Hey fellow Fellows…
I hope all are well. I was thinking that I benefitted from some of the musings from the LinkedIn group for our Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships. So, time to add to the pot – I know that nothing is new here, but just wanted to lend my voice:
– Staying connected – David my travel buddy and interpreter got a deal through T-mobile that gave him unlimited data, voice and texts domestically. This has been a life-saver. If you think you are going to get by jumping into Starbucks every two minutes or using an open-hotspot, I would say, think again. Yes you can do that, but having access to data has been a true life-saver for accessing emails on the go (meetings moved or postponed) and the ever delightful Google Maps! If it was not for that, we would still be wandering around the New York Jungle. There are cheaper options out there if you have the time to order on the internet and get it – look around.
– On the note of GPS – dont rely on it fully when in New York – all the tall buildings skew the signal and often it has no clue where you are and one time sent us walking in circles for a good time – I shant tell you how long exactly as it is embarrassing! Check the route before you leave and just use the GPS as a general guide.
– Amtrak – we took Amtrak services from New York to DC and had the shock of our lives when the prices jumped hugely one day. They have a very strict policy and you need to book way in advance to get the cheaper fares. One thing that is good is that they have a concession for deaf and disabled, including a discount if someone is travelling with you (note that the Statue of Liberty has NO concessions! But they do have a lovely lady at the ticketing booth who gave us a free pass into the pedestal). Also, they have baggage restrictions on size and amount of luggage – it is supposed to be like a carry-on when flying! Well we completely broke that rule with our massive bags but they didnt say anything thankfully!
– NYC – get a week’s travel card – much cheaper
– Washington DC – the Metro is soooo expensive – 2.50 for a ride, or 37.50 for a week, or 50-something if traveling to the outskirts of the system. We have found that we can get around just using the buses – they are great and are around a dollar/1.80 a ride (we are currently confused about the price but people keep giving us free rides as we are so helpless! hahah).
– Dunkin Donuts are bad for the waistline
– Everything here has cream on it – be warned
I hope everyone is getting as much out of their Fellowships as I am. Loving it and relishing this amazing opportunity.
Abdi
Deaf Unity In The USA 