Important stuff and deadlines
It's only 51 days until departure for those of you going 14 July. Yay! That means some deadlines are approaching. I'll link every deadline to Swedish websites. If you're from other countries - contact your country office if you miss any of the documents or need some other help.
* If you want Pocket Money Service from STS, that should have been ordered before the last payment slips were sent out. For those of you, who forgot to order it - check with your country office whether this is still possible to get. Your last payment should be completed 4 June.
* If you want the STS insurance, t-shirt or Explorer Pass - check with your country office as well. Officially, the deadline has been passed, but it's always worth asking.
* Your parental agreement has to be signed and sent in 4 June, which is in eleven days from today. For those of you going other dates it's simply forty days in advance. Make sure you read it through carefully, cause when your parent signs it he/she confirms that both of you fully understand and accept the rules, that he/she will let us take care of you for those three weeks and that you both have read the ABC-book, among other important things. If you missed this deadline, contact your country office and send it in as soon as possible!
* Check your passport. It needs to be valid until 3 months after your return to your home country and it can't be damaged in any way (if you're not Swedish, check the rules with your country office). If you need to order a new passport, visit your police office at least a week before you need to pick it up. If you forget or lose your passport less than 5 days before departure you can get a temporary passport for 980:- here.
* Make two copies of your passport. Leave one with your parents and give the other copy to your leader at the airport. In case you lose your passport, the copies will make it easier to solve the problem. Make the copies well in advance, cause if you do it last minute, it's easier than you think to forget your original passport in the copy machine.
* Check your European Health Insurance Card (EU-kort). If you don't have this blue card, or if it's not valid until your back to your home country, please order a new one well in advance. This card will let you pay the same price for health care as Englishmen do, in case you need to visit a nurse or a doctor. Swedes going with me can order it from Försäkringskassan 29 June at the lastest. At least ten days before departure, if you're going other dates.
* Check your insurance. If you don't have the STS Insurance, check with your insurance company what they'll cover in case something happens to you or your things during the stay in the UK. Do this at least a few days before departure in case you need to change anything.
* Register you APIS on the airline website. STS gives you all the instructions here, and for us going to Brighton it's enough doing it the day before, but you can do this as soon as you get your PNR on mypage 25-30 days before departure.
* Exchange money. You can usually do this at the airport, but if you have an early flight, it's better to do it a few days in advance. More tips about money can be found here.
* Sign page 57 in the ABC-book. Do this in advance so you can hand it in to your leader at the airport. You parent needs to sign his/her permission for you to participate in more adventurous activities in case the opportunity appears.
I recommend you Swedes to read the checklist on sts.se and to read all documents that apply to you. To prepare well gives you a safer trip, prepares you mentally, and you'll have more time for having fun.
/Emma
* If you want Pocket Money Service from STS, that should have been ordered before the last payment slips were sent out. For those of you, who forgot to order it - check with your country office whether this is still possible to get. Your last payment should be completed 4 June.
* If you want the STS insurance, t-shirt or Explorer Pass - check with your country office as well. Officially, the deadline has been passed, but it's always worth asking.
* Your parental agreement has to be signed and sent in 4 June, which is in eleven days from today. For those of you going other dates it's simply forty days in advance. Make sure you read it through carefully, cause when your parent signs it he/she confirms that both of you fully understand and accept the rules, that he/she will let us take care of you for those three weeks and that you both have read the ABC-book, among other important things. If you missed this deadline, contact your country office and send it in as soon as possible!
* Check your passport. It needs to be valid until 3 months after your return to your home country and it can't be damaged in any way (if you're not Swedish, check the rules with your country office). If you need to order a new passport, visit your police office at least a week before you need to pick it up. If you forget or lose your passport less than 5 days before departure you can get a temporary passport for 980:- here.
* Make two copies of your passport. Leave one with your parents and give the other copy to your leader at the airport. In case you lose your passport, the copies will make it easier to solve the problem. Make the copies well in advance, cause if you do it last minute, it's easier than you think to forget your original passport in the copy machine.
* Check your European Health Insurance Card (EU-kort). If you don't have this blue card, or if it's not valid until your back to your home country, please order a new one well in advance. This card will let you pay the same price for health care as Englishmen do, in case you need to visit a nurse or a doctor. Swedes going with me can order it from Försäkringskassan 29 June at the lastest. At least ten days before departure, if you're going other dates.
* Check your insurance. If you don't have the STS Insurance, check with your insurance company what they'll cover in case something happens to you or your things during the stay in the UK. Do this at least a few days before departure in case you need to change anything.
* Register you APIS on the airline website. STS gives you all the instructions here, and for us going to Brighton it's enough doing it the day before, but you can do this as soon as you get your PNR on mypage 25-30 days before departure.
* Exchange money. You can usually do this at the airport, but if you have an early flight, it's better to do it a few days in advance. More tips about money can be found here.
* Sign page 57 in the ABC-book. Do this in advance so you can hand it in to your leader at the airport. You parent needs to sign his/her permission for you to participate in more adventurous activities in case the opportunity appears.
I recommend you Swedes to read the checklist on sts.se and to read all documents that apply to you. To prepare well gives you a safer trip, prepares you mentally, and you'll have more time for having fun.
/Emma
What about pocket money?
This post is all about the money. You might wonder what's the best option for you so here are some things to think about:
The currency in England is the pound sterling, shortened GBP (for Great British Pound), but one simply call it the pound. The £ symbol is usually put in front of the price on price tags, like the symbol :- is put after the price in Sweden. When writing this blog post, £1 is worth 11,83:- (Sweden), 9,56 DKK (Denmark) or €1,30 (Euroland). To get the rate of today, just google "currency converter".
So how much will you spend in three weeks in Brighton? Between £90-130/week in pocket money is recommended from STS. If you think you will shop a lot, you might need more, and also if you decide at the last minute you want to join that second trip to London and the other Explorer Pass activities. The Explorer Pass can be purchased when we've arrived in England, but usually it's simpler to buy beforehand. Call your country office if you have questions about the price or check the STS webpage.
In what form you bring your money is also in issue worth discussing:
* Cash - Yes, you can bring all your pocket in cash, but personally I wouldn't take that risk. However, it's a good idea to bring money for the first days, as you might not be able to reach an ATM/cash machine immediately. You can exchange your money at the airport in your home country, but make sure you're well in time, so you don't miss your appointment with the STS leader. If you fly early in the morning, please check beforehand if the exchange bureau is open. You will need cash for your bus pass, since we will get it for you the first days in Brighton. Count on paying £30/week, but there's a good chance it'll be cheaper.
* Credit card/VISA/Maestro - A safer way to bring your money, but make sure you check some important things with your bank. a) Will your specific card work in England or do you need another type?, b) Do you have a limit on how much you can withdraw from your account in a specific time span? That might cause you problems, c) Make sure you have all details you need in case you lose your card. d) Will it be cheaper for you to use a cash mashine or pay with the card?
* STS Pocket Money Service - It's possible to pay your pocket money in advance to STS and get it distributed over the weeks in Brighton. In that way you get a smaller amount of cash once a week and don't have to carry a credit card. Check with your country office if it's still possible to get this service and what the fee is, since you usually pay this with your last payment to STS.
/Emma
So how much will you spend in three weeks in Brighton? Between £90-130/week in pocket money is recommended from STS. If you think you will shop a lot, you might need more, and also if you decide at the last minute you want to join that second trip to London and the other Explorer Pass activities. The Explorer Pass can be purchased when we've arrived in England, but usually it's simpler to buy beforehand. Call your country office if you have questions about the price or check the STS webpage.
In what form you bring your money is also in issue worth discussing:
* Cash - Yes, you can bring all your pocket in cash, but personally I wouldn't take that risk. However, it's a good idea to bring money for the first days, as you might not be able to reach an ATM/cash machine immediately. You can exchange your money at the airport in your home country, but make sure you're well in time, so you don't miss your appointment with the STS leader. If you fly early in the morning, please check beforehand if the exchange bureau is open. You will need cash for your bus pass, since we will get it for you the first days in Brighton. Count on paying £30/week, but there's a good chance it'll be cheaper.
* Credit card/VISA/Maestro - A safer way to bring your money, but make sure you check some important things with your bank. a) Will your specific card work in England or do you need another type?, b) Do you have a limit on how much you can withdraw from your account in a specific time span? That might cause you problems, c) Make sure you have all details you need in case you lose your card. d) Will it be cheaper for you to use a cash mashine or pay with the card?
* STS Pocket Money Service - It's possible to pay your pocket money in advance to STS and get it distributed over the weeks in Brighton. In that way you get a smaller amount of cash once a week and don't have to carry a credit card. Check with your country office if it's still possible to get this service and what the fee is, since you usually pay this with your last payment to STS.
/Emma
ABC Book and Important Documents
Most of the Swedish students have got their ABC books by now and also some important information about how to prepare for the trip. Since I will take care of Swedish students only until we arrive in Brighton, I will blog about preparations mainly from a Swedish perspective.
After reading several student blogs I've noticed that many of you are very happy to have received the ABC book and I remember the feeling from when I was an STS student myself. I read it through over and over and imagined how it would be to experience it all in reality. Reality was actually far better, but keep on reading. It's not only fun, but also important to read the ABC book.
Among pack lists, questions and answers and information about your destination you also find THE RULES. These rules exists for the sake of your safety and your parents will actually have to sign and send in an agreement that they've read and accept these rules. Basically, it's about you not leaving the course town without a leader, not drinking alcohol, hitchhiking, smoking or taking drugs. Nothing strange really, but make sure both you and your parents read them through and sign the Parental Agreement (Målsmans Godkännande). Then print it out and send it to STS! You find it among other Brighton documents here.
Rules might sound boring, but as long as everybody stick to them we will not talk much about it. We're in Brighton to have fun and improve our English, right!
/Emma
After reading several student blogs I've noticed that many of you are very happy to have received the ABC book and I remember the feeling from when I was an STS student myself. I read it through over and over and imagined how it would be to experience it all in reality. Reality was actually far better, but keep on reading. It's not only fun, but also important to read the ABC book.
Among pack lists, questions and answers and information about your destination you also find THE RULES. These rules exists for the sake of your safety and your parents will actually have to sign and send in an agreement that they've read and accept these rules. Basically, it's about you not leaving the course town without a leader, not drinking alcohol, hitchhiking, smoking or taking drugs. Nothing strange really, but make sure both you and your parents read them through and sign the Parental Agreement (Målsmans Godkännande). Then print it out and send it to STS! You find it among other Brighton documents here.
Rules might sound boring, but as long as everybody stick to them we will not talk much about it. We're in Brighton to have fun and improve our English, right!
/Emma
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