Pre-Trip Information

Documentation and Essential Carry On Items

You will need to have your boarding pass, passport, and visa in hand when you board the plane.

Bring photocopies of your credit cards, passport and visa, and other important personal information. Leave copies with your family or emergency contact.

It’s also recommended to have UNO’s emergency contact information with you, and leave a copy at home with your family or emergency contacts.

Lastly, pack in your carry on bag any prescription medicine. One nonessential item you may want to have is a sweater/jacket as planes typically are cold during flight.

Arrival and Orientation in the U.S.

Upon arrival at the Epply airport in Omaha, you will be welcomed by a member of UNO’s YSEALI team. You’ll need to claim your baggage and escort you to the hotel. Orientation will be the first day of the program. It will include an introduction to key staff, overview of the program including a detailed schedule, campus tour, and other fun activities.

More About UNO and Omaha

The University of Nebraska Omaha is Nebraska's metropolitan university with strong academic values and significant relationships with our community. UNO consists of two campuses: Dodge Campus and Scott Campus. You can orient yourself to UNO through this webpage with campus maps. You will receive a tour of the campus and have many opportunities to see different parts of Omaha.

Omaha is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It's a special place in the Midwest full of history, culture, and opportunity. Learn about ongoing events at the City of Omaha website.

Housing

You will be staying at Sonesta ES Suites, located walking distance from UNO Dodge campus. Each participant will reside in an apartment-style loft, which includes two bedrooms (one with a king-sized bed and another with two double beds), two bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchen, and a common room with a flat-screen television with cable. View a full list of amenities.

Photos courtesy of Sonesta ES Suites website.

Your address will be:

(Your Name Here)
Sonesta ES Suites
6990 Dodge Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68132
USA

You will also stay in a variety of hotels and one homestay during field study overnight trips. You will share a room with one other fellow during each hotel stay outside of Omaha.

Meals

Your hotel room will be fully-equipped with kitchen supplies and cooking appliances, including a refrigerator, microwave, oven, stove, pots and pans, and serving utensils. Program staff and student mentors will assist with grocery shopping. There is also shopping within walking distance on the hotel. The hotel also offers a grocery shopping service, which allows you to order your grocery and have them delivered to your room.

In addition, Sonesta ES Suites offers a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning, as well as other dining options. View Omaha restaurants.

There will be some organized, group meals that we will have together such as some scheduled luncheons. Some meals (aside from breakfast) will be independent meals. You will receive funds to pay for your own food for independent meal times. Some fellows decide to buy groceries and make their own meals, while others go out to eat.

The Milo Bail Student Center, located on the UNO campus, is available for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. We will also host catered meals and enjoy local restaurants when touring Omaha and attending events off-campus.

Money

You will also receive a cash stipend to pay for food, snacks, and cultural activities like movie tickets and event entrance fees. Full details on financial arrangements will be provided during the program orientation.

If you have an ATM card or credit card you plan to use in the U.S., contact the company in advance to alert them of your card use internationally. Western Union is not always accessible, so you should not plan on having family send you money during the program.

Transportation

Many of your sessions will be held on the UNO campus, less than a 10-minute walk from your room. Bus transportation will be reserved for program sessions held off campus. Omaha has a metro bus that is free for you as a UNO student, view the bus routes and schedules here.

We will also offer periodic transportation to nearby grocery stores, especially following your arrival.

Suggested Packing List

Above all, pack lightly! Among the items you may wish to include are:

Official Documents. Your passport and visa information, as well as two copies in case the original is lost (we suggest you also leave a copy at home). Prescriptions for medications, glasses, contacts, etc. International student identification (ID) card and or university student ID (we will provide you with a UNO ID upon arrival). Two extra passport photos.

Weather. This spring we are expecting the weather to vary. You'll find in Nebraska that the temperature can range widely from highs of 7 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees Celsius during the day, and lows of -5 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius at night.

View a daily forecast (though subject to change).

Clothing. Be sure to pack a jacket and even a sweater, hat, gloves, and an umbrella though these items can also be purchased here if needed. You should pack casual clothing for classroom activities and most visits, swimwear, one outfit that can get dirty for messy volunteer activities, and formal wear for more official sessions, such as the visit to the Mayor's office in Omaha and to the U.S. Department of State for your final evaluation. Please bring dress shoes, casual shoes, and athletic shoes.

You will be able to wash your clothes regularly at your hotel in Omaha.

Representing Your Country. Please bring your traditional clothing for activities in which you will be presenting your culture. Also, you might consider bringing a few photos of your family and your home to show people where you are from. This program is not only an introduction of the U.S. to you, but also an introduction of your country to people here in the U.S. who may know very little about your part of the world.

You may also want to bring a very small souvenir for your homestay family and others who may host you in their home, recognizing that you have very little space in your suitcase!

Daily Necessities. Any medication you take and personal items such as toothbrush/toothpaste, favorite shampoo, etc. You will have the opportunity to visit a store to purchase anything you need upon arrival in Omaha.

Web Resources

Here are some sites you may want to visit to learn more about UNO and Omaha:

University of Nebraska Omaha
City of Omaha
Omaha World-Herald Newspaper
Omaha Visitors Bureau
Omaha Chamber of Commerce

This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by the University of Nebraska at Omaha.