Contents
 Previous Article (What About Travel Arrangements?)
 Next Article (Contact List For Dental Electives - updated Autumn 2002. Produced by CDF)

What Else Can I Do To Prepare?

Most importantly, take time to pray! You are entering  a very new situation. once you have finalised your plans, try to find out as much about the country and the mission as you can. If possible talk to someone who has been there before.

What are the major customs? Are there any special customs that you need to be aware of so that you don’t offend people? You may need to be very sensitive in the way that you dress or eat.

You are an ambassador not only for your country and dental school, but also for Jesus Christ, and your behaviour will strongly influence the attitude of your hosts to future elective applicants.

Make an effort to learn a little language - simple greetings etc.

Learn something about the country’s politics and history, but expect that people will have very different concerns from your friends at home. If you go with a humble and teachable attitude,

You will learn far more about the local culture. It may well mean that you learn a lot more about your own faith too!

The Lonely Planet Guide and The Rough Guide for your country will provide you with valuable information about your country. They can be purchased at most bookshops or borrowed from the library.

Take special precautions with your own health:

• Drink only water that has been boiled or os bottled with an in tact seal.
• Eat only food that you have seen cooked or prepared yourself.
• Never swim in lakes or rivers unless you are sure that there is no schistosomiasis in the area - or crocodiles!
• Keep your feet covered.
• Find out about any risks in the area - snakes, leeches, spiders etc. and how to deal with them.

Don't be put off - the locals deal with these things all the time. They would find your local high street a total nightmare!

 Contents
 Previous Article (What About Travel Arrangements?)
 Next Article (Contact List For Dental Electives - updated Autumn 2002. Produced by CDF)

---

Produced by CDF 44 Pool Road, Hartley Wintney, Hook, Hampshire RG27 8RD Tel: 01252 845991 Fax: 01252 844018 E-mail: cdfadmin@btinternet.com Website: www.cdf-uk.org Preparing your Dental Elective & Appendices – © August 2004 Christian Medical Fellowship, London. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the CMF or HealthServe. Christian Medical Fellowship 6 Marshalsea Road London SE1 1HL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7234 9660 Fax: +44 (0)20 7234 9661 E-mail: peter.armon@cmf.org.uk (Peter Armon, Overseas Support Secretary) Websites: www.cmf.org.uk & www.healthserve.org Christian Medical Fellowship is a registered charity No. 1039823 DISCLAIMER CMF cannot be held responsible for the information contained in this booklet. Students will have to confirm the information with the individual institutions and missions agencies including the conditions for undertaking electives and the precautions advised to reduce health and transport risks.