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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA ADVISORY INFORMAITON FOR VISITING FACULTY AND STAFFYerevan, Armenia June 2004 Before Leaving Before Leaving Specific travel guidelines can be found in the General Terms and Conditions section of your contract. Health and Immunization guidelines Ordering textbooks Complete and accurate information will greatly facilitate the processing of your order (title, author, ISBN number, edition and the year of the publication). Normal delivery time for textbooks from the US to Armenia is 6 weeks. Shipping of personal effects Health Insurance Packing Tips List of things to pack: Photographic Equipment: Although one can find most European or American brand camera accessories and lenses in Yerevan, bring anything special for your cameras. Batteries are available in the city but much harder to find outside the city. Bring protective cover for your camera as Armenia is dry and dusty in the long summer days and very cold in the winter. Photo processing is inexpensive in Armenia and the quality of print is excellent. Check with AUA staff or more experienced colleagues for the best print shops around AUA or in town. Processing of slides is unavailable through most shops. Faculty who have located someone able to process slides have been very disappointed with the results: poor mounting, inaccurate colors caused by inadequate control of processing chemistry, and fingerprints, dust, and scratches on the slides. Although processing and printing for normal print film can be as good as the best US one-hour shop, the negatives are handled roughly, returned without any protective sleeves or rolled up in a plastic film canister. It is very likely that they will be scratched due to this handling. Fingerprints and excessive dust are also common. Print quality is typically good because of the prevalence of new automatic processors, but if you are a serious photographer concerned about archiving your work you may want to consider having your film processed at a trusted shop in the US. The availability of fresh film in Yerevan is good for typical consumer choices (Fuji or Kodak print film), but if you have a specific preference (such as one of the Kodak Portra print films) or would like to shoot slides or black and white then you should plan to bring the film with you. Packing film in check-on baggage is not advisable because US and European airports are now using very high-powered X-ray equipment that is likely to fog even a low ISO film. The use of effective lead-lined bags to protect the film is equally problematic: one faculty member packed film in a lead-lined bag that was opaque to the X-ray machines and was called to the security room in the airport to open the bag so that it could be hand searched. Under current policies the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) would open (forcibly if necessary) the luggage without your presence. Hand carrying film, therefore, is a better option. In the experience of our faculty who bring their own film, the x-ray scanners used for carry-on baggage do not damage film packed in the commercially available X-ray pouches. Although some travel guides recommend that you request hand inspection of film at security checkpoints, this is often not allowed in European airports. Digital photography is an excellent alternative to film, and there are a variety of shops in Yerevan that will produce high quality digital prints for a low cost. The risk of damage to the “negative” in this case is non-existent. As of June 2004, the cost of a 30x40 cm print (approximately 16”x12”) was about $6. Flashlights (with spare batteries): pocket size, to carry with you at all times for unexpected power outages, and one powerful enough to use around the house. The electricity is occasionally cut off with no warning. In addition, the stairways in apartment buildings and the sidewalks off of main streets are often dimly lit. Eyeglasses: Bring a second pair and/or your prescription. Eyeglasses are available locally and are generally OK for simple prescriptions. Contact Lens: If you wear contact lenses, bring all necessary accessories for them. Cleaning solutions and saline solution are not locally available. Personal Hygiene products: Most Western brands are widely available in the mini-markets around town. Prices are comparable to the US and, occasionally, cheaper. Certain things like mouthwash, special types of shampoo, shaving cream and so on are either hard to find or very expensive, even by US standards. Prescription Medicine: Bring all your prescription drugs with spares. Have them, along with spare clothing and valuables in your carry on in case luggage is delayed or lost. There are pharmacies on every corner, and many "prescription" drugs are available over-the-counter, but make sure to consult with AUA clinic staff and proper physicians before purchasing anything. Food and non-food items: One key factor to keep in mind: bring anything you or your family cannot live without. You can easily manage for the rest. Some suggestions are: peanut butter, maple syrup, artificial sweetener and instant oatmeal (if these are items your family uses). Weather and clothing requirements Spring (March - May) 50os-80os- Pleasant jacket weather, sometimes wet, usually
sunny. AUA classrooms are air conditioned as are some restaurants, but apartments are not. Faculty Services can supply you with a fan should your apartment not have one. Bring light cotton pants/skirts and shirts and Tees. Jeans and sports wear are widely common for walking around town and for excursions. The locals frown upon men wearing shorts, but women seem to get away with it during sight seeing trips and picnics. Local women prefer casual pants for these occasions. Don’t forget to pack a few sets of upscale casual clothing (suits for men) for official functions, receptions, celebrations, the symphony and the opera. Make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes (sneakers are a good idea) because you will be doing a great deal of that both in and around town and touring the country. Don’t plan on buying shoes in Armenia as comfort is regularly sacrificed for what’s fashionable and stylish. European made shoes are very expensive. Armenia has a continental climate, similar to that of the US plains states. Winters are cold, with moderate amounts of snow, and summers are hot and dry. Although the climate is not more extreme than in many US cities, the lack of adequate heating in most buildings heightens the sense of cold. The district heating formerly supplying steam radiators throughout Yerevan is defunct. Most faculty apartments are heated by old radiators converted for use with an electric heating element or by space heaters. Throughout the city, the burning of wood and other materials in stoves is common and causes winter air pollution. The AUA building is heated during the winter months and is generally comfortable. Although the World Bank has funded the re-installation of natural gas lines in parts of the city, for now it is best to assume that electricity will be the heating source in your apartment and the monthly bill will be from $40-80 depending on use. In any case, bring warm clothing. Airline luggage requirements Monetary Issues One US dollar is equivalent to about 545-555 Armenian Drams. Although the most practical and convenient way to do business in Armenia is
by cash, the major hotels and some of the restaurants have recently started
accepting Visa and MasterCard (and EuroCard in some locations). ATM machines
are available for 24 hours in the lobby of the main HSBC bank near Republic
Square and at the entrance of the HSBC Komitas Street branch. There are also
an ATM machine on Abovyan Street, opposite the ArtBridge Café, next to
the Metro Yeritasardakan station, and on the intersection of Mashtots and Moscovian
Streets, near the Opera building. Although you will be met by AUA personnel at the airport in Armenia, carry
with you single dollar bills for porters and helpers when the need arises. Upon Arrival To get from the plane to the parking lot & the AUA driver can be an adventure. Here’s what to expect. As you descend from your plane, you will encounter a number of people on the tarmac holding up name cards. Don’t panic if you don’t see your name-it won’t be there. Follow the crowd inside to the immigration officer’s booth and stay in whatever line that has already formed. Not everyone on your plane will be heading for the immigration officer’s booth first, as they will need to go to the visa window to obtain a visa. Because you already have your visa, ignore this line. The visa window is clearly marked so there should be no confusion on your part. Armenian culture ignores the value of queuing into a line. Other passengers will try to cut you off. Officers and personnel do not speak English but there will always be an English speaking Armenian passenger who will help you if and when the need arises. After passing through immigration, head down the few steps to the luggage conveyer belts. You may note AUA’s driver holding the sign with you name behind the big windows, where people meeting their relatives are crowded, before you step down to the luggage conveyer area. Do not worry if you do not see your name—the driver will meet you at the exit point. There are signs over each conveyer belt with your flight number but it is probably easiest to look for other passengers and wait with them. Because of the slow traffic at that time of the night, only one of the conveyors will be working, and that would, in all probability, be yours. Waiting for your bags might take as long as 30 minutes (occasionally longer). There are luggage carts available for the use of the passengers that come with and without porter for a nominal charge. The fees are posted in Armenian dram, which of course, you won’t have. Expect to pay 800 dram, approx. $1.50, for a cart and 2500 dram, approx. $4.50, with a porter. These prices are subject to change and you might be charged $2 and $5 respectively since they will use a different exchange rate and don’t carry change. Use your discretion for tipping since you only need help to get through customs-a short walk away. Keep your baggage claim checks handy as you leave the luggage carousel. Someone will compare the claim checks with the luggage tags and then will take the claim check from you. If you have a problem with your luggage, this is the time to find the airline representative and file a claim form. They generally hang out around the luggage carousel in case of any problems. Customs has a green channel and a red channel: go through the green channel unless a custom’s official tells you otherwise. Exiting the customs area, you will be mobbed by cab drivers and people looking for their loved ones. Refuse any offers of help. The AUA driver with his sign will help you get everything to his vehicle. They will take you directly to your apartment. AUA and most apartments are about 20 minutes from the airport. If your experience through the airport varies significantly from this scenario, please let Faculty Services know so they can update this brochure. There is a new airport manager and many changes have been implemented. Resist the urge to change money at the airport. The exchange rate is awful. The porters will be more than happy to take your dollar bills and you won’t need dram until you go to the local markets. The AUA’s driver will assist you in loading and unloading your luggage at the airport and at your apartment. Due to health and safety concerns as well as consistency with airline regulations, AUA drivers are not permitted to lift/carry items over 32 kgs (70 pounds). If you plan to arrive/depart with baggage in excess of 32Kg/70lbs, please inform the Associate Director of Administrative Services (apetrosi@aua.am) in advance so as appropriate arrangements can be made. AUA will assess a fee of 14USD for this service in addition to airlines charges. Your welcome packet Your apartment The administration strives to find and equip appropriate apartments for visiting faculty and staff. While the apartments we procure are among the best that AUA budget can afford, they might not completely meet your expectations. Apartments provided by the University are furnished and have basic kitchen facilities, utensils, and bedding. Usually, the amount and quality of towels leave much to be desired. Bring some along with you or plan to purchase additional locally. AUA provides every new faculty member with 20 kg of propane for cooking. AUA will help you refill the propane tank (please contact the Faculty Services Coordinators), at your expense. In winter, the University can provide you with an electric heater. The University has rented your apartment on your behalf. You are responsible for the furniture and other household goods. Please maintain the apartment as you would your own home and notify Faculty Services of any problems or complaints. If you do not find your apartment adequate, Faculty Services can help you relocate. You will need to pay any additional rent monies above the AUA apartment allowance out of your own funds. In addition, you will need to pay for your utilities: water, propane, natural gas (if available), electric, and telephone. Electricity Water Although AUA has water 24 hours a day, most of the population in Armenia does not. Be considerate and conserve water whenever possible at private homes, and expect little water in public buildings. In homes, many people have water tanks or keep water “stored” in bathtubs for use. Usually there is a bucket then for “flushing” the toilet, if you’re not sure how a system works you can always ask. Just be aware that water is a valuable commodity here. Water tank(s) with heating elements are installed in all AUA-rented apartments availing tenants to take a shower. These tanks also feed the toilet tube. How to get to AUA Orientation Armen will also set up a time for you to take a tour of Yerevan and go grocery shopping & exchange money. During your first week, a driver will be available to bring you to/from AUA, take you shopping, etc. Please make arrangements with Faculty Services. Registering at your embassy Related links |
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