Travel and CustomsBe sure to complete all paperwork for Shoulder

to Shoulder in advanceMake sure that passport does not expire within

90 days of returnAllow enough time for processing a new or

updated passport (the post offices can direct you to the nearest office).

Keep a copy of your passport in each piece of luggage and carryon, and carry it with you at all times.

Leave a copy of your passport and itinerary with your family.

Travel and CustomsAll brigades are registered with the State

Department by Shoulder to Shoulder before departure.

For MDs and RNs, carry a copy of your licensing credentials

Keep important documents with you at all times

All travelers should have evacuation insurance, which is provided with your brigade fee to Shoulder to Shoulder.

What to know before you goThe most common medical problem encountered is

traveler’s diarrheaYou can avoid this by eating only what the Hombro a

Hombro cooks prepare. The food is prepared by cooks who are used to cooking for North American brigades.

In restaurants, eat only foods that are cooked-avoid fresh fruits and vegetables and drink drinks from a bottle, without ice.

Avoid eating food from street vendors.Bring a prescription of ciprofloxacin with you, to take in

case of GI symptoms! Imodium may be helpful as well, but should only be taken along with ciprofloxacin.

Hepatitis A immunization is recommended.Typhoid vaccination is generally not necessary-unless

you are an “adventurous eater”.

What to know before you goIn Intibuca (Santa Lucia, Concepcion, Pinares),

there is very little malaria. Chloroquine prophylaxis is not necessary.

There is more malaria along the coast, and in the Bay Islands (Roatan). If travel to these areas is planned, then you should plan to take chloroquine prophylaxis.

In Intibuca, Dengue Fever does occur, so insect precautions are advisable.

Bring insect repellent with 5-10% DEET.Mosquito tents are available in the clinic for use

if you wish.

What To BringFlashlight or HeadlightInsect Repellent (DEET)Good BookPocket translation guideGood walking ShoesFlip flopsLightweight sweater or

jacketHatSunglassesRaingear (May-December)

Water BottleBathing SuitSunscreenCameraEar plugsToilet paper3-5 days of clothes (laundry

service is available)ToiletriesPersonal medications in

marked original bottles

Recommended Reading

The End of Poverty (Jeffrey Sachs)

Mountains beyond Mountains (Tracy Kidder about Paul Farmer)

Enrique’s journey (Sonia Nazario)

I, Rigoberta Menchu

Not All of Us Are Saints (David Hilfiker, MD)

Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson)

Packing and SuppliesYou may choose to purchase plastic bins for

packing that may be left in the country.Recommended procedure:Use the 24 gallon Rubbermaid binsDrill a hole in each cornerUse plastic cable ties to secure the bin at the four

corners, tape four more cable ties to a piece of paper inside the bin with a note for TSA to use to reclose as needed

Be sure to keep the weight below 50 lbs!Place a copy of the customs letter in each bin. This

letter is on the website.

LuggageWhen taking luggage through customs , be

prepared to open everything. Leave the airline issue tags on your baggage, as customs will check them against your claim stubs.

If your luggage doesn’t arrive, notify your brigade leader immediately.

After customs, collect your luggage and meet with team.

Travel may be long, so keep your carryon with you.

Packing and SuppliesThe Hombro a Hombro Clinic continues to rely on

donations brought down by brigades.Your donations are of huge benefit to the clinicClinic and project supply needs are listed on the

website.If you have supplies not listed on the needs list,

check with Mo before bringing.Of note, medications should not be within 6

months of their expiration.Attempt to pack all or almost everything you will

need in your carryon, leaving checked baggage primarily for medications and supplies.

The Santa Lucia CompoundClinic building with offices

and dental clinicLibrary under constructionLarge building behind

Clinic with brigade quarters below and apartments above for long term volunteers and employees.

There are four dormitories with 8 beds each in the building behind the clinic.

There are two large bathrooms with showers.

WaterThe clinic uses a large sand

filter to purify the water.There is a large water

cooler in the “comedor” that has safe drinking water.

The water that comes out of taps in the clinic and dormitory is not safe.

Any drinks (juices, etc) that the cooks put out are safe.

When out of the clinic, only drink what comes out of a bottle (Coke, bottled water, or from your own canteen)

Water conservationDuring the entire year,

there are water shortage problems.

This is worse during the dry season-January through May.

Most people in town only receive water for a few hours every 3 days. They fill up all the containers in the house and use this water until it comes again.

Water ConservationThe clinic has a tank

system.Army showers are VERY

important (turn on water to get wet, turn it off, lather up, turn it on again to rinse off).

Only one shower per day!Toilets also use lots of

water. Use the rule: “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.”

Safety Issues In general, Honduras is

politically stable.Around Santa Lucia and in

the rural areas, there is very little crime. In San Pedro Sula, El Progreso and Tegucigalpa, there is more crime.

In the rural areas, always use the “buddy system” and travel in pairs. Do not walk outside the clinic compound after dark.

In the cities, travel in groups, and let your brigade leader know where you are going.

InternetThe internet in Santa Lucia is vital to the functioning

of the staff and Hombro a Hombro operations.There is a bandwidth limit, and therefore use is not

“unlimited” like it is here in the US.So, it is extremely important to follow the policy, or

else the internet is shut down completely for 2-3 days.

You may bring a laptop as there is wireless access. If you do, please turn off all automatic updates.

Otherwise, they will let you know which computer can be used.

InternetIn general, check just your email quickly. You

may wish to set up a gmail or yahoo type account before arriving, as sometimes the university based accounts are more difficult to access.

Please DON’T use sites like myspace, facebook.No streaming video, Utube, music, instant

messaging etc.No downloading or uploading pictures-wait until

you get home!Instruct family that the electricity often goes out,

and they may not hear from you for 1-2 days (sometimes longer!), but you are still OK!

PhoneEmployees may have cell phones that you can

borrow once for a brief time to call home.Ask the person what kind of phone they have

(TIGO or Claro) and then go buy a “tarjeta” (card) for 50 or 100 lempira at the nearest “pulperia” (store).

You may give your family members the STS number for emergencies (Mo Jennings) and STS will contact you in Honduras in the event of an emergency.

MoneyThe currency in Honduras is the Lempira. The

exchange rate is roughly 18 lempira in $1.All of your costs are taken care of in your brigade

fee, including food, lodging and transportation.At the end of the trip, they will take you to a large

souvenir shop that takes credit cards.During your stay, you may want to carry a small

amount of cash for a drink or snack or trip to the market. You will likely need less than $50 during your stay. You can exchange money with Nelson.

Dress Code As you have limited time to establish

credibility with those you are here to serve, respecting cultural expectations of professional dress will simply make you more effective as a volunteer.

It is certainly a cultural oddity in rural Honduras to have more than a female's ears pierced.

Dress CodeIn the clinic, avoid flip flips or open toe shoes for

safety reasons.Avoid camouflage. This area of Honduras has a

history of guerrilla fighting. In the clinic, avoid informal t-shirts, or tank tops. No shorts in the clinic. Scrubs are cool and

acceptable.In general, most Hondurans in rural areas do not

wear shorts (men or women). On your free time, you may wear shorts if they are of conservative length.

Honduran StaffDirector of Brigades: Marvin Cacho (bilingual)

Director of Operations in Santa Lucia: Nelson Requeno

Honduran StaffLeslie Napora

(Director of Volunteers and Government Contract)

Mark Tyburski, MD (Pharmacy and Supplies, Children’s Health Initiative)

Honduran StaffWatchmenDon Beto

Watchmen (Vigilantes)Don Reynaldo (“Nato”)

Honduran PhysiciansCurrently, there are

four Honduran Physicians:Ruben Martinez (bilingual)