I did forget about the Immodium—that's a must, and you can't pack too much. If you can get prescription Lomotil from your doctor, that would even be better.
I got my shots a few weeks before going. I only needed boosters for Hep A and all the other stuff. I also got malaria tablets and took them according to instructions—unless you're not going out at all you should have them.
I wasn't tempted to try paan (I just looked it up and I am even less tempted). However, one thing that I did find useful in Bangalore in re food was this: most of the one-company buildings there have the canteen on the roof. There is a canopy to prevent being washed or blown away. If you like Indian food, don't let your hosts steer you to the area where Western food is dished out. Go to the Indian food area, preferably with someone local, and take things you think you might like. The South Indian food line is apt to be mostly vegetarian, and I gravitated towards that.
I like lime pickle, which is an acquired taste (I can't eat it now, because it's too salty). When I got to the end of the Indian food line there was a bowl of lime pickle and I took a spoonful. The Indian workers with me opened their eyes wide and said, "Do you know what that is?" I told them that I did, and that I enjoyed it. Your students will respect you if you eat Indian food just as they do.
At the end of the meal there will be a mandatory wash-up area where you are expected to wash your hands. Many of the Indian workers would also take water and swish it around their mouths and spit it out into the sink. I wouldn't do that, but do wash up afterwards.
The toilets will have water hoses like those on a kitchen sink next to them. This is for cleanup afterwards instead of paper. If the venue is frequented by Western workers, there will probably be paper too, but if there isn't, you'll know what the hose is for.
I was very lucky in that I didn't get Delhi belly while I was there. (June/July 2005). When I got back, two days later I had a case that lasted for a week. At the time I thought I knew what had caused it, a drink I unwisely consumed on the road from Pune to Mumbai. However, later on I discovered that it was probably an effect of my diabetic neuropathy rather than a food-induced problem. Delhi belly is NOT a foregone conclusion when visiting India.
I hope you will have lots of fun, and get the travel bug (rather than any other kind of bug) from it. South and Southeast Asia is a great place to visit and is surprisingly affordable and beautiful.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-10 04:14 pm (UTC)I got my shots a few weeks before going. I only needed boosters for Hep A and all the other stuff. I also got malaria tablets and took them according to instructions—unless you're not going out at all you should have them.
I wasn't tempted to try paan (I just looked it up and I am even less tempted). However, one thing that I did find useful in Bangalore in re food was this: most of the one-company buildings there have the canteen on the roof. There is a canopy to prevent being washed or blown away. If you like Indian food, don't let your hosts steer you to the area where Western food is dished out. Go to the Indian food area, preferably with someone local, and take things you think you might like. The South Indian food line is apt to be mostly vegetarian, and I gravitated towards that.
I like lime pickle, which is an acquired taste (I can't eat it now, because it's too salty). When I got to the end of the Indian food line there was a bowl of lime pickle and I took a spoonful. The Indian workers with me opened their eyes wide and said, "Do you know what that is?" I told them that I did, and that I enjoyed it. Your students will respect you if you eat Indian food just as they do.
At the end of the meal there will be a mandatory wash-up area where you are expected to wash your hands. Many of the Indian workers would also take water and swish it around their mouths and spit it out into the sink. I wouldn't do that, but do wash up afterwards.
The toilets will have water hoses like those on a kitchen sink next to them. This is for cleanup afterwards instead of paper. If the venue is frequented by Western workers, there will probably be paper too, but if there isn't, you'll know what the hose is for.
I was very lucky in that I didn't get Delhi belly while I was there. (June/July 2005). When I got back, two days later I had a case that lasted for a week. At the time I thought I knew what had caused it, a drink I unwisely consumed on the road from Pune to Mumbai. However, later on I discovered that it was probably an effect of my diabetic neuropathy rather than a food-induced problem. Delhi belly is NOT a foregone conclusion when visiting India.
I hope you will have lots of fun, and get the travel bug (rather than any other kind of bug) from it. South and Southeast Asia is a great place to visit and is surprisingly affordable and beautiful.