World Race Country Guides

Japan

Safety

Safety in Japan
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

1. We had no issues with safety. Ashiya is a very nice area. Japanese people probably aren’t going to steal your stuff. 🙂
2. Japan is super safe – I felt more safe here than I do in most major cities in the US!

Health

CDC Travelers Health | Japan

Health in Japan
Any special health concerns?

People’s Opinions

1. I had to go to the clinic one day because I was in a lot of pain. We found that most places were expensive and most didn’t speak English. We were able to bike to a local clinic where the doctor spoke English. It was the Kawano Medical Clinic in Ashiya, only the doctor spoke English, but he was very helpful.
   Here’s the website: http://kawanonaika.com/english.html
2. Clean and sanitary, if anything the Japanese are more concerned about health and cleanliness than Racers usually are so it’s important to respect them by keeping clean. Daily showers are expected and you should take advantage of the hot water! Also, heated toilet seats are awesome. As is getting to drink water out of the tap!
3. Japan is a very clean and sanitary place so, don’t be frightened by all the masks that the Japanese wear, this is a cultural norm. They are worn for things such as coughs, runny noses to more extreme cases of colds.

Visa Info

U.S. State Dept Visa Info | Japan

Visa Info in Japan
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:

People’s Opinions

1. There was no cost for the visa. You do need to have an address and if you are staying with a host family make sure you have the family name with you, some of us were asked…

Currency Info

Currency Info in Japan
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?

People’s Opinions

1. The only place you can use a foreign card to pull money out of an ATM is at a 7/11, and the smallest denomination you can pull is ¥10000, roughly $100. The vast majority of places also will only take cash, not a card, so it’s a good idea to pull money out first thing when you get here.
2. Yen the exchange rate is 100:1 so its simple to know how much you are spending!We didn’t exchange money but you can at the airport but we just got the money out of the ATM its easiest but most of them only allow you to pull out a minimum of $100
   

Communication

Communication in Japan
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

1. Our squad also used wifi for communication since SIM cards are so expensive.Side note, wifi out and about really isn’t a thing (surprisingly enough) so don’t expect most coffee shops/cafes to have wifi you can use. Host homes usually have it, and places like McDonald’s or Starbucks.
2. Our squad also used wifi for communication since SIM cards are so expensive.Side note, wifi out and about really isn’t a thing (surprisingly enough) so don’t expect most coffee shops/cafes to have wifi you can use. Host homes usually have it, and places like McDonald’s or Starbucks.
3. Nobody was given a SIM card this month. Wifi was our only source of communication.

Transportation

Transportation in Japan
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

1. If you’re serving in Ashiyahama you’ll more than likely walk to and from ministry. If you can take a bike, do so because it will get you from point A to B a lot quicker. Ashiya is a beautiful city and fun to bike through.Trains stations to and from Osaka and Kobe are relatively straightforward and there are several stations right in the area. It costs about ¥270 each way.
2. Where we were on the mountain in Nishinomiya, it was about a mile walk down the hill to the train station. Getting to Kyoto cost about $5 each way, getting to downtown Osaka is anywhere from $3-$5 depending on where you’re trying to go. The train stations are really easy to navigate, and Google maps will give you great directions on what trains you need to take to get anywhere.Another cultural note, trains here are quiet and it’s expected that you will be quiet as well. So out of respect, it’s important to keep your voice down and not get loud/rowdy even out in public.
   
3. You will walk most places, but the trains are not too expensive if needed. I lived with host families who let me borrow their bikes, too, so that was very useful.
   
4. More often than not walking will be your best form of transportation. If you choose not too the bus typically cost anywhere between 120-200 yen and for the train the same.
   

Culture

Culture in Japan
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?

People’s Opinions

1. The culture is all about honor and respect. Be sure to always take your shoes off before entering a home. It’s also really important to have a small gift to take when going to to a family’s home for dinner or for any activity. Especially if that family is not Christian. Perhaps it’s a good idea to keep something small and non perishable with you at all times just in case you get in a bind. But be prepared to get your face blessed off with service and generosity. Japanese people are awesome!
   

Shipping / Mailing

DHL | Japan

Shipping / Mailing in Albania
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?

Tips

People’s Opinions

1. Use discretion when taking clothing to a laundry mat. Some of our team sent their clothes to a cleaners and had to pay $8 (USD) a person. (They had originally been told a lower price.) Some of their clothes also came back shrunk. It would probably be best to do laundry where your contact suggests and not to try to find a place on your own.
   

Additional Info

Additional Info in Japan
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?

1. Exploring nearby cities Osaka and Kobe (we stayed in Ashiya) is what we did on off days, along with exploring Kyoto and the temples there. All are about 30 minutes away by train, costing 270 Yen each way. There are fun things to do each place, like going to the top of the Westin in Osaka for a 360 view of Osaka.

Ireland

Safety

•   Ireland has a low rate of violent crime.
•  According to the Irish Central Statistics Office, although there has been a marked
  drop in most categories of recorded crime, there was an increase in theft, fraud, and
  public-order offenses in the last few years.
•  There have been a limited number of assaults on foreigners and tourists, including
  violence toward members of racial minority groups.
•  There have also been several reported assaults in Dublin by small, unorganized
  gangs roaming the streets in the early morning hours after the pubs close, and a high
  incidence of petty crime in major tourist areas—mostly theft, burglary, and pursesnatching.
•  Thieves target rental cars and tourists, particularly in the vicinity of tourist attractions.
•  In some cases, purse- and bag-snatching have involved physical assault or violence,
  especially in Dublin. Take extra caution to guard your passports and wallet.
•  Do not leave your drinks unattended at bars/restaurants, as there have been some
  instances of drinks being spiked with illegal substances, leading to incidents of
  robbery and sexual assaults.

Safety in Ireland

What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Health

CDC Travelers Health | Ireland

Health in Ireland

Any special health concerns?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Visa Info

U.S. State Dept Visa Info | Ireland

Visa Info in Ireland

Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Currency Info

Currency Info in Ireland

Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Communication

Communication in Ireland

Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Transportation

Transportation in Ireland

What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Culture

• Greeting: Men and women usually shake hands when greeting one another.
  Handshakes are usually on the firmer side and don’t linger much. Hugs are
  acceptable for someone you are very close to.

• Religion: The Catholic church has played an important role in Ireland’s cultural and
  political history, and has shaped the values of the people and laws of the land.

• Tipping: Taxi drivers are generally tipped 10 percent of the total fare as a tip. At
  restaurants, a service charge of 10 to 15 percent is often included on the bill (if not, a
  10 to 15 percent tip is standard depending on the quality of service). Bartenders at
  pubs customarily do not expect tips.
• Language: The Irish government enacted a law outlawing the English language on

  road signs and official maps in Ireland’s most distant western regions, called the

  Gaeltacht. The law is meant to promote the use of the Gaelic language. Areas

  affected by the law include western parts of Counties Cork, Donegal Galway, Kerry

  and Mayo, as well as Gaelic-speaking pockets of County Waterford (located in

  southeast Ireland) and County Meath (located northwest of Dublin). Thousands of

  formerly bilingual road signs have been changed to Irish only, which may cause

  confusion for tourists visiting the area.

Culture in Ireland

Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments
   

Shipping / Mailing

DHL | Ireland

Shipping / Mailing in Ireland

Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?

Tips

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Additional Info

Additional Info in Ireland

Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?

Jamaica

Safety

Safety in Jamaica
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

1. We were in the Castleton district. It was very safe. There is a high population of men, so it is preferred to walk in groups of two to three. Other than that it was a very safe community.
   

Health

Health in Jamaica
Any special health concerns?

People’s Opinions

1. If you need to go to the doctor in Tirana there is a clinic that works a lot with missionaries and they speak great English. Cost of an appointment ranges from 7USD to 25USD.Address: ABC Health Foundation
   Rruga “Qemal Stafa” Nr., TiraneClinic: +355(0)42234105
   Mail: healthcenter@abchealth.org
   Web: www.abchealth.org
   
2. My team was doing Unsung Heroes in the city of Pogradec when one of our team mates needed to go to the doctor. A contact connected us with a Christian doctor in the area who speaks great English. The cost up front was only 15 USD and there is a pharmacy around the corner where you can fill any prescriptions.Dr. Klajdi Vampa Clinic: +069 235 01 01 
   Address: Sheshi “Gjimnazi” 
   Pall. Reja 
   Prane Teatrit te Kukullave 
   Pogradec

Visa Info

Visa Info in Jamaica
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:

People’s Opinions

1. We did not need a visa for Jamaica. Upon entering we were questioned pretty heavily, so just be prepared and all should be well.

Currency Info

Currency Info in Jamaica
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?

People’s Opinions

1. The Jamaican dollar is the currency. The conversion was $1 USD = $128 Jamaican dollars. There is an abundance of ATMs at the airport. Depending on where you are going for the month, this may be the best and safest place for withdrawing money.

Communication

Communication in Jamaica
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

Transportation

Transportation in Jamaica
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

1. We entered the country by plane from the Dominican Republic. Through the rest of the month we used our ministry host’s contact Tevin as a driver. He had a passenger van that worked perfectly for our two teams. Public transport was always available, and ranged about $150 Jamaican dollar one way to Kingston which was about an hour away.

Culture

Culture in Jamaica
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?

People’s Opinions

1. It is very common to see Albanians walking around holding hands or linking arms with members of hte same sex. This is just a cultural thing, it is not an indication of homosexuality. Albanians are warm people and will usually greet you with a handshake, and, once acquainted with you, a kiss (or air kiss) on each cheek starting with the left cheek.Women will usually dress nice to go out of the house and will rarely leave the house without lipstick.You will get invited to have a “coffee” – this can be anything that is available at any of the myriad coffee bars around.Family ties are very strong. It is very rare for a young person to openly defy their parents or older relatives, especially in the village settings. Particulalry in the north of Albania there is almost a tribal mentality. The extended family is called the “fis” (pronounced “feece”) and people are fiercely loyal to their fis.There are still active blood feuds in the north. Families involved in a blood feud (or “under blood”) will keep their male members in hiding. It is estimated that some 300 families are under blood at this time. Any male member of a family in a blood feud is a target if they are out in public. As long as they stay in their homes they are safe. Outsiders are safe from danger, although I would not recommend going out in public with someone who is involved in a blood feud.
   

Shipping / Mailing

Shipping / Mailing in Jamaica
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?

Tips

People’s Opinions

Additional Info

U.S. Embassy Kingston

142 Old Hope RoadKingston 6Jamaica, West Indies

Telephone: +(876) 702-6000

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(876) 702-6000

Fax: +(876) 702-6018

CONSULATES

U.S. Consular Agent – Montego BayWhitter Village, IronshoreUnit EU-1 (across from Burger King)Montego Bay, Jamaica

Telephone: +(876) 953-0620

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica: +(876) 702-6000

Fax: +(876) 953-3898

Public Hours are M-F, from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Additional Info in Jamaica
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?

Israel

Safety

Safety in Israel
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Health

CDC Travelers Health | Israel

Health in Israel
Any special health concerns?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Visa Info

U.S. State Dept Visa Info | Israel

Visa Info in Israel
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Currency Info

Currency Info in Israel
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Communication

Communication in Israel
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Transportation

Transportation in Israel
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Culture

Culture in Israel
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?

People’s Opinions

1. Comments
   

Shipping / Mailing

DHL | Israel

Shipping / Mailing in Israel
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?

Tips

People’s Opinions

1. Comments

Additional Info

Additional Info in Israel
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?