Clothes: You should use all the time really comfortable clothes, and that are not very warm. Should be clothes with light colors that dry quickly. Light colors tend to be less attractive to the mosquitoes than dark colors. The following list is just a recommendation for things to take to the field.

6-7 T-shirts
1-2 Long sleeve shirts (Nylon is best)
1 Fleece or jacket. (The temperature won't be below 65 degrees, but since we will be in the field, you should have warm things to wear, especially at night, or if we do some camping.)
1 Rain coat (It will be the rainy season, so expect to get wet almost daily)
2 Long pants (Nylon is best)
1 Pair of tall rubber boots (Recommended to have for long walks in the forest, optional for short walks)
2 Pair of shoes, sneakers recommended (Not fancy!!)
1 Pair of sandals
2-3 Shorts
1 Swimming suit
Underwear
1 Towel
1 Cap or hat

Other stuff to bring:

1 Small backpack (for daily hikes)
2 Large ziplock or just impermeable bags (10-15 lits.)
1 Flashlight (with 2-3 sets of batteries)
1 Pocket-knife
1 Canteen and/or water bottle
1-2 Field books (for your field notes, waterproof recommended)
2-3 Pencils
1-2 Books (your favorites)
1 Magnifying hand lens (10 X is OK)
Sunscreen (#15)
Mosquito repellent (Cream is softer for your skin. If you use the traditional spray or liquid repellents, you should be aware that these may split or damage any plastic item. You may also use Vit. B12 mixed with Nivea cream.)
Soap, shampoo, etc.
1 Hard brush and 1 bar of soap (for washing your clothes)

The best thing to do is to carry everything in a big backpack or duffel bag, since we will be taking all our stuff to the field. Hard cases are not recommended.

Once we get down there, everything may be placed into plastic bags, in order to avoid getting it wet.

You may also bring some extra gadgets like Walkman, camera, and tapes, but Walkmans are strictly banned in the field. You may use them only at the camp. Anything else that you think is worth bringing with you, just take it, but be sure that it all fits in only one bag.

No shots are required to enter the country. Moreover, the area that we will be visiting doesn't have any "weird tropical" disease. However, you should take the Yellow fever and Tetanus shots. You may have been recommended to take Hepatitis B shots, Typhoid, and Malaria pills. However, there are no such diseases in the camp area, but eventually we may visit some areas where there may be Malaria. You should bring your own general medicines such as Tylenol or Aspirin, some kind of general antibiotic (explain to the Doctor that you are going on a trip and they will give you a prescription), something against stomach-ache, and any other thing you think you should have. Medicines like "Kaopectate" since some diarrhea may occur due to changes in food. Some people have had problems with athletes foot in the past, so you should also buy some anti-fungal. We will take care of a bigger first aid kit.

A life vest will be given to everyone in the camp. You will be responsible for taking care of it and using it during the canoe trips. You have to keep it in good shape and return it by the end of the course.

While in urban areas, especially in Caracas, do not go out without your passport. Venezuelan laws require you to carry your ID (passport) all the time. All your expenses in Venezuela, and the plane ticket from the USA to Caracas are paid for by the program. However you should bring some money with you because there will be a couple of meals on the road, or in Caracas, that you might have to pay for. Also consider the amount of money you want to spend on gifts or souvenirs. Around [$300-$400] should be enough.

It is important to have at least $30 US before leaving Venezuela to pay the airport tax (which is $26 US).

Every participant must buy at least 10 dried food packages (each equivalent to one or two meals).

In the camp, we will be unable to receive regular phone calls, but while in Caracas, phone cards can be used to call the USA (Sprint, MCI, or AT&T), just be sure to have the 1-800 number in Venezuela of your phone company.

It will be possible to receive and send emails from the camp. The system will be able to receive messages with NO MORE THAN 1 PAGE and NO ATTACHMENTS. The emails have to be sent to this address: yutaje@cornell.edu

If your friends or relatives need to contact you in case of an EMERGENCY, they can email Dr. Fabian I. Michelangeli, Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, and/or Ms. Gisela Rey (Fundacion Terramar) in Caracas.

May 28, 1998