Senior Mine Action Managers Training Course
James Madison University and the MAIC only provide lodging in the Candlewood Suites hotel for course participants. Costs for staying at any other location are not provided by the university or MAIC and are the personal responsibility of the participant.
Be conservative with your money! Although prices in the Harrisonburg area are relatively low compared to other regions of the United States, it is still possible to spend a lot of money at one time and/or place, especially in Wal-Mart. It is recommended that participants adhere to a daily budget to prevent any problems with money. Information concerning international exchange rates is available www.xe.com.
Meal plans are provided for the duration of the course. This covers the costs of meals eaten on campus. If participants wish to eat at any other location off campus the cost of the meal is his or her responsibility. Most meals will be eaten in Gibbons Hall or the Festival (see the campus map in the "Additional Information" section of the Welcome Packet).
Course participants are provided with emergency medical insurance by the UNDP for the duration of the course. In the event of a medical emergency participants have to pay for services at the time of treatment and are reimbursed after the proper paperwork has been filed. The insurance is for emergencies only.
As is the case with any country, there is crime in the United States. Even though Harrisonburg is relatively safe when compared to major metropolitan areas, some crime does occur. Keep anything of value in sight and be sure to lock your room when you leave. James Madison University and the Mine Action Information Center are not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
The Candlewood Suites offers a complimentary guest laundry room. While the laundry machines are free of charge, guests are responsible for purchasing their own detergent from either the front desk or a local store. The Candlewood Suites also offers a same-day dry cleaning and laundry service from Monday through Friday (drop-off at the front desk by 8:00am). This service is not free of charge, however, and participants are responsible for arranging and paying for same-day laundry. Do not charge the costs of laundry to your hotel room bill.
Computer Labs are available at many locations throughout the JMU campus. The labs provide access to the Internet and are equipped with all the basic software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Many of the computer labs are only open for certain hours of the day. However, the Hillside Computer Lab, located in the basement of Hillside Hall (see your campus map), is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your JAC card (provided to you on the first day of the course) will allow you to access Hillside and other computer labs.
Internet access is also available from the Candlewood Suites hotel where you will be staying. If you wish to access the Internet from the hotel you will need to bring a laptop computer. Ethernet cables are provided.
Harrisonburg Transit buses are free to course participants. Any other mode of transportation (taxi, car rental, etc.) is not covered by the university or the MAIC and is the responsibility of the participant. There are automobile rental services available through "Enterprise Rent-A-Car" to all students. In order to rent a car one must have an INTERNATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE. Rental cars are not necessary for getting around Harrisonburg, as bus and taxi services are available. Transportation is provided for all field trips sponsored by the MAIC. For emergency purposes, please let a MAIC staff know if you plan on leaving the Harrisonburg area.
