Dear Partnership for Learning participant:

Welcome to the University of Delaware English as a Foreign Language Teacher Training Program.

This letter is designed to provide a program overview and includes some general information which will help you prepare for your trip. The city of Newark is a small college town of about 26,000 residents located in the northern part of the state of Delaware. The University of Delaware campus is at the center of the town and many of the residents are either students or employees of the University of Delaware. The town is quiet, friendly, very safe, and a good place to study. Newark is located, by car or bus, one hour south of Philadelphia, one and a half hours from the ocean, and two and a half hours to either New York City or Washington DC.

The weather in July and August can vary from warm to very warm and humid with the temperature ranging from 17 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius. Dress is casual. However, you will want to bring at least one set of formal clothes for the welcoming reception and graduation. You will want to bring a pair of comfortable shoes (such as sneakers) for days that you will be walking long distances on trips or around Newark and an umbrella and raincoat for rainy days.

We will give you an orientation to the University, the city and the program when you arrive. During that orientation you will receive a University of Delaware ID (identification) card. With this card you will be able to use University facilities such as the Morris Library, the computing centers, and the Bob Carpenter Sports Center on campus. If you would like to participate in any athletic activities, please bring recreational clothes to wear such as T-shirts, shorts or sweatpants, and sneakers. If you like to swim bring your swimsuit to use in the outdoor swimming pool. However if you would like to play racquetball or tennis, you will need to bring your own racket. Basketball and volleyball courts are also available later at night.

Useful, but not necessary, items that you also may want to bring with you include a clock and a travel iron. The U.S. uses 110-voltage electrical current. Since prices for some items may be high in the United States, you may want to bring enough toiletries, cosmetics and other personal items, so that you do not have to replace them. We will equip you with an initial international calling card so you can call home immediately upon your arrival. You may then purchase additional calling cards as you need.

Please bring any important medical records with you, in case you need to visit a doctor during your stay. It will be important for doctors to know you vaccination record and any medications to which you are allergic. In addition, you should bring enough prescription medications for the four week period, since foreign prescriptions are not accepted by U. S. pharmacies. Since prices for some items may be high in the United States, you may want to bring enough toiletries, cosmetics and other personal items, so that you do not have to replace them. Also, please note that non-prescription medicines (aspirin, Tylenol, Alka-Seltzer, etc.) are not covered by insurance policies.

Please plan in advance for any additional money you wish to bring for shopping, independent travel, and personal needs. Travelers' checks or credit cards are suggested, as they are readily accepted. It is nearly impossible, due to the short time frame of the program, to send and receive money from your country once you are in the United States. It is also impossible to cash personal checks and postal money orders unless you have a bank account in a bank in Newark.

We are looking forward to meeting you and we have no doubt that your stay in the U. S. will meet your highest expectations, both personally and professionally.

Sincerely,