More Details for Student Participants
Once selected for the program, here are additional details to help you prepare for the trip. This content will be covered more thoroughly in the fall quarter BIOL 496 Orientation course.
Student Checklist
☐ Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus vaccinations
☐ Passport
☐ 2 copies of passport – 1 copy left at home; 1 copy given to J. Walke/P. Spruell
☐ Pre-departure travel plans approved by J. Walke with a copy of the itinerary provided to J. Walke/P. Spruell
☐ Emergency contact information is on file with EWU and J. Walke/P. Spruell
☐ Adequate supply of all necessary and preventative prescription medications
PASSPORTS: Passport scholarships are available for EWU students. You must apply for your passports and submit your receipts. The scholarship doesn’t cover passport photos or expediting fees. There is no deadline for the application; we accept them on a rolling basis throughout the year and process them in batches at the very least once a quarter.
Apply for a Passport Scholarship
Culture & Customs
We are visiting Montserrat under the invitation, auspices, and guidance of the Government of Montserrat and the local communities, and as such, we are guests in Montserrat. As guests, we therefore have a duty to ensure that we behave accordingly and conduct ourselves with every due respect, courtesy and consideration to our hosts. Everyone will be expected to conduct themselves with the care and consideration that they themselves would expect of any guest in their own home. Furthermore, we are representing Eastern Washington University to these communities.
We have worked closely with Bard College and the Montserrat Minister of Education and the Permanent Secretary, as well as others to develop this opportunity and we hope to have many years of bringing students to the island to study. Please work with your program staff and fellow students to help build this relationship.
Soufriere Hills Volcano
Soufriere Hills Volcano had a major eruption in 1997 which essentially closed the southern end of the island – known as the “Exclusion Zone.” However, the north end of the island was largely unaffected and the impact of the continued low-level emissions is minor. The volcano is closely monitored by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (details available at http://www.mvo.ms) and Radio Montserrat can be monitored for information (Radio ZJB).
Communication
General Means of Communication
The cost for international cell phone calling plans is variable by service provider, but the reception is generally good on Montserrat. We have found that the best way to remain in touch with family and friends is through WhatsApp and video calls using wifi, as wifi is available at the Field Station and included in the program.
On Island Emergency Numbers
▪ Police & Emergency Numbers: Fire 911, Police 999
▪ Police Headquarters: 1-664-491-2555
▪ Emergency Line: 1-664-491-7790
Money
Credit cards are not widely accepted. Traveler’s checks can be cashed at banks only. All students should travel with some cash on hand for small personal purchases but these funds need to be brand new, “crisp” bills in denominations of $5 or more. Local merchants will not accept even a slightly worn bill, and they will check every bill for the slightest tear or blemish.
The national currency of Montserrat is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD), although USD is equally welcome in most establishments. There is no need to change USD into XCD at any stage during your time in Montserrat, but bear in mind you will be given change in XCD when purchasing from shops on the island. The exchange rate is approximately XCD 2.7 = USD $1.
There are only one or two ATMs and they will disburse cash in XCD. You can only get cash with a Visa card. Once on island, it is recommended that you hold onto your US $ and take out some EC $ to use during your stay. Be sure to call your bank and credit card company to authorize use in Montserrat. American Express is not accepted on the island.
Medical Notes
If medical care is required, the nearest critical care facility is the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, formerly known as Mount St. John’s Medical Centre in Antigua & Barbuda (https://www.msjmc.org/). There is an air ambulance on standby to transfer people to the hospital on Antigua as necessary. Basic services are provided by the St. John’s Medical Centre in Montserrat and a few small clinics. All basic medical expenses are covered under the program fee. On Call insurance through EWU is required for program participants and is included in the program cost ($5/day). This insurance provides extended medical coverage for travel abroad, which covers serious medical issues including support for medical evacuation. It is up to each individual whether to purchase additional international travel insurance.
Personal Hygiene & Avoiding Certain Discomforts
● Rinse your ears out with fresh water after swimming in the ocean (to avoid ear infections).
● Body rashes can happen in hot environments with exposure to salt water – avoid wearing wet clothing longer than necessary.
A word about septic – all houses are on septic fields. This means there is no town water treatment plant. It is an absolute necessity that ONLY toilet paper be flushed down the toilets.
Useful Websites for Preparing for the Trip
It is highly recommended that you register your travel with the U.S. State Dept.’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency. https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step
State Department http://travel.state.gov/
CDC http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/montserrat
Montserrat Tourist Board http://www.visitmontserrat.com/
Government of Montserrat http://www.gov.ms/
Fit for Travel http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/caribbean/montserrat.aspx
Montserrat National Trust http://montserratnationaltrust.ms/about-us/
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/montserrat
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details/198131-montserrat-programme
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=673516
Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme https://www.mountainchicken.org/
Packing List
Although size specifications vary by airline, carry-on bag size limit is generally 45 linear inches (14”+9”+22”); checked bag size limit is 62 linear inches (length+width+height) and 50 lbs. There are significant airline charges for overweight bags. If you have packing questions about what you can carry in your carry-on and what should go in your checked bag, see tsa.gov.
We strongly recommend packing a change of clothes, toiletries, and medications in your carry-on bag, as checked baggage may be delayed, especially on the small plane flight to Montserrat.
The weather in Montserrat in January is comfortably warm, with average temperatures around 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea breezes and rain showers are the norm, so pack layers.
Required Equipment List:
Headlamp/flashlight (with red light is ideal)
Sturdy water bottle(s) – 2L in size at least
Backpack
Recommended Equipment List:
Dive gloves
Snorkeling gear (snorkel, mask, fins)
1 mm wetsuit – recommended, but not required (not having one will not impact your participation in the academic programming)
Multi-tool knife (don’t pack this item in your carry-on bag)
Camera & spare batteries
Sunglasses
Beach towel
Binoculars
Dive booties or water shoes (for comfort and safety)
Dive skin/rash guard (for sun protection and jelly fish)
Clothing List:
Non-cotton field pants and shorts
Non-cotton long-sleeved and short sleeve shirts
One set of casual, nice clothing for outings in town
Fleece/sweatshirt
Lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho
Sturdy walking shoes with ankle support
Sandals
Wide brimmed hat
Swimwear
Underwear
Toiletries:
1. Keep in mind the limits on liquids/gels in carry-on luggage
2. Wherever possible, please ensure that these items are biodegradable and environmentally friendly (i.e. low in nitrates and phosphate-free).
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Insect repellant (with deet)
Benadryl
Hydrocortisone cream
Sunscreen (see side note) and lip salve
Razor blades for shaving as needed
Shampoo & soap
Hand sanitizer towelettes
Moleskin for blisters
Medicated talcum powder for rashes
Contact lens solutions if needed
Medications:
● Bring any prescription drugs you take IN THE CONTAINER they came in with your name and the prescription on it. Be sure to have enough for the whole trip (double your usual supply).
● A small supply of any over-the-counter drugs you use regularly (such as aspirin or migraine headache medications)
● If you wear contacts, bring an extra pair and/or a pair of glasses.
● The program staff will bring a first aid kit with basic medication/band aids/etc. BUT there won’t be an unlimited supply. If there’s something you think you will need while you are there—allergy medication, motion sickness medication, etc., bring it yourself.
● Consider bringing a multivitamin since your diet will be quite different than what you are used to.
What to Leave Behind:
● Hair dryers or other small electrical appliances
● Jewelry—if you wear jewelry, tone it down as much as possible. Anything that you love, leave at home. Plan on removing all jewelry when snorkeling or swimming.
Laundry facilities:
There are laundry facilities at the field station.
