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Post by rikita on Sept 9, 2010 20:27:40 GMT
it's all pretty last-moment, so any tips would be appreciated of course (like, still wondering what clothes to pack and all that)... will spend half a year there.
mainly i am wondering - is there anything i should definitely bring because i can't get it there? or am i right in thinking that i get most things anyway for cheaper there than i can get them here?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2010 20:53:25 GMT
Oh wow, fantastic! I haven't been to Kerala but to the neighboring province of Tamil Nadu, which I will foolishly assume is not too different. I think enough 'foreigners' are settled there for there not to be a problem for availability of the essentials, although the cost might be quite high for certain items. Ladies of course should always have enough items to cover arms, legs or whatever in certain situations (life can be unfair, compared to men), and I seem to recall that it is a good idea to bring as many feminine hygiene products as you find reasonable, unless you have no trouble adapting to more primitive solutions. Since I think you are well travelled, this should not be too much of a problem for you. Apart from more vaccinations that you probably really need and a few basic medical items for minor emergencies, I doubt that you really need to worry about much. India is developing fast, so all we really require is that you find an excellent internet connection as fast as possible. Okay, now how about telling us why you are going to India and what you are going to do there?
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 9, 2010 22:36:22 GMT
I'm so excited and happy for you, Rikita.
It's a tropical climate, so it seems you could just take some lightweight essential clothing than add to that with local stuff later.
Memory cards for your camera(s)? What about other special hobby stuff? If you can get away with buying there and jettisoning most household goods when you leave, it would make life easier. If you rent a furnished place, it might come with linens, cookware, and dishes.
And yeah -- same question as Kerouac's above.
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Post by hwinpp on Sept 10, 2010 2:20:47 GMT
Clotheswise best thing to do is take a couple of changes then buy local Indian salwar khameez or pajamas. Dirt cheap and you'll fit in easier.
Also take imodium and good anti- biotics, just in case.
If you're in a city I think you should be able to get any electronic/ IT stuff you need, no idea about women's hygene stuff.
Otherwise enjoy!
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Post by gertie on Sept 10, 2010 14:37:15 GMT
hwinpp probably has it right about the salwar khameez. An Indian friend brought back some clothing for me once as a thank you for watching his house and caring for his pets whilst he was away. They are marvelously comfy in the heat and such lovely bright colors.
Take an extra stick of deodorant with you. It has been some years so the situation may have changed. Back at the time my friend said wearing deodorant was not a cultural norm in India, and those available were generally sub par. Having an extra will save you having to track it down for a while.
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Post by rikita on Sept 11, 2010 18:42:58 GMT
Kerouac - i will be volunteering, teaching in a college... it's a christian college and i will probably stay in the house of the bishop...
bixa - yeah, the clothing is complicated though - on the one hand it will be warm, on the other hand i will be expected to dress "modestly" - and i just realized that all my long sleeve clothes are either really warm, or really tight... will bring my camera of course, considered climbing stuff, but most of it is really heavy so decided to just take the harness and shoes, as that would be enough if we (bf and i) go climbing with a company, and probably we won't have that much time for climbing anyway...
hwinpp - yeah, i am planning to buy clothes there. not sure if people might not find it weird for a foreigner to wear local clothes though, especially while teaching. i imagine they'd expect me to wear western formal-type of clothes, rather (which is of course something i have never worn so far so don't own any) - as for medication, as the bishop's wife is a doctor i suppose it won't be too difficult for us to get those if we get sick. and i thought you need a prescription for antibiotics?
will take some of htat hygene stuff, i suppose... and i will bring my laptop. from what i read the current should be the same as here, just the plugs are different, but we have adapters for those...
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Post by Jazz on Sept 11, 2010 19:48:28 GMT
Fantastic, Rikita! Having never been to India, I have no tips. Somehow, the idea of dressing in local garb sounds great to me. Perhaps while you are teaching during the day, they may prefer western clothing (?), I don't know. This will be a truly remarkable period of your life. I love your blog, its name, the clean, beautiful and unusual design, your background photo…all seem to reflect what I think of as you, an exceptional young woman and artist. And best of all, you have chosen to write it in 3 languages so that we can all enjoy it! I look forward to hearing about all of your adventures.
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 11, 2010 20:00:38 GMT
This is so great, Rikita. It's good that you know where you'll be staying.
My advice about the clothes is the same. You'll have the bishop's wife to ask for guidance about what's considered appropriate.
Don't bother taking your long-sleeved clothes. Take your short-sleeved tops if they're cotton. Synthetic fabrics are too hot in that kind of climate. Even if you don't want to go the whole route with local clothing, you can get a couple of local blouses with 3/4 or long sleeves in a light fabric. That way, when you feel it's necessary, you can cover up your short-sleeved tops.
Take a couple of plain skirts (cotton!) if you have them. It's dumb, but most people think a woman is more "formal" or "conservative" if she's dressed in a skirt. You probably don't have time to go shopping, but ask your mother or your friends if they have a skirt they'd like to give you.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2010 20:14:09 GMT
In most Indian schools, the students wear "western" uniforms, so there is certainly no problem finding totally ordinary blouses, skirts or trousers. In any case, there are probably just as many dress rules for the teaching staff as for the students, and I have no doubt that you will be informed of such the moment you arrive.
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Post by rikita on Sept 12, 2010 18:40:35 GMT
well i visited my grandma today and she gave me some grandma-ish long (but light) trousers and blouses, so i think i will be fine until i get around to buy clothes. we called the wife of the college's principal a few days ago to ask her what to bring clothing wise and she said she will go shopping with us when the college has a free day...
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Post by bjd on Sept 12, 2010 19:11:27 GMT
I just got back from a few days away and see that you are leaving for 6 months! Have a good time. What language will you be teaching in?
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Post by hwinpp on Sept 13, 2010 4:24:09 GMT
All the Indian teachers I ever had wore saris... ;D
More formal than the pajamas.
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Post by rikita on Sept 13, 2010 20:34:25 GMT
well the teaching language at the college is officially english, though i was told that the knowledge of english of the students varies. i will see. i suppose at least at first i will have to communicate in english with everyone, in time i hope to learn at least some malayalam...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2010 20:39:20 GMT
And you are teaching what subject?
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Post by bjd on Sept 14, 2010 6:47:23 GMT
Good luck, Rikita and have a good time.
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Post by rikita on Sept 14, 2010 20:31:57 GMT
teaching german and english (from what i understand german will be basically beginner classes, english will be like conversation - both will be extracurricular classes for the students)...
thanks!
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Post by komsomol on Sept 14, 2010 20:47:47 GMT
That is cool. Gute Reise.
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Post by rikita on Sept 15, 2010 20:23:02 GMT
danke!
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Post by rikita on Sept 18, 2010 10:38:44 GMT
Greetings from Kerala! I arrived well, after a quite exhausting flight. A lot of impressions, it will take me a few days to sort them all and write about them. I am very happy to be here!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2010 12:36:11 GMT
Hooray! The adventures begin!
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 18, 2010 15:38:12 GMT
Wonderful to hear you are well and happy, Rikita.
That flight must have gone on forever. Still, there you are -- living the dream!
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Post by rikita on Sept 19, 2010 14:17:25 GMT
yeah the flight really seemed to go one forever. we also had like six or seven hours waiting time in mumbai...
well right now i am still in the bishop's house - that's the place i thought we would stay at the whole time, but apparently they arranged for another place to stay, close to a school where we will be teaching - i had before understood that we will mainly be teaching at the college, but now it seems we will mainly teach at an elementary school and only sometimes at the college. well, i will see...
it is strange still, still getting used to the place. weird, how dependent i feel right now, as i have no idea where things are, how to get anywhere... where we are is pretty much countryside (though of course there are still lots of people everywhere)...
visited a relative of the bishop in a hospital today... also an interesting but strange and somewhat sad experience, if you think of the modern, shiny hospitals we have... in the morning we went to church, which as well was interesting, the whole service was in malayalam...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 10:26:28 GMT
rikita, you are in India? I so envy you! Hope you are enjoying your time over there.
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Post by rikita on Oct 27, 2010 17:47:21 GMT
yes, in kerala. arrived mid-september and am staying till beginning of march...
maybe you can come visit me? we could have an anyport-meeting here...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 17:54:23 GMT
Riky, I'd love to visit you. Did you know that Spindrift will be in Goa in a just a few weeks time? I'm tempted to go along, more than ever now. It would so cool to meet up.
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Post by rikita on Oct 29, 2010 13:50:36 GMT
testing if this works:
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Post by rikita on Oct 29, 2010 13:52:43 GMT
ah cool it works to put the photos here from the blog!
ah, we were considering going to goa when we have a few free days but then decided to stay in kerala as there is so much to see here too... well maybe you could come to kerala too? we are staying quite far away from any tourist places though, but next week we might go to the north for a few days, and after christmas either to munnar or to the beach... and our area here is also quite interesting... what is interesting is that they only get very few foreign tourists, so people are very interested in us and all...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2010 17:43:47 GMT
I'd love to come to Kerala, and intend to. Just not sure when at the moment, Riky.
I've heard it's a great place though, very natural and green.
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Post by rikita on Oct 29, 2010 18:17:12 GMT
yeah, very green... here were i am it is rubber country, so there are lots of trees. to me it looks like forest, though in fact it is agricultural (as it is mainly rubber trees)... and further up in the tea growing areas it is also really beautiful...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2010 18:31:37 GMT
Oooohhh... time for some fresh tea!
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