Student Services

Travel Tips

Upon Arrival:

Upon arrival, a YLC staff member will meet you at the airport and drive you to the center. Please wait for a member of our staff at the baggage claim immediately outside customs.  If for any reason you fail to meet one of our staff members please contact: 

The Yemen Language Center	270-200 ext. 106
Matthew Kuehl, Assistant to Dean	712-520-591

When you arrive at the center you will receive a "Welcome Package" that contains general information about living in Yemen including a guide to restaurants, and other useful information. 

For your safety and convenience, Guards are on duty at the Yemen Language Center 24 hours a day.  The guard house can be reached at the local Sana'a number 270-200 ext. 106.  

Prior to Arrival

Clothing:

Yemen is a geographically diverse country with a variety of climates, and your clothing should accommodate this. Because Sana'a lies at 7,000 ft., a light sweater or jacket will be useful even during the summer term. A good rain coat or poncho is essential for the rainy seasons (March-April, August-September) as the afternoon showers, though brief, can be surprisingly heavy. In general, cotton wears well here. Long sleeve shirts are effective as protection against the sun. Many students have brought "dressy" items for more formal occasions, blazers in particular are very functional for men. Western style clothing can be purchased in Sana'a, although it is not always of the best quality. Hiking shoes are a "must have" for anyone intending to explore the villages outside of Sana'a. Students staying for longer periods should keep in mind shoes wear out quickly here. Shorts and Capri-style pants are very inappropriate for men and unacceptable for women in this socially conservative country.

Clothing Notes for Women:

If you bring pants, be sure to bring a top that falls to your mid thighs. Leggings are a good idea for beneath dresses or skirts, although traditional pants for Yemeni women of exceptional quality may be purchased from the UN Women's Handicraft Center. Tank dresses worn with tee-shirts underneath are fine everyday wear. You may wish to bring a scarf for trips to villages and for making low necklines more culturally acceptable in Yemen. However, the selection of scarves in the suq in Sana'a is very large. If you like to wear jewelry, feel free to bring it to Yemen, as Yemeni women wear lots of jewelry and it can often be an "icebreaker" in conversations with local women. In general, you should keep with loose-fitting clothing that is not transparent. Many female students choose to wear a balto, although it is not required. There is no dress code for women, but wear what makes you most comfortable.

Clothing Notes for Men:

Men should avoid camouflage style clothes in Yemen. Furthermore, you will find you are more easily accepted by the men of Yemen if you don't wear jewelry, earrings and necklaces. If your hair is long enough to put into a ponytail you could lose respect in the eyes of Yemenis, and so you may wish to bring a baseball cap or similar item to hide your hair. 

The Yemeni people living in the capital, Sana'a, are more accepting of Western styles, but these recommendations should make your stay more enjoyable in Yemen as a whole. 

Essential Items:

• Sunglasses. 
• A bathing suit for the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden Beaches (especially Khoka). 
• A light jacket is recommended for any time of the year. In the winter, the weather gets fairly cold and sweaters with a light coat are recommended.
• Contact lens supplies and solutions can be found in Yemen, but it is difficult and the supply is unpredictable. We recommend that you bring a large enough supply to cover your stay in Yemen and a pair of glasses. 
• Batteries are available in Yemen, but quality batteries are more expensive in Yemen. 
• A canvas bag or back pack for shopping and carrying your books to class. 
• Any prescription medicine you may need, though there is no shortage of imported medicine for most emergency situations. Malaria tablets are recommended if you intend to go to the Tihama region. 
• Vitamins if your stay is a long one. Powerbars are great for long hikes. 
• A step down transformer if you intend to use electrical devices from the United States. Electricity in Yemen in 220 v. with a standard European plug. 
• Note that tampons are not available in Yemen (they have been found, but it is better to bring them with you). While you can buy pads, their adhesive strips do not work well. 
• Suntan lotion and skin moisturizer are absolute essentials. Insect repellent is useful for trips to the Red Sea region. 
• While the wearing of "Walkmans" outside is culturally inappropriate in Yemen, they are useful for language study in the student residences. 

Additional Items:

• Backpack, sleeping bag, light tent, compass, small stove, flashlight for exploring the country side. 
• Handy-Wipes for hand-washing before meals in villages and on hikes. 
• At least one roll of high speed film and a small camera tripod have been suggested by some hikers. 
• Those intending to do extensive hiking in the more remote regions of the country may wish to bring iodine tablets for well water. 
• A travel guide to Yemen such as "The Lonely Planet Guide to Yemen" 
• Ambesol or similar product. This medicine has proven useful for new chewers of Qat, though sore gums pass quickly. 

Phone and Fax Communications:

Calls to anywhere in the States or Europe are easy to make from the calling centers located everywhere in the city. It is also very cheap and easy to call from rooms in the student housing facilities. Student faxes can be sent and received from the Center. 

Exchanging Money:

Traveler's checks, US Dollars, and Euro can be exchanged by individuals at varying rates in Yemen. Traveler's checks will get you a somewhat lower exchange rate, are harder to exchange and we really do not recommend their use. It should be noted that theft in Yemen is rare, and the Center provides a safe for valuables. If you do bring cash, be aware that new, crisp, clean, untorn $100 dollar bills or Euro notes fetch the best rate. Dollars that are worn-out, or printed before 2000 are often un-exchangeable. 

*There are now ATM's or cash machines available in Sana'a, but the system is not always reliable. We still recommend that students bring a sufficient amount of cash with them.

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