Instructions
Health, safety and insurance

Health

• Vaccinations
• Health Care Services in Asia

Safety

• Traffic
• Driver's Licence
• Natural disasters

Insurance

Health

Vaccinations
Make sure that your vaccinations are up-to-date before going abroad. In addition to the basic vaccinations (MMR and diphtheria-tetanus), travelers are advised to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B. Other vaccinations are most often optional and their necessity depends on the final destination, the length of the stay and other possible travel destinations. Vaccination matters always depend on the individual, so remember to consult your physician. Inform your doctor if you are planning on spending longer periods of time in rural areas, or if you already know the destinations you'll be visiting, because such matters might affect the vaccinations you need.

Some vaccinations can also be bought in Asia and they might be cheaper there than in your home country (e.g. Japanese encephalitis and Malaria), but keep in mind that it might take a while for the immunity to develop. Ask your doctor for more information.

Health Care Services in Asia
In Asia, especially in the larger cities and touristic areas, health care services are of Western standards and most hospitals have employees who speak fluent English.

Most common illnesses that travelers encounter are stomach flu, dehydration and cold caused by the excessive use of air conditioning. It’s easy to avoid these by taking care of hand hygiene, choosing your restaurants carefully, drinking enough fluids (bottled water and sports drinks) and not turning the AC on too high. Tropical countries also have some more exotic illnesses and the local health care providers will have the best knowledge about them.

In Asia, there are more non-prescription medications available at pharmacies than in most European countries. The pharmacy staff can also help find a cure for the most common tourist illnesses.

Safety

AE’s partner universities are located either in big cities or more exotic locations. In general, the locations in Asia are very safe and violence is rare, especially towards foreigners. Mutual respect of people is important. Greatest threats are caused by heavy traffic, which can be quite different from what students are used to in their home countries.

Traffic
Many Asian countries have left-hand traffic, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it. Traffic culture is different from Europe and USA and it seems like chaos to begin with. Despite all this, the traffic flows according to its own rules. Traffic jams are a part of everyday life, but in larger cities metros and sky trains help ease the traffic.

Especially in Bali and Phuket, scooters are a popular form of transportation. Many exchange students choose to ride a scooter, even if they have some doubts to begin with. Students have only had a few minor accidents, but you can never be too careful in traffic. If you do choose to ride a scooter, proceed at your own pace and remember to always remain calm and alert while riding.

Driver’s License
Riding a scooter or motorcycle or driving a car abroad most often requires either a local driver’s license or an international driver’s license. You can get a local license from the authorities at your exchange location, while an international license can be acquired in your own home country.

Not all travelers have acquired either of the above-mentioned licenses. This could, however, cause difficulties in receiving compensation from the insurance company in the case of a traffic accident.

Acquiring a driver’s license is recommended mainly for two reasons:
• The local authorities expect drivers to have a local or an international driver’s license and they might give a fine to drivers who don’t have either one.

• In the case of possible accidents, drivers may be expected to present an appropriate driver’s license to both the authorities as well as their own insurance company. Not having a driver’s license may affect how much your insurance company is willing to cover in case of injuries or material damages.

Ask your insurance company for more information regarding driving abroad.

Natural Disasters
One possible cause of worry for students and their families can be the different natural disasters, which sometimes take place in Asia. However, it’s important to keep in mind that as a continent, Asia is very large and if an earthquake takes place e.g. in Sumatra, Indonesia, it’s as far away from Bali as England is from Russia. Bali is not located on the boundaries of tectonic plates and earthquakes and volcano eruptions are very uncommon in the area.

Insurance

Every exchange student is required to make sure that their insurance policies are in order before going abroad. Ask your insurance company about the kind of traveler’s insurance they offer and whether or not it can be combined affordably with, say, home insurance. If you’re planning on participating in extreme sports, such as diving, surfing, bungee jumping, rock climbing, hang-gliding or parachuting, remember to ask which activities your insurance policy will cover. Most often traveler’s insurance does not cover extreme sports and additional insurance policies can be quite expensive.

You can ask your insurance company whether they have agreements with any of the hospitals at your exchange destination. If they do, the hospital can bill your insurance company directly when you show them your traveler’s insurance card. You can also pay for the medical bills yourself and have them reimbursed after you return home.

You might also want to consider flight cancellation insurance for your airline tickets, because most airlines will only allow you to cancel your flights with a doctor’s certificate.