877-216-4885 o CSA Travel Protection 800-873-9855 o Divers Alert network (DAN) 800-446-2671 o Access America 800-284-8300 o Travel Safe Insurance 888-885-7233 o Travelex insurance Services 888-457-4602 A few words about Clothes: This is a tropical island, and everything is casual. Even the yearly event, Island Formal comes with the the most formal things in your closet. Some come in shorts, and T-shirts, and for some crazy reason others actually come in formal wear. Don't forget something in case it does rain (a rain coat or poncho). If it rains it gets very muddy, so be prepared. 1. The dress code in the CLINIC is either scrubs (if you are seeing patients), or shorts and a CLINIC t-shirt. We are lenient in the dress code, but ask that shoulders are covered and shorts are not too short.

4 We strongly encourage closed- toed shoes. Don't forget the airline weight limits! Leave some space in your bag to take some souvenirs home. It's often cheaper to pay for an additional bag, than for an overweight bag. Check your weight limits with your airline before you come. A few words about Money: You can use US dollars (USD) here as easily as local money (note, only US, NOT other nationalities). Most places will not accept bills that are torn, taped, written on, or have the metal strip missing. It is best to bring denominations of $20 or under. If you pay in USD, your change will be in Lemps. Honduran bills are called Lempiras, or Lemps for short. They come in denominations of L1, L2, L5, L10, L50, L100. and L500. The current exchange rate is ~20 Lemps per US dollar. It does vary a little bit, so make sure to check this prior to coming down and plan accordingly ATMs: there are a few ATMs around the island.

5 There are two at the airport, one at the major grocery store in Coxen Hole, some in west End and some at the local banks. You can't always count on them working, or even having money in them to dispense. Traveler's checks and Personal checks are virtually useless here. Credit Cards: You will need either your driver's license or your passport to use a credit card. They are generally accepted in the two large grocery stores in Coxen Hole, gas stations and higher end restaurants. Many stores and restaurants don't accept credit cards though, so check before you order. See below for estimates of costs around the island to help you plan your budget. ARRIVING IN ROATAN . Entry & Exit Visas: When you get to the immigration desk after exiting the plane in ROATAN , make sure you ask for a 90 day visa. If you are one day over the number of days marked on your visa, they will charge you a penalty ($$).

6 Upon leaving ROATAN . When you get your passport back, make sure to verify that your visa is marked 90 and not 30. It does not cost you anything to get the 90 days as opposed to the 30 day visa. o They will put/staple your visa in your passport when you pass through immigration on arrival. Don't lose this visa. You will need to show it when you leave. If you lost it, you will be charged an additional $ USD. o Exit Visa: You will have to pay $ USD when you exit Honduras. Make sure you have $ in cash before you head to the airport on your last day here. Don't rely on an ATM working the day you leave, or even the night before you leave. Transportation From the Airport: Our volunteer Dee will pick you up from the airport. This fee is included as part of the International Rotation program. Otherwise, we ask for $10 each way to cover the cost of fuel.

7 If there are issues with finding Dee, a taxi from the airport to the CLINIC should cost no more than $20. If you are hailing a taxi, it is cheaper to walk out of the airport and hail one outside. 2. DURING YOUR STAY IN ROATAN . Sundays: All volunteers are welcomed at Infinity Bay Resort in west Bay every Sunday to use the pool, sit on the beach, or order food from the restaurant and bar. There are also a group that attends church services there at 10AM every Sunday, which you are able to join. Even if you are not attending services, you can usually catch a ride to Infinity Bay to enjoy the resort. Power: ROATAN 's electric power and plugs are just like in the US. No converters are needed for US volunteers. Only difference is we do have occasional power outages, and our power does fluctuate Drinking Water: You should only drink bottled water.

8 Most of the island restaurants, especially those frequented by tourists use bottled water for customers, and they also use bottled water for the ice served in drinks. You can buy 5 gallon bottles of drinking water that cost about $ each at our neighborhood store, (Elizabeth's). Check with where you are going to stay regarding the quality of their tap water, and their drinking water. Usually don't drink the tap water unless filtered and treated. Food (Grocery Store): Dee will take you to the grocery store on the day of your arrival. The grocery store is fairly modern and westernized. Volunteers usually take a taxi for additional grocery runs, (about L35/person one way to the grocery store). It's a good idea to check with the place you will be staying to see if you will need toilet paper, drinking water, salt/pepper/sugar etc. o At the Coxen Hole grocery stores you can use US bills, or credit cards.

9 There is an ATM at the Plaza Mar grocery store, but not at Eldens. You can safely eat anything they sell there fruits, veggies etc. You can even get Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream (if you're willing to shell out $ for a pint!) There is also a little local store in Sandy Bay (Elizabeth's) where you can purchase eggs, milk, chips, bread, some veggies, fruit, beans, rice, cereal, and soft drinks. Elizabeth's is usually open Monday thru Saturday from 7 am till 8 pm, but is only open for a few hours Sunday morning before she goes to Church. o What and where is it safe to eat/drink? : ROATAN is a major tourist destination since it has world class diving/snorkeling. This means that they know how to cater to tourists needs. Volunteers rarely encounter problems from eating/drinking out, or at home o The CLINIC starts at 7:30 am, and now has two shifts with the first ending around 1:30 pm and the second around 6 pm Mon.

10 Thru Fri. There is no official break for lunch. You can bring snacks, or buy great homemade Baleadas or Pastalitas and soft drinks from an Islander who sells them at the CLINIC each day Restaurants: ROATAN offers a great range of restaurants. o Best Thai: Thong's - west End from $15-$25. o Best chicken and shrimp: Rotisserie Chicken - west End from $5 to $12 without drinks o Then just a short walk down the beach from Ms Peggy's there's El Paso - Baleada's $2 beans/$4 chicken and avocado, larger than the plate, and great tasting. You will not lack for great food o Beach restaurants sometimes have Sunday specials. $ hamburgers (US beef), $5 eggs benedict, $5 for a 10" cheese pizza. Where they get you is the $ for a soft drink. Great and cheap local food can be found at outdoor grills in west End Housing: Please refer to the CLINIC website, , for INFORMATION regarding the many housing options you have on the island Mail/Parcel service: This is essentially nonexistent.