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India and Nepal - Kit-Lists - Africa and Asia Venture

India and Nepal

SUGGESTED CLOTHING

Dress in Nepal and Darjeeling is quite conservative, especially in towns and slightly less formal in the Lepcha world, but you will offend if you go around in clothes which are revealing to Indian traditional ideas and should be especially sensitive in temple areas. You will then be able to sneer at improperly dressed tourists! In Nepal and Darjeeling schools the children have to dress in uniform and some sort of sartorial example is required of you, andbe warned that your fellow teachers will somehow appear in immaculately pressed trousers or sarees/salwar kamij.

FOR YOUR WORK ATTACHMENT

GIRLS

• 2 Salwar Kamij (Tunic and trousers) made during orientation course, cost £10-15.
• Blouses, 1 short sleeve, 1 long, shoulders must be covered) / Polo Shirt*
• 2 T shirts (not vest type)
• 1 Jersey (heavy) (can buy there)
• 1 sweatshirt
• Sensible shoes (Note 1)
• Sports clothing
• Gloves in Winter
• Underwear (plenty,especially for hot weather)

BOYS

• 2 pairs casual trousers (not jeans)
• 2/3 short sleeved shirt (shoulders must be covered) / Polo Shirt
• 1 long sleeve shirt , tie capable.
• 1 Jersey (heavy) (can buy there)
• 1 sweatshirt
• Sensible shoes (Note 1)
• Sports clothing
• Gloves in Winter
• 1 tie
• Underwear (plenty, especially for hot weather)

Note:

1 It is customary to take off your shoes when entering a house or temple, so fairly robust walking type slip-ons are great. For serious walking during the safari trek, you may want proper boots, but frankly I think good, robust trainers will do the job. They may not be dainty, but I wear rugged (commando-type sole) deck shoes for everything.

2 Long sleeve shirts are needed in the plains, and during the course to keep off mosquitoes in the evening/morning.

LEISURE WEAR

This will be largely up to you, but we suggest you consider the following:

• Lightweight anorak (for the rains)
• Long shorts
• Casual shirts/T shirts
• Casual trousers
• Sandals/Rafters
• Swimming costume and towel
• Hat

SUGGESTED ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR WORK ATTACHMENT

It is recommended that you take:

Blu tack, drawing pins, sellotape. You can buy pens and paper out there.

A system of rewards will help you in your teaching (so take gold stars, smilies etc and perhaps some little prizes)

Photographs of your home and school are useful talking points andposters and magazines are useful - more "Country Life" than "Cosmopolitan" and definitely not ‘Loaded'- to illustrate home and western ideas.

One grammar book out there, take one English games book or any books primary/nursery teaching stages for teaching ideas.

FOR GENERAL USE

• Binoculars (optional)
• Body belt (large enough to take passport and money)
• Calculator (useful for currency conversion) (optional) (get there)
• Camera (inexpensive) and charger (optional)
• Cards and travel games e.g. backgammon (optional)
• Credit/debit card (with VISA sign) for emergencies
• Day sack/Holdall (small rucksack for daily use and for weekend/safari)
• Flip flops (available everywhere)
• Hooks (stick on type - optional but important if your mossie net needs hanging)
• ISIC card
• Quality combination locks (x 2) for doors, drawers and baggage.
• Mirror (optional)
• Mosquito net (treated) - pop up/fold up framed type is popular
• Penknife (optional)
• Phrase books: Swahili (optional)
• Pillow (blow up type) (optional)
• Plug Adaptor (3 pin, round pin, ideally 6 amp)
• Radio (World Space, or equivalent, is best) (optional)
• Rucksack, about 65 litres)
• Sewing kit with scissors
• Sleeping bag (average weight, supplement with blanket/quilt out there)
• 2 liners/sheets (optional)
• Sleeping mat (optional)
• Sun cream (high and medium factor - available out there)
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Toiletries (available everywhere but not so much choice)
• Torch and batteries (cheap out there)
• 1 travel towel. (1 Ordinary towel can be bought there)
• Walkman/mini discMP3/iPod player (with a mini speaker), spare batteries (lots) and CDs/mini discs (optional)
• Washing kit
• Watch (inexpensive)
• Wet Wipes (some) (optional)
• Wire mesh security net for rucksack (optional)

DOCUMENTATION:

• Photocopies of all documents, including passport, visa, insurance - keep one copy at home, take two copies with you and keep separate from the original.
• Know your blood group (donating blood is a good way of finding it out)
• Name and contact number of your GP.
• Numbers and emergency contact details of travellers cheques, emergency no of credit/debit card provider.
• Own emergency contact numbers

MEDICAL PACK

In addition to the Homeway Sterile Medical Pack - optional as in our experience all medical centres used by AVs use sterile needles and lancets etc. - you should consider taking the following: -

• Multivitamin pills
• Antiseptic spray
• Antihistamine pills
• Anthisan cream
• Glucose tablets
• Ciprofloxacin or other gen spectrum antibiotic
• Diareze/Imodium
• Puritabs
• Thermometer
• IV set (in case rehydration required)
• Pocket tissues
• Lemsip, Strepsils
• Interhealth's Pocket Medical Guide
• Insect repellent

CONCLUSION

We recommend you take either "A Rough Guide", "Lonely Planet" or "Footloose" guide book. They are invaluable guides.

A lot of the items listed are available in shops in the main towns. Do not take any valuables such as jewellery. You will enjoy shopping for the wide range of inexpensive ethnic jewellery available in markets.

Finally, most of your predecessors said that they took too much clothing etc, so try and travel light but in winter take enough to be warm at the start and hot later!

PLEASE NOTE THAT SECURITY REGULATIONS ARE QUITE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT CAN BE CARRIED INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. IF IN DOUBT, CHECK ON THE AIRLINE'S WEBSITE BEFORE LEAVING HOME. YOUR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE FOR THE FLIGHT IS 20 KGS

AND YOU ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE ONE PIECE OF HAND LUGGAGE. THE DIMENSIONS OF YOUR HAND LUGGAGE SHOULD NOT EXCEED (INCLUDING WHEELS, HANDLES, POCKETS, ETC) MAX LENGTH 45 CM, WIDTH OF 35 CM AND DEPTH OF 16 CM (I.E. 17.7" X 13.7" X 6.2")