World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 46
plans overseas. Not all cell phones work should pay attention to the trends of cell phone
overseas but some carriers will loan travelers a use of your group and help them to use
phone for their trip. Some people bring an technology in the best way possible.
unlocked phone and purchase a local SIM card
once they arrive; these are available in Panamá.
Time Change
From October to early April, Panamá is on
Pilgrims may consider using digital services like Eastern Standard Time. In January 2019, during
Skype (if Wi-Fi capabilities are available at the WYD, then, 6:00 P.M. in Panama City is 6:00
housing site in Panamá), as this cuts down on P.M. in New York, 5:00 P.M. in Chicago, 4:00
the costs of communication overseas. P.M. in Denver, 3:00 P.M. in Los Angeles, 2:00
P.M. in Alaska, and 1:00 P.M. in Hawaii.
Pilgrims should remain aware that this trip is a
pilgrimage, not a vacation, and should try not to It is helpful for pilgrims to get enough rest to
use their mobile devices as if they had not left stay healthy throughout the pilgrimage. This
home. Mobile devices should be used only for can be challenging since pilgrims are excited to
the purposes of the pilgrimage (for instance, be far from home, exploring a new country,
using a WYD mobile application, reading bonding with their friends, and meeting new
Scripture or devotional prayers online, etc.) or people. Leaders must get rest (and are typically
for emergency contacts. more conscious of this need) and pilgrims
should do the same. Everyone will enjoy the
When walking around Panama City, at major
experience more if they are not sleep-deprived.
events and catechetical sessions, and on the
journey to Panamá, please encourage the group
Passports and International Travel
to use discretion when using cell phones. There
Traveling internationally involves additional
are appropriate times for using them (i.e. the
challenges for WYD pilgrims. The U.S.
WYD mobile app, using maps, taking notes
Department of State has a website
during catechesis, etc.) and there are times
(http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/
when it is not appropriate to use mobile devices
general/americans-traveling-abroad.html) to
(i.e. taking pictures during the elevation of the
assist U.S. citizens traveling abroad and offers
Eucharist, texting constantly, ignoring those
specific information for traveling to Panamá,
around them while on the phone, etc.). You
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