Richard Violanti: 11/10-11/15/2015

On Tour Organization Communication & Flexibility Responsibilities & Discipline Educational Content Follow Up Session Goals: On Tour Presentation

What do I have with me? -Copies of Passports (I keep three: one digital, one hard copy, one at home with school) -Copy of ALL itineraries. Give to all chaperones. -Emergency Cards, Prescriptions. (Digital) -Allergies, medication list TO ALL CHAPERONES.

1. One line, you at head. Kiosks will be used, one chaperone at each to ensure smooth check in. 2. Students set watch ahead to destination time…prepare NOW for day Stress need for sleep on flight. DAY 2! 4. Before departure, go over “Airplane Etiquette” (page 4 & 5) 5. Seats are ASSIGNED. Only switches are allowed after all are seated, AND—if convenient. 6. You have told them about layers & airplane clothes. 7. Make sure carry-on contains necessities (medications) and one day’s change of clothing. May be needed !

You have arrived…welcome to day 2! 1.Students will be tired, so will you. 2.Claim luggage, work through customs. You LAST. Send most trusted chaperone through first. 3.Use bathrooms, set a time limit. 4.Meet Tour Director (you have already planned by with him/her) Show excitement!! Let them know you are excited to meet them! (Gift?)

 YOU are a guest. YOU are the “foreigner”. ALWAYS maintain your behavior as a citizen of the United States of America. European cultural ways will be different than ours. THEY ARE CORRECT. IT IS THEIR HOME. Things to remember as you visit their cultures:  a.You may be the person who influences someone’s opinion of the United States. Make it a good opinion that is created.  b. NEVER speak louder than a 6 inch voice in public.  c.When someone is addressing the group on the bus or in a tour setting you need to be SILENT.  d. Always assume that the person you are addressing cannot speak English. It is THEIR home; they have no obligation to know our language. A few helpful phrases in the native language may take you a long way in dealing with a vendor, waiter, etc. “Good Morning, do you speak English?” is an excellent phrase to learn in any language.

Bathrooms. Prepare them!

Positive Attitudes. Travel induces many emotions from many people. It is normal to have the following feelings: tired, frustrated, irritable, scared, homesick, hot, cold, hungry, sore, annoyed. I ask that when these feelings strike you (and they will) to remember that everyone else is in the same situation. They will pass. Please don’t take your “bad” moments and force others into that place. I promise you…they will disappear. Instead of allowing those negative emotions to dominate your day, I ask you to take the following steps in your head: 1.) Breathe. 2.)Remember you have waited with excitement for a year and a half to get here! If you allow negative emotion to dominate your thoughts, it escalates to a point where the beauty of Europe will be ignored. Don’t do that to yourself, and certainly don’t do that to others. Force good things into your thoughts, the negative emotion will pass. You will sleep, eat, rest, laugh and smile again. Nothing is so bad that it won’t get better quickly. Fight through it with positive emotion and always remember the joy of your trip.

Positive Attitudes… …

 Many items need to be addressed BEFORE the tour. (Hotels, Meals, Costs). Planning ahead will reduce the possibility of stress, and allow you to reinforce these ideas while on tour.  Breakfast, Dinner Included. STRESS THIS.  Do you have special diet? Include this in PRE-Tour Preparation. (Gluten? Tree Nuts? Vegan?)  Dinner time: Soda not usually included. Wine? Beer?  Free time costs money! (snack, museums, gifts)  Free time: Supervised? Groups?  PUNCTUALITY IS IMPORTANT! On time is 5 minutes early. Delays are cumulative!

Experience all, including REST

Talk and communicate with T.D. (Nightly meeting) Side trips? Maximize tour. If consolidated, talk with other Group Leaders! Communicate with parents back home…BUT—do not promise constant contact. Know emergency contact #’s with EF. When calling, have DETAIL. Remind.com

 Collection of Tip Money (Director, Busses, Local Guides, Transfers) TAKES PLACE BEFORE LEAVING. Be Organized, exact.  Rooming Lists done on tour. Have “mock” lists ready.  Curfew is IMPORTANT. Set times, stick to them.  Tape rooms? Monitors? LET THEM KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.  WAKE UP. Calls AND door knocks! Questions I had 10 years ago…. -Passports? -When and How do I tip? -What if something goes wrong? (P.S…..It will.)

 SOMETHING will occur that you did not plan for.  Flights, Passports, Strikes, traffic, food, hotels, weather.  Handle it. Privately, THEN give the solution.  The group will take on YOUR demeanor. YOU are the face they look to.  Chaperone choices.

Be Creative!!

Be Organized!