Thursday, June 11, 2009
LSAMP Global Awareness Trip Summer 2009
This blog is the travel journal for the LSAMP students selected to participate in the inaugural "global awareness" trip to the Medical University of Innsbruck. We will be in Austria from June 29-July 17,2009, during which time we will conduct science projects in three different laboratories, as well as experience the culture and the beautiful regions of Austria, the land of Mozart, the Sound of Music, Sacher Torte, strudel and schnitzel. Your fearless leader, the cyberprof, is preparing for what should be an exciting and informative trip. My recommendations to you are to read up on some basic phrases (even though most everyone in the major cities speaks some English), and begin making a list of places you would like to visit, things you would like to see, and foods you would like to sample. Bring a camera, a good appetite, and a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Pack light, but leave room for souvenirs.
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Someone said something about taxes at the meeting on June 4th. I did not understand fully what the speaker meant. He said something about a 20% tax and the possbility of reclaiming that tax or a portion of it; if I'm not mistaken. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions about concerning this topic?
ReplyDeleteQuestion about jet lag. Is it better to sleep on the flight from LA to Cincinnati OR from Cincinnati to Frankfurt? Someone made a comment about reducing jet lag, and some clarification would help.
ReplyDeleteRegarding jet lag, it will be good to try and sleep on the trans Atlantic leg of your trip, so you are alert when you arrive in Europe. You will need to present documents, go through immigration, and find connecting flights. You will arrive in the early afternoon in Austria, and you should then try to stay awake as long as you can until the normal hour when you go to sleep. The days are long, so you will have plenty of sunlight to provide visual cues that reset your biological clock. You will hit a low about 72 hours in, but in about a week, you should be adjusted to the time.
ReplyDeleteValue Added Tax (VAT) is a form of indirect tax applied to the value added at each stage of production (primary, manufacturing, wholesale and retail). This tax is much like the sales tax paid in the United States. The European Union, Japan and some South American countries assess VAT at a rate of 15-25 percent. The EC countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Switzerland all refund VAT. For the tourist, reclaiming a VAT is a fairy straightforward process. The typical scenario is to get some form of documentation when you make a purchase, stipulating the amount of refund due. You then show these documents to customs officials upon leaving the country to claim your refund. Most countries specify a minimum amount you must spend in a particular shop to claim a refund. In Austria, I believe this minimum is $75. Another way for tourists to reclaim VAT is by purchasing items at stores participating in the Europe Tax-free Shopping program. When your buy from these merchants you simply show your passport and get a Tax-Free Shopping Cheque showing the amount of refund owed to you. When you leave the country, you show your purchases to an appropriate customs official, who stamps your checks. You then claim your refund from a Europe Tax-free shopping desk on site, or have the refund mailed to you.
ReplyDeleteAustria's VAT tax is 17%.
LSAMP students will be met at the Innsbruck Airport on June 30. Look for a sign that says "LSAMP AUSTRIA" and look for the cyberprof. You will receive your bus passes, as well as the keys to your accomodations at the Student House.
ReplyDeleteHi Cyberprof! Long time no see...hehe. Well I am getting ready for this trip, Kwame's questions have been helpful.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know if anyone has figured out the cell phone thng yet or rented from cellhire. I was looking at their website but there does not seem to be an Austria phone rental. If you click on the International Western Europe rental it says its only free in the UK to get incoming calls and the rates are listed for "Western Europe" calling. Also there is a Credit authorization fee that says $525.00 I do not know why it would cost $525.00!!! It is 1 AM Monday and now the website for cellhire.com is not working. Hopefully it is back up in the morning.
As for one very important event I would like to see is Le Tour De France! It will probably be closest to us on Day 1 at the start. This is in Monaco Saturday July 4th! Perfect that it is on a Saturday because we would have to travel through Switzerland to get there. Who else is interested? I think this would be awesome!!
Also how is the roommate situation going to work for the females? Will we just choose ourselves or just be given random keys? We were also forwarded the Housing information, do you know which floor plan we have?
My mentor is Dr. Mag. Gottfried J. Baier, Department for Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology. I believe Rebeca is also in my lab, correct?
Well I hope to hear from everybody!
I see here in your blog something about the our de France. I too am interested in this. Because we may have to make a side trip to Grenoble to the synchrotron, there may be an opportunity to catch some part of the Tour. I don't know the days just yet.
ReplyDeleteAs regards roommates, I will meet with Frau Rausch on Monday. I will find out the floor plan. My guess is they may have roomed you with your labmate, but I can find this out too.
Tour de France maps: http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#route-map
ReplyDeleteLooks like the racers pass through the French Alps and Grenoble a few days after we depart Europe. We can discuss this when you arrive.
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ReplyDeleteUh oh. *BIG* Problem for all of us. Delta has a new baggage policy that comes into effect when we go back home. We check in two bags for free when we leave the U.S., but when we come back, they'll charge us $50 for the second bag. I just called them and they said it doesn't matter if it's a round trip, we still get charged the fee when we check in our baggage.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything that can be done about this?
Welcome to the wonderful world of international travel restrictions. Having been a former "take my entire world" traveler, I have learned that less is more. I would strongly advise NOT checking two bags. You really don't need that many. Wear the heavier coat/jacket and shoes to save space. You should only need one checked bag (26/28-inch within weight limits). If your bags are delayed or lost, you should have one on you with a change of clothes and essential items. This should be the carry-on rollie type. You can also carry a personal item. The personal item can be a bag/briefcase of sufficient size to hold your computer plus extra stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe more you take, the more you will schlepp. This is not fun when you have to negotiate small stairways and lifts in older European buildings, you have to move fast through a train station, or you need to navigate cobblestone streets. If you are worried about having room for things to bring back, you can ship a suitcase or a box home. If you must have the second suitcase, this last them becomes your option, although it will cost significantly more than the $50 for the second bag. More bags also brings more chances to have something get lost.
Having the smaller carry-on bag is also important if you want to take some side excursions on regional airlines. You won't want to take all your things for this. You will also be charged for the bigger bag/weight.
Hey Melinda, My mentor is different than yours is Lukas Huber, so far I was assigned to work with Wendy. Also, Le Tour De France sounds great!! Good luck packing.
ReplyDeletePacking.... make a list of what you put into the suitcase. Just in case. Take only what you need, things that go together. If there is something you are not sure about, ask Dr. K. Austria is well equipped.
ReplyDeleteEUROBOWL - http://raiders.at/ We will likely be able to attend this football game - American football in Europe. Details will follow after you arrive.
ReplyDeleteWERE STUCK IN FRANKFURT UNTIL 9PM!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletedr k our flight from cincinatti to frankfurt was delayed and we missed the connecting flight with lufthanza to innsbruck. the next available flight we got is at 915pm and to arrive at 1035pm today. flight number LH 6414. see you then!