This is great, thanks duc!

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-Dancing for your pleasure

1) if you live at hillside, bring a flashlight...just bring one anyways.
2) Flash Thumb Drive, try to get 2gb minimum but 1gb will also suffice.
3) notebooks if you like to write notes.
4) some sort of small dehumidifier for the laptop
5) snacks that you can't live without

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Saba University

Fall 07'

Do we need to bring a toaster?? First year med student here.....

Please let me know.

Do we need to bring our birth certificate to the Island as well. Even though I got my passport??

I am not planning on getting a driver license, so I am assuming I dont need it, but are there any other reasons that I need to bring in?

The reason why I ask is because mine is not in English but I do have a English translation of it from someone(ofcourse signed).

Thx

Kabbi

you can just bring photocopies of passport and birth i believe. I brought originals just in case but people did photocopies and it was fine.

I believe it should be in english but not sure, should call gardner and verify

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Saba University

Fall 07'

hillside dorms have toasters. Don't know if ur allowed to bring one at matthews.

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Saba University

Fall 07'

you're not
kenny'll getcha

A copy of your passport shall not suffice - Per the US travel department:

Implemented on January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
JANUARY 31, 2008
U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

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Ducman
Saba University School of Medicine

Just bring the bare essentials, do NOT bring:

• Toasters or any appliances to the island. Students sell these all the time and they are leaving every semester. Plus, it'll cost more to bring some of these things in shipping than to just buy them off another student.

• Electronics - except your laptop and a camera. Shipping electronics is expensive and they'll probably be ruined by the moisture in the air.

• Dehumidifier - these are big, bulky, heavy, and silly. Unless you rent an apartment that is sealed well, you are just trying to dehumidify the whole island. Most windows are louver windows and aren't airtight.

• Snacks- realistically they'll only last you a few weeks anyways. Plus, you can find plenty of brand name snacks on the island. The grocery store in the Bottom has a lot of brand name cookies, granola bars, etc...they don't have everything, but it's fine. PLUS- there is a Cost-U-Less (IE Costco) on St. Maarten and you can fax an order to them for snacks in bulk. It'll arrive on the boat on Thursdays, just go down and pick it up...easy.

Suggestion for humidity: bring airtight bags to keep things in that you dont use all the time. You can also store your computer in these in the event of a storm, or just while you aren't using it. If you keep your laptop in your backpack or computer case, throw in a few of those anit-moisture packets (The kind you get when you buy a purse or bag, they are usually in the zipped pouches and seem to be filled with a mystery material). These will suck up moisture and help prevent damage to your computer. They should also be replaced frequently.

DO Bring:
• Your everyday basics: clothes, shoes - Flip flops and tennis shoes-2 pairs (You may want to hike and that could get muddy), overnight products, swim-suit, etc. Note: If you bring leather shoes, store these in airtight bags when you take them off. The mold grows on leather like you've never seen. Gross!
• Sheets - If you know where you're renting and the size of bed, bring sheets. Although your landlord will provide these, they'll be old and probably damp or musty...I just like my own sheets. Personal preference.
• Pillow - Same advice as the sheets. Your pillow at your place has probably never been washed and probably has something growing inside it.
• Sunscreen. You'll see a lot of sun and you should know as medical students that it's not healthy!
• Laptop and camera. The island is beautiful, take photos, start a blog, share your experience with family and friends at home. Internet is available, it's a little pricey, but absolutely worth it. If you don't want to pay for internet, use the computers at the school library for email.
• PASSPORT! BRING IT! DON'T BE SILLY, IT TAKES NO ROOM AT ALL! Plus, look up the other ID and info you'll need to get on the island...bring it all!

Money tips:
• You can open a bank account on Saba, however, if you bring all your money in the form of a certified check, it'll take 3 weeks for the check to clear and you'll have $0 for that time period...which sucks. The island has an ATM now, so you can keep your bank account at home and withdraw money when you need it. In my opinion, that's the easiest way.
• Also, do NOT change your billing address to your Saba address. There are no street numbers and there is no zip code - this causes problems when entering your billing address when your ordering something online. Keep a US address, or get a PO Box with ICS (Island Communication Services) they offer a Florida PO Box. Use the US address for your billing address...or a relative.

Shipping tips:
• Do not send ANYTHING through the US Post Office to Saba or from Saba. It doesn't matter how you send it, 1 day, 2 day, etc...it will not arrive for 2-3 months. There are no guarantees, the PO will tell you it will arrive on time, IT WILL NOT.
• Shipping is expensive, but use FedEx, that WILL arrive as expected.
• Recommendation: Get a US Mailing address through ICS (Next to the bank in Windwardside). Mail can take up to 3 weeks, but that is actually really good. If you order anything online, ship it to your US mailing address. ICS has all the mail forwarded from the PO Box in Florida to her location on Saba every 3 weeks. Just go by and pick up your packages/mail, etc.

More tips to come... If I think of any...

firstly... thank you to all the current and former saba students for posting such helpful tips on what to bring and what not to bring... if it wasnt for these forums, id be completely lost

so i was wondering if we should bring our own pots and pans to the island... or if they are supplied at the dorms? also, when ur not in the dorm and renting a place from someone, do they give you pots and pans to cook with?