UNO: Study Abroad in Writing

If you’re planning on getting traveler’s checks, don’t waste your time or money. Nobody takes them anymore, and you have to pay sometimes exorbitant fees to get them changed into cash while abroad. The easiest and best way to change money is o simply use your ATM card. You get the daily exchange rate without a mark-up by a currency exchange company. However, do beware of bank fees. You may pay a fee at both ends - from your home bank and the one you are trying get money from abroad. Do yourself a favor and talk to your bank before leaving - sometimes banks can waive certain international fees for a limited period if you talk to them in advance. And also, make sure you let your credit card companies know you will be abroad. Many of them now have theft protection plans where they monitor your spending, and if they see (or if the computer sees) spending out of the ordinary, they will close the card. I’ve known a number of people this has happened to, and it really is simple to fix ahead of time by letting them know. Also, make sure you have numbers you can call FROM your destination (ie a US 1-800 number probably isn’t helpful) in case your card gets lost or stolen…. Although these numbers are readily available on the internet, sometimes it takes some surfing ot find the right one, and you don’t want to be having to surf the net while you’re in panic mode because your wallet or purse has just been stolen.

And finally, you can minimize those bank charges by being careful with your planning. You don’t want to have to get money out every day. But you also don’t want to be carrying tons of cash on you as you explore foreign grounds. Think carefully about how much you legitimately need for the next 4 or 5 days, add a little to it, and get that much. And never, ever, carry all your cards, cash, and id on you at once!

Ok, I hope all this was helpful. I just think its best to plan for the worst, and hope for the best!

Tags: Brunnenburg, General, Montpellier, San Miguel by jeni
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Hello Ladies and Gents! I am going to give you all a brief heads up about the weather situation in San Miguel, however, I will discuss this further in my What to Pack and Bring post, which is coming soon. But basically, San Miguel is a high and dry climate, although we will be there during the rainy season, so you’ll want to pack an umbrella/rain gear. Temperatures will be in the upper 70’s during the day, and falling in to the 50’s and 60’s at night. Thats quite a temp shift, I know! You’ll have to pack for both cooler and warmer climes. However, the coolest points will always be just before dawn, and while I’m sure you’ll see the sun come up some, for the most part, you’ll be snoozing away under blankets at that hour. I think the most important thing to remember to rbing is a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I’ve managed to get sunburnt both times I was there, and I had all of the above. So bigger hat, and better sunscreen for me next time….

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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Dear Brunnenburgers 2008:

I very much look forward to meeting (or re-meeting) each of you in Munich or Italy, and to working with you on Ezra Pound and poetry writing at Brunnenburg in a few weeks. I hope your travel preparations are proceeding well. If you haven’t yet, please complete the travel information soon, so I will know what flight to expect you on in Munich, if you are arriving there on 19 June.

I myself will be leaving the U.S. for Europe on 26 May, so if you have any last-minute questions or concerns you wish me to address, please let me know by email or telephone (504) 482-3944 this week. I should have some email contact between 26 May and 19 June, but it may not be entirely dependable.

A couple of other reminders:

1. Please read my letter of acceptance carefully, to be sure that you will have with you the required texts (especially Pound’s Personae, The Cantos of Ezra Pound, and Ridl’s 250 Poems, as these are for daily use), as well as enough (12-15) copies of at least three of your own poems for class distribution, a notebook, etc. Check the Brunnenburg website ( http://lowres.uno.edu/brunnenburg/whattobring.htm ) and Jennifer Stewart’s blog site (http://unopress.org/blog/2008/03/18/what-to-expect-at-brunnenburg-from-the-coordinator/ ) for proper dress for the castle and Italy. Bring adaptable clothing, but remember that it can be quite cool at Brunnenburg at night, so bring at least 1-2 outer garments or layeres of clothing, in case you need them. I also recommend good walking shoes, both for Dorf Tirol and for Venice, and at least one “dressier” change of clothes for special occasions (concerts, formal dinners).

2. Remember that we will all be guests of the de Rachewiltz family, living at their home which they have opened for us for the time we will be there. Our living conditions will be simple yet comfortable, and for the month, you may want to decide to leave certain kinds of typical American contraptions (hair dryers, electric shavers, etc.) at home. As we have just learned, there is now an Internet connection at the castle itself, so bring computers/printers if you intend to use them for your own writing on site. But it may be difficult to print texts, and computers are not absolutely necessary, if you would rather leave them at home. There are also Internet cafes in nearby Merano and in Venice, and at least one computer for use in Dorf Tirol, for those who want periodically to check email in the village; telephone calls can also be made in the village. Remember to tell your family and friends here that, except for emergencies, they should only call Brunnenburg directly during our lunch hour (1-2:30 pm, Brunnenburg time, which 7-8:30 am EST and 6-7:30 am CST in the U.S.). Otherwise, you may want to purchase a cell phone in Italy, if you think it is worth the cost.

3. Traditionally, visitors to Brunnenburg come bearing modest gifts and poems to show our appreciation of the de Rachewiltz family, so it would be VERY NICE if you can manage to bring something small with you for the family. Often Brunnenburgers bring something unique that represents their home region or city, for instance. Others prefer to bring a literary gift (or even to write and/or perform music for the occasion). You certainly need not bring anything elaborate or expensive. In early July, Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound’s daughter, will be celebrating her 83rd birthday, so it will be especially appropriate to bring something for Mary; we will find an opportunity to wish her a happy birthday during our stay.
In addition, Siegfried de Rachewiltz (Pound’s grandson, known as Sizzo) and Brigitte de Rachewiltz (Sizzo’s wife and our daily chef who is famous for her fabulous cooking) will be our hosts. Sizzo is curator of the Schloss Tirol, the major castle of the South Tirol, and if we ingratiate ourselves to him, he just might give us a tour of Brunnenburg and/or Schloss Tirol; he is the leading expert on the region where we will be living. Sizzo and Brigitte have two sons, Mickey and Nick, in the early twenties, who may also be in residence, so a small family gift might be nice. Finally, Mary’s other child, her daughter Patrizia, an artist and poet who now lives in Holland, may join us during our stay.

4. As soon as possible, do let Jennifer know your travel plans, if you haven’t already, so I will know to look for you at the Munich Airport, at the Cafe Treffpunkt, located directly next to the “Meeting Point” between Concourse B and Concourse C, between 8 am and 2 pm on Monday, June 6. I myself should arrive by noon.

Our objective at Brunnenburg is to work hard and to play hard, as well as to take advantage of the unique benefits of our location, unlike any other you will find. Again, let me know soon if you have concerns. Have a safe trip.

John

John R.O. Gery, Research Professor of English
& Director, Ezra Pound Center for Literature
Department of English
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148-2315

Tags: Brunnenburg by jeni
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I just listened to a story on NPR on How to Pack Everything in One Bag.  Airlines have now limited passengers to one checked item, and one carry on item.  See this NPR article Ode to the Second Checked Bag.  Rules are different for international travel, though, so be sure to check with your particular airline before you go.  I think that some of the tips in this article are good, however, we are going to be away for a full month, which changes things a bit.  I think that it is true, though, that you always want to pack more than you need.  I have been going abroad for the better part of a decade, and  pack less each year.  And I still over pack.  But I know that I over pack.  For the most part, I’m ok with it.  I like having more than three outfits along, and more than one pair of shoes.  But  do think its good to think about what you absolutely HAVE to have, I mean, the bare minimum (keeping in mind that you can do laundry there).  And then add to it what you think you would really like to have.  And then cut that down by half….  I’ll post a list of essentials soon, but in the meantime, I want to introduce you to eBags.

eBags is a website I have been using for a number of years now, in my quest to find the best bag for long haul travel.  For me, I am personally a huge fan of one of eBags own designs, the Mother Lode.  I actually CAN pack a different outfit for 30 days in this bag, which is kind of bad, because then you are really tempted to do that.  Also, fully packed, it will be quite heavy, and right at the weight limit.  However, you won’t need another bag!  I like the rolling duffel because they go down train aisles and bus aisles really well, and if you pack them wisely, you can get so much in them.  And I love the split case feature of the bag, as you can pack shoes and books and such things in the bottom, and don’t have to worry about your shoes - or toiletries - mussing up your clothes.  So anyhow, I am not getting a kickback of any sort from eBags, but I am a fan of the bag (the 25 inch one and the smaller carry on one), so I thought I’d share….

Tags: Brunnenburg, Montpellier, San Miguel by jeni
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Ok, not THAT Gran Prix, the Prix Litteraire, a major French literary award. He just received notice that Three Day Road has tied for first place in this competition, thereby reinforcing his International Bestseller Status.

Commenting on the news of the win, Joseph said, “I’m well on my way to becoming the Jerry Lewis of France.” To which Amanda said, “Or something like that.”

Joseph’s short story collection is also up for an award in France. His new novel is slated for publication this fall, and can be pre-ordered from Penguin Canada.

Here’s Penguin’s description of the book:

From internationally acclaimed author Joseph Boyden comes an astonishingly powerful novel of contemporary aboriginal life, full of the dangers and harsh beauty of both forest and city. When beautiful Suzanne Bird disappears, her sister Annie, a loner and hunter, is compelled to search for her, leaving behind their uncle Will, a man haunted by loss.While Annie travels from Toronto to New York, from modelling studios to A-list parties,Will encounters dire troubles at home. Both eventually come to painful discoveries about the inescapable ties of family. Through Black Spruce is an utterly unforgettable consideration of how we discover who we really are.

I for one can’t wait to read it! And congrats to Joseph on his big win!

Tags: General, San Miguel by jeni
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You’ll get a paper copy of this in your welcome packet, but if any of you are interested, here’s a map of San Miguel.

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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Click here to find out more info on attending AA or 12 Step Meetings in San Miguel….

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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Good news for those of us who have been lugging all sorts of plugs and adapters to Europe - Mexico has the same voltage and plugs as the US.  Which means you can plug that computer right in and it will start charging.  However, I do recommend bringing some three prong adapters and surge protector with you.  All of that should cost less than ten bucks at Wal-Mart (or hopefully you can shop somewhere else and avoid the Wal-Mart beast)….

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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I’ve had several people ask me this, and ‘ve been planning on putting this post up for a while now, but, as I’ sure you can all guess, this is getting to be crunch time for me, so if I’m not posting as much on the blog right now, I promise I’ll make up for it in June! So anyhow, I know you all want to know about the best ways to call home, and to stay in touch with all those loved ones you’ll have to be leaving behind. So, here goes…. There are a number of different options. By far, as always the best option is Skype.

1. Skype is a program you can download to your computer and then make phone calls from one computer to another, anywhere in the world, for FREE. And I do mean its free. The program is free to download, and its free to call any computer anywhere. You can also make calls to any land line or cell phone in the world using this program, although that will cost about 3 cents a minute. The calls are of a very high quality too - no scratchy bottom of the well sounding phone calls. You will need a headset with earphones and a microphone if these things are not built in to your computer, or if you want more privacy.

2. The second best option, in my opinion, is to get a pay as you go cell phone after you get to San Miguel (or where ever you’re going). You can get one of these for about 30 USD, and then put as much money as you like on it over the summer. Rates/plans vary. Some will include free incoming calls, and some will have cheaper call the US rates, so look into it when you get there, if this is something you’re interested in.

3. Your cell phone from the US. Chances are, it will work. But you should turn it off and forget you even have it with you while you are there, as using it will be exorbitantly expensive. If ou do think you want to use your phone, or if you have one of those sleek little iphones, make sure you call your service provider in the US and get an international calling plan befre you go. Without that, you could be paying $3 a min or more. With it, you’re still probably going to be paying a dollar a minute at least. I don’t recommend this option, except for emergencies….

4.  Ekit.  I have used this company a number of times.  They are affiliated with Lonely Planet.  You pay a certain amount, and they give yo a nmber and an access code.  Every country has a number you can call to access their system, and then you get fairly good rates to call anywhere in the world.  They are friendly and easy to work wth, although I should caution yo to check their website and find out what the rates are for the destination you’re going to, as they vary widely, and also, there are often many different access numbers you can use, some of which cost less than others.  The benefits of this are that you can use it from any phone in the world, and you prepay it.  I still keep my account active for those times when I can’t have my computer with me or when I don’t have internet access….

I definitely DO NOT recommend buying one of the expensive worldwide cell phones before you go.  You can always get a cell phone at your destination thats cheaper than those!

Also, I want to encourage everyone not to worry about this too much. You are going to be really busy while you are there, and as much fin as I know we will all have, this isn’t a vacation. So I wouldn’t plan on calling home every night. Of course, you want to stay in touch with everyone, I know, however, I just want everyone to be able to really experience living abroad!

Let me know if y’all have any questions!

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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I am going to paste an introduction from Miss Emily Lupita Plum, one of our Post-Graduates who will be joining us this summer in San Miguel.  Emily has agreed to teach a Spanish Conversation class for us.  This is an informal class usually held over the lunch break and at other odd times during the month there.  Its a good way to brush up on some Spanish skills, and as it takes place over the lunch break, class may even be held at local restaraunts and other places.  So drop by te class and bursh up on your ordering skills!  Also, Emily makes a phrasebook recommendation, and I wholeheartedly second her recommendation - the Lonely Planet phrasebook and guides are exceptional!

Thanks!

Many Greetings!

I’ll be teaching a Spanish conversation class during the noon hour in San Miguel and would like to invite you to join. The class will be focused on beginners, but all levels are welcome. We’re going to concentrate on everyday interactions such as ordering food, shopping, talking about the weather, and asking for directions. It will be fun and relaxed, with lots of speaking practice and no exams. ?

We’ll be using the Lonely Planet Mexican Spanish phrasebook, so please be sure to pick one up before you leave home.

I recommend this book to everyone because it fits in your pocket and has just about everything you need to get around. Click here to find it on Amazon.com.

More details about where & when the class will meet will be given during orientation in San Miguel.

I’m also available for private Spanish tutoring in small groups.

For more information & to contact me, please visit my website: http://www.emilyplum.com

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all this summer in San Miguel de Allende!

~ Emily Lupita Plum

Tags: San Miguel by jeni
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