Volume 1 August 2000 Number 2 WELCOME TO WCNA-28 Nuestra Esperanza de Vida (Our Hope for Life) The 28th World Convention of Nar- the chance to put our best foot for- feel comfortable with. Spanish cotics Anonymous in Cartagena, Co- ward. It may be difficult for some of Phrasebook–Dictionary, Living Lan- lombia is right around the corner! us to function in a country whose guage by Traveltalk can be purchased No matter if you are thousands of population speaks a different lan- for about US $7.00 and is user-friendly miles from home or if the conven- guage. However, those of us that and helpful. tion is in your backyard, you will find speak Spanish and English will have If you are a Spanish speaker and many helpful hints and valuable travel a chance to be of service by helping do not speak English, you should do information for Cartagena and the members that are not bilingual. We quite well. All of the recovery meet- world convention in the pages to fol- must remember to be patient with ings will offer simultaneous transla- low. Whatever your previous conven- ourselves and practice the principles tions between English and Spanish. tion experience has been, WCNA-28 of recovery. If you are coming from a country promises to be an exciting celebration other than an English or Spanish of our recovery, with many new memo- GENERAL INFORMATION speaking country, go to the nearest ries and new friends to cherish. Temperature: very humid bookstore and find a phrase book in This newsletter will provide you 26 – 30C (80 – 85F) your language. with general information about reg- Altitude: Here is a note on one of the cul- istration, transportation, activities 3 meters above sea level tural differences you may want to and events (including alternative keep in mind—Latin Americans typi- merchandise), as well as useful hints Population: cally stand much closer when talk- about traveling. Please read it care- 700,000 ing than North Americans or Euro- fully—this information is essential to Voltage: peans may be used to! know before you even start to pack for 110 V (same as in US; outlets WCNA-28. Due to the location of this are two-pronged only) convention, certain things may be dif- Currency: IMPORTANT POINTS ferent for you. If you are planning to Colombian Peso WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU sell alternative merchandise at the con- Exchange Rate: vention, you must read that section US $1.00 = approximately 2,000 LANGUAGE thoroughly before entering Colombia. Colombian pesos GETTING TO YOUR HOTEL WCNA-28 is an historic event in GETTING TO YOUR HOTEL the evolution of Narcotics Anony- LANGUAGE CURRENCY EXCHANGE mous. With an expected attendance Spanish is the primary language in of approximately 1,200, this will be REGISTRATION Latin America. Once you leave the an intimate world convention. It will hotels, airports, or convention center ALTERNATIVE MERCHANDISE be an opportunity to meet and visit much of the population does not speak with our friends from all around the SIGHTSEEING English. Purchase and familiarize your- world. More importantly, it is the first self with a Spanish Phrase-Dictionary. DEPARTURE INFORMATION world convention to be held in Latin There are many on the market, but it America. Guaranteed to be a memo- INFORMATION BOOTHS is important to find a book that you rable experience, it will also offer us 1 WHAT SHOULD I PACK? • If you purchased a travel package through Par Avion Travel or Gema Tours you will be directed The climate in Cartagena is HOT and HUMID! to shuttle buses that will take you to your hotel. Sometimes it is hot and very humid; and when it’s not This has been included in your travel package. hot and very humid, it’s just hot and “normal” humid. The temperature is an average of 85 F/30 C. At night, • If you arrived in Cartagena without the use of a it may actually cool down to 80 F/26 C. Even if an occa- Travel Agent, then you should have no problem sional breeze does blow through, remember to dress getting to your hotel. A taxi from the airport to for the heat. the city will cost about US $3.00. We recommend packing a couple changes of clothes Before you leave the airport in a taxi, you may want PER DAY! If you move around during the day or take a to exchange a small portion of your money. Have at walk through the city, you may want to change in the least US $20.00 in small bills to exchange at the air- afternoon. The convention center is air-conditioned, but port. The exchange rate at the airport is fair so do not you will want to pack light, cool, and comfortable clothes, exchange all your money yet. Right now you only need along with good walking shoes. And, whatever you do, money for a taxi and gratuities (tips). It will be more don’t forget to pack that bathing suit! prudent to have small bills or some pesos handy. An- We also suggest packing any personal hygiene items other way to accomplish this is to actually exchange the that you would take on any five-day trip. Contact your equivalent of US $20 at the airport in your country travel agent if you require any information about the prior to departure. If you choose to do this, don’t change particular accommodations in your room. any more because the exchange rate is not great but it One thing to keep in mind when packing is that the will give you enough money to get to your destination. chances are very good that a Customs Agent will go Service charges, called voluntary tips (that are not through your bags. This shouldn’t be a problem to us really voluntary!) are fairly common in better restau- these days—after all, what do we have to hide? Oh right, rants. This may amount to about 10 to 15 percent. An maybe that Fourth Step you’ve been working on! additional tip may be added to this service charge in If you are planning to bring any alternative mer- accordance with the level of service provided. When no chandise into the country to sell, you must declare it service charge is added to the bill, you should leave upon arrival in Colombia. Be prepared to pay a 20% about 15 percent tip at better restaurants and 10 per- customs and import tax. If you want to sell anything at cent in less expensive restaurants. Tipping taxi drivers the world convention, please read the section regard- is optional, not expected but seen as a sign of apprecia- ing alternative merchandise on page 3. tion for good service. However, if you do, only small It is important not to forget to bring your conven- change is necessary. tion confirmation that was mailed to you. This is your When you get to the hotel to check-in, you will be receipt and it will ensure smooth processing through asked for a credit card. If you do not have a credit card, pre-registration when you arrive at the convention center. the hotel will require a cash deposit for incidentals (tele- phone use, room charges, dry cleaning, etc.). This de- ARRIVING IN CARTAGENA posit is between US $100 and $150. If you make a lot Please remain seated until your flight comes to a of telephone calls or incur extra charges to your room, complete stop. Yes, we are all very excited (and jet you will be asked to replenish the deposit. Many hotels lagged) by now, but there are a few specifics we must go accept either US currency or Colombian pesos. over before we get off the plane. If you have never been to Latin America there may CURRENCY EXCHANGE be some things that you are not used to seeing. It is a Remember that you will always need your passport common practice throughout Latin America, as well as when exchanging currency. Major credit cards are ac- many other countries throughout the world, to arm their cepted at most locations throughout Cartagena and will security guards with rifles or other weapons. This is give you the best rate. If you don’t have a credit card, commonly seen at airports and banks, but also may be you can use your ATM card to exchange to Colombian seen at various locations throughout the city. pesos at a good rate. The hotel or airport will do it but Remember when we talked about the Custom Agents they give less for your dollar. The most difficult way to going through your bags? This might be one of those exchange your dollar (though it is inevitable that some times. Please be patient, we’ll wait for you before we of us will try) is to venture into the city and exchange it start the convention! at a bank! After you make it through customs and immigra- tion, please do one of the following depending on how you arrived:

2 mercial sale upon entering the country. Once declared WCNA 28: and proof of the value of the merchandise is provided to the Colombian officials, you will be required to pay a FIRST THINGS FIRST… 20% customs import tax. Undeclared commercial items Now that we’re settled into our hotel and have our discovered upon entry into Colombia are subject to be money, let’s head over to the convention center. Taxis fined, confiscated, and/or you may be denied entry into are the best mode of transportation in Cartagena. They the country. This is a difficult and tedious process. For are plentiful and very inexpensive. A trip to or from the your information, we decided to produce most WCNA- airport to any hotel is approximately US $3.50. Within 28 merchandise locally in Colombia, rather than incur the city itself a taxi ride is between US $1.00 and $2.00. the import fees and procedures due to these same is- Before you can start to celebrate, you must first go sues in importing merchandise into the country. to the convention center and register for the convention Once you arrive at the convention center, you must or pick up your pre-registration package. If you pre-regis- come to WCNA-28 Operations office in the Secretaría tered, you can pick up your registration package and ma- General room located on the second floor of the con- terials by presenting the written confirmation you received vention center where you will be asked to provide a or by presenting valid photo identification. letter that has been signed by a representative of your region. You will be given a permit to sell your merchan- Registration Hours are: dise in the room provided. Anyone selling their mer- Thursday: chandise before Sunday will automatically nullify their 2:00 pm– 10:00 pm permit to sell in the alternative store. NA World Services will not be held liable for any Friday and Saturday: vendors that wish to sell alternative merchandise at the 10:00 am – 12:00 pm world convention. World services have made arrange- 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm ments with the government of Cartagena for WCNA- Registration is located in the lobby of the conven- 28 merchandise only. You accept full responsibility for tion center. any applicable taxes and government regulations im- If you have not already purchased a ticket to the Carib- posed on the sale of your merchandise. We are simply bean Beach Party, limited tickets will be available for sale providing you with the space. at registration while supplies last. If you do not have a ticket and wish to attend the party, don’t wait, go over to INFORMATION LOCATIONS registration and buy your ticket as soon as possible. WCNA-28 Convention Information, Gema Tours, and Pre-convention workshops will begin at 2:00 pm on Par Avion Travel will all have booths located in the main Thursday in the convention center. The opening main lobby of the convention center. They will be there to assist meeting will begin Thursday night at 7:00 pm. The you with your travel needs and answer your questions convention will continue through the weekend ending throughout the convention. on Sunday with our traditional closing main meeting from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. VENTURING OUT POLICY ON REFUNDS If one of your guests does not show up or if you INTO THE CITY know someone that registered and is not coming, there “Oh no! I forgot my phrase book–dictionary in my will not be any refunds given at the convention. The hotel room and don’t speak any Spanish.” No problem, deadline for refunds was 31 May 2000. Registration if you only want to speak with one out of ten people in packages that are not claimed will be donated to the the city—maybe now would be a good time to go back newcomer. to the hotel and get that phrase book–dictionary. “Would you wait here for me, I don’t want to venture into the ALTERNATIVE MERCHANDISE city alone.” The alternative merchandise store will be open on Once again, taxis are the best mode of transporta- Sunday, 3 September 2000. See the convention pro- tion within Cartagena. They are plentiful and inexpen- gram for exact times and locations. If you plan to sell sive. As mentioned previously, within the city itself a alternative merchandise in Cartagena, please carefully taxi ride is between US $1.00 and $2.00. review the following information. Traveling through the city in a group of people and If you are traveling from outside Colombia, you are with someone that speaks Spanish would always be the required by Colombian law to declare all items for com- best way to get around. If you do go alone and do not

3 speak Spanish, then make sure you have your phrase book-dictionary. Exercise the same caution you would exercise in any major city that is unfamiliar. There is no civil unrest in Cartagena; all the news reports we hear A FINAL WORD about are far away in other parts of the country. Cartagena is a tourist attraction; just watch out for street OF GRATITUDE vendors trying to sell “cheap” merchandise. The important thing for all of us to remember Convention Information will be able to tell you more is to have a great time! This is a celebration of our about the sights to see in and around Cartagena. recovery and a chance to participate in that cel- Cartagena, Colombia is a beautiful vacation destina- ebration with fellow addicts from all around the tion filled with museums, fine restaurants, historical world. Take advantage of the intimacy that we will sights, savory coffee, beaches, and is considered the have and use it as an opportunity to meet new “Jewel of the Caribbean.” Utilize the local fellowship’s people. Throughout the convention, there will be hospitality. They will be more than happy to help so you many opportunities to be of service and express don’t miss a thing! the gratitude we have for our recovery—assisting with translations, inspiring a newcomer, providing DEPARTING WCNA-28 some direction to a lost or confused member, or sharing our experience, strength and hope. What- CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA ever the case, no matter how frustrated you may Remember that EVERY BAG GETS CHECKED ON feel dealing with new languages and cultures, re- THE WAY OUT OF COLOMBIA. There are no excep- member that the language of NA is understood tions to this rule. Again, this should not be a problem worldwide. No doubt that we will reminisce often for any of us but it may be a new experience to watch about this historic moment in Narcotics Anony- soldiers going through our personal things. Just be pre- mous—in Cartagena de Indias—where we truly pared, patient, and don’t worry. learned that the universal message of recovery In the registration flyer, we informed you of the exit through NA is, “Our Hope ffor Life!” tax that will be required of everyone that wishes to leave Colombia. This tax WAS NOT included in your travel package. The tax is US $28 and can be paid in Colom- bian pesos or US dollars. The tax must be paid in cash and there are no exceptions. Remember, if you bought a travel package through one of the agencies, they will provide transportation back to the airport. In any case, it will be important to allow yourself two hours to check in ➽ CartagenaCartagena ddee IIndiasndias at the airport for international N 1 Hotel Cartagena Hilton flights. 2 2 Hotel Caribe 1 3 3 Hotel Dorado Torres 4 Hotel Decaméron The Cartagena Hilton AV ENIDA 5 Hotel Charleston AV D E is the headquarter hotel for E LMALEC NI DA SAN MARTÍN 6 Hotel Santa Clara Sofitel WCNA 28. Activities at this ON site include: Marathon Meetings

R TANDE and other evening activities. SAN and other evening activities. IDA 4 AVEN A Plaza de Santa Teresa is the 5 site for the Saturday Night Fiesta A A Aeropuer V VENID A Plaza de Santa Teresa B ENI 6 DA ASANTA BLA to S B D Centro de Convenciones E N LEZ DE O R

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