tipstoIndia

DRESS CODE: Appropriate dress is always important. While ministering, women should wear casual dresses. No mini dresses of course. While shopping, at the airports, and sight seeing, slacks are okay, however, we usually wear dresses except when traveling. The Indian women are modest and out of respect for them and the Lord women should dress appropriately. Men, while ministering, should also dress appropriately in dress slacks and a nice shirt. Neckties are rarely worn (the heat). Jeans are okay for shopping, airports, etc. Flip Flop Crocks are what we call the "new missionary shoe." they are excellent for comfort and convenience. They provide cushy comfort for a lot of standing and are easy to kick the sand out of. As for men, the ones who don't mind wearing them, sandals are also great. Most Indian men go barefoot or wear sandals. Some of the men,however, do wear comfortable shoes and socks. Your call! Because of the hot weather, a coat is never necessary. Although, a light sweater or wrap might be appropriate in the late evening hours when ministering outdoors. The only time you might need long sleeves or a coat is while traveling in the airports before you reach India.

THE WEATHER: In most of India the weather is (by our standards) HOT. A typical summer day is a mere 120*. The climate of India encompasses a wide range of weather conditions. India host six major climatic subtypes ranging from arid desert in the west, alpine tundra and glaciers in the north, and humid tropical regions supporting rainforests in the southwest and the island territories. There are four (4) seasons: winter (January and February), summer (March to May), a monsoon or rainy (June to September), and post monsoon period (October to December). We usually travel in the months of January or February. This is winter months in India so the temperature is fairly perfect. A typical day in the winter is 85 to 90* during the day and 70 to 75* at night. However, this is in the south of India on the Bay of Bengal. If you are traveling north, it might be cooler especially in the Himalayan Mountains areas. India's unique geography strongly influences its climate. The whole country is considered tropical nevertheless. As in much of the tropics, monsoons and other weather conditions in India are unstable: major droughts, floods, cyclones, and other natural disasters are sporadic. They have killed or displaced millions.

ELECTRICITY: India has 220 volt unlike Americas 110 volt. Adapters or inverters can be bought at most Radio Shacks. Make sure it is for Asian countries or with multiple plugs for various plug-ins. Power outages happen daily, at anytime and anywhere. It is just a part of life in India. The evening hours are the worst. The outages can last from a few minutes to several hours. Take only electrical devices that are absolutely necessary. Even with the adapters, we have seen many things burnt out. If it is something you dont want to lose, dont chance it. But of course, curling irons and blow dryers are a necessity to most women (cant go with out them).Some of the villages have no electricity at all. Be adaptable. Carry a flashlight.

EATING & DRINKING: Bottled water only! Make sure the bottle is properly sealed. Boiled water is okay in tea, coffee, chai. It is acceptable to politely refuse water that is not bottled by explaining that you have a weak stomach. Bottled water is available almost everywhere. Other drinks obtainable are: Thumbs-up (like spicy Coke), Limeca (India's 7 up), an occasional Coke or Sprite, and of course, "Coconut Milk." The villagers are very hospitable and want to offer you something to drink. In most cases Coconut Milk is all they have to offer. They use machetes to cut the end off of the coconut and then stick a straw in it. Watch out for the straws however. Many have been used before.

Expect to be served "chai" (tea that is very sweet with half milk and half tea). Because it is boiled, it is usually safe to drink. It is typically served in the afternoon and at breakfast instead of coffee.

The staple of South India is rice for almost all meals. It is boiled during cooking so it is safe to eat. Rice is generally served at every meal in homes and restaurants. Concerning all foods in India, a veteran missionary once stated, "If you cant boil it or peel it, don't eat it." This is an excellent guide to follow. Fresh fruit such as oranges and bananas are safe because they are peeled. But stay away from the grapes, apples, etc. unless you peel them. The peel is where the bacteria are. The same goes for the vegetables. If you cant peel it or boil it, don't eat it! Nearly everything is highly spiced. The use of curry in India is like garlic in Italy. Everything has curry. It was used originally by the Indians to cover the rancid taste of spoiled meat. Now it is in nearly everything they cook (even their chocolate). So be prepared!

Locals will often wait until they have completely finished a meal and finish it off with a small glass of their drink rather than drink while they are eating. They do not usually drink with the meal. Many Indians (mainly Christians) will eat beef but we are rarely served any. Chicken, goat, and fish are usually served. The way the Indians cut their meat is to be experienced. It is not cut as we do in distinct pieces. It is all chopped together. This usually makes for alot of curiosity when you start eating.

In most hotel restaurants the food is okay to eat. Where we traditionally stay the water is pure and the food is prepared for westerners. Breakfast is great with toast and eggs. In addition, the fresh squeezed pineapple or orange juice is outstanding. Fresh papaya is served daily. YUM! Also they actually fixed us french fries. It was a very welcome taste of home.

In the traditional homes, guest and men will often eat first. This is the custom. The women and children often eat later, after the guest leave.

Most people eat with their right hands or fingers. In fact, in some instances spoons and forks are considered unsanitary. Traditionally the left hand is used in place of toilet paper. Most homes and restaurants will have a washbasin for washing the right hand before and after eating the meal. It is a good idea to always carry a wipey or paper towel with you and hand sanitizer.

Traditionally, in India, lunch is served between 1:00 and 2:00 PM. Dinner is between 7:00 and 10:00PM. Often tea will be served at 3:00 to 4:00PM to get you through to dinner. Most restaurants stay open late to accommodate the late meals. Our schedule is usually varied because of the ministry work.

SITES AND SMELLS: India is everything you can imagine and everything you can't. It can be everything from jungle to desert, mosquitoes, beggars, mass confusion, overcrowding, filth, stench, running sewer in the streets, garbage everywhere, disease, and decaying idols. But it can also be high tech, educated, refined professionals, cinemas, industry, cutting edge electronics and cellular phones. Just look around and you will see high tech billboards advertising the latest razor phone and standing underneath the sign will be homeless and desperate people starving. Your nostils will adapt to the smells but the sites you see will change you forever.

We have found it to be a good idea to carry your favorite smelling lotion to apply and help remind you of home. A small bottle of room spray can also be helpful.

THE TOILETS: Always carry toilet paper with you. The small individual Kleenex packs are great. Indian villages are nearly "paperless." The traditional Indian "squatters" are rarely equipped with toilet paper. In these toilets you will see a bucket of water and a small pitcher. The pitcher is used for dipping into the bucket and then the water is poured on their left hand to wash it off (which is why they only eat with their right hand). Always pack Imodium (liquid & tablets), Pepto Bismol (liquid & tablets) to take with you. They do help a little. You night consider asking your doctor for something to stop diarrhea before yo take your trip. The hotel and the pastor's house have European toilets (yeah). It is called the "toilet" and not the wash or bath room. In some public places men and women use the same toilet. Women, be careful and don't go in alone, you might come out to an audience of men! Tipping is expected in most public facilities. Women actually live in the toilet area. They will hand you a small piece of paper or a community towel to wipe your hands on when you finish washing your hands. A proper tip may be five (5) rupees however we love to greatly over tip and give them a dollar. That might be a weeks wages for some of these ladies. It is best to always carry hand sanitizer in the little bottles. Use it often. It is great to use especially when washing your hands in contaminated water. It is also a staple when ministering in the villages and after laying on hands.

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION: Expect to see autos, small trucks, large trucks, tanker trucks, auto rickshaws, bikes, scooters, motorcycles, vans, horses, ox and ox carts, bullock, hay wagons, cows, chickens, goat herds, and occasional dog, and pedestrians (adults & children) all on the road at the same time. Honking horns never (and I mean never) cease. It is actually what the drivers and pedestrians expect. The backs of most autos and trucks have a bumper sticker that says, "HONK YOUR HORN." In the villages there are no traffic signals and very few stop signs. When there is one, no one obeys it. You can drive on whatever side of the road you wish. The speed is fast and the brakes are seldom used. The streets in the city are narrow and rough and the roads in the villages sometimes don't exist.

It is advised that you don't involve the police in traffic accidents or disputes. You may be the one taken to jail just for reporting an accident. If you get hit, don't expect them to stop either. Hit and run is the order of the day.

BATHROOM FACILITIES: Something to be experienced. The hotel has a bathroom in every room but it might not be what you expect. In some cases, the shower is the entire room. There is no tub and no rim around the shower. The water just runs all over the bathroom floor when you shower. Be sure and carry a pair of flip-flops for showering. Clean towels and washcloths are few and far between. It is a good idea to pack your own towel and washcloth. Also bring your own soap, shampoo and conditioner. The hotel rarely provides sufficient toiletries. Hot water can be a luxury not easily found in India. In some cases, there is no shower but a tub with a shower nozzle and flexible hose attached. It is a fifty fifty chance for the hot water. There have been times where there is a shower and a tub and neither work. In this case, a "bucket bath" might have to see you through. Just remember, this is not America. And that fact will become reality when you are traveling down the road. The Indian bathroom is usually where ever and when ever they please. Expect to be "exposed" to more than you really want to see. The sides of the street are used like the local quick mart in America. The fields are dotted with those who have more serious business to take care of. Just look away and be thankful that America is famous for quick marts and gas stations.

INDIAN AIRPORTS: Most domestic flights are limited to Indian Airlines (not to be confused with Air India), Jet Airways, or Sahara. Jet Air is a private airline that has the reputation of more or less being customer service oriented, professional, clean, efficient, friendly, and even on time. Indian Airlines is an older government run airline and less inclined to the concept of customer service. But ALWAYS remember that Indian Airlines still requires that after you have passed through security, you must go out side the waiting lounge and "identity" your "checked in" luggage. If you dont, they WILL NOT put it on the plane. The lay over in Mumbai (Bombay) is nearly always 10 to 12 hours. The food on the airlines is usually vegetarian. Even on the plane remember the rules. If you cant peel it, or boil it, dont eat it! When landing in India you will exit the plane on the runway. Dont be surprised by guards with guns. This is very normal for India. In New Delhi, there were even sand bag bunkers with men carrying machine guns behind the sand bags. It does take a little getting used to. NO CAMERAS! Picture taking in the Indian airports is strictly forbidden. Going through customs is getting a little easier. Just pray in the Spirit, have your passport, visa, and entry papers ready (which they give you on the plane) and you will be okay. Expect to be patted down each time you pass through security. Try not to layer clothing, bulky clothing means more searching even in non-Indian airports. Men will search the men and women will search the women. It is best to pack curling irons in your "check in" baggage. The Indian security dont seem to know what these are in the x-ray machine and nearly every time will pull you aside to check it out. As far as your baggage is concerned, dont let it out of your sight. Handling it yourself is the best idea. You may have to be very firm with baggage handlers though. Otherwise you will be paying for their help "and or" you might never see you luggage again. Dont let them take or touch your bags for even a moment. Dont let them help you with doors or anything else. It is best to totally ignore them

Here is another great tip when dealing with the Indian Airport system. A day or two before you are scheduled to return home, call the airport and reconfirm your flight. There has been more than one instance when the return ticket was not in the computer when you arrived at the airport to go home. Even though the tickets had been confirmed before the trip over, it is best to check again and be sure. Actually it is a good idea to reconfirm with you agent on all tickets for Indian airports.

Note also that in some airports in Europe it is not uncommon to be questioned by security during the security check. This is commonplace so dont be alarmed. They are trained to watch for terrorist and mannerisms of terrorist. It is for your benefit. As long as you have nothing to hide and are not a terrorist (haha) you will do fine.

SAFETY: Always carry your passport, money, and identification with you. It is recommended that you use a money belt. Never leave these items in your hotel. Never leave valuables (jewelry, drivers licenses, money, credit cards etc. ) in the hotel. It is also recommended that you remove all tags from your luggage that have your name on them. Indians will get your address and try to use it to gain money or as a contact to go to America. Do not give your contact information to anyone unless the pastor okays it. If you are ask for it refer the person to your mission leader or the Pastor in charge. Always make a copy of your passport, visa, and drivers licenses to carry in your suit cases. We usually make a copy for each bag (in case one is lost or stolen). This will ease the process if your passport is lost or stolen. Also make a copy to leave with someone at home (a parent, spouse, pastor). Carry your return tickets in your money belt also while in India. Yes, it is a hassle but better than if it were stolen out of your room. In addition, it is best to leave valuable jewelry at home. Why be a temptation to those who have so little.

ETHNIC VARIETIES: The Indian population is a mixture of tribal, Chinese, and the majority natives. The majority natives are a blending of the dark skinned Dravidians and the Aryan races from Persia. Please note that Hindu is a religion, Hindi is a language, and Indian is the nationality with a "kajillion" ethnic groups. Almost all Indian languages were derived from the ancient Sanskrit. Tamil and Malayalam are both quite distinct from Hindi and the other Indian languages and are apparently quite difficult to learn compared to the others. The further north you go the more Sanskrit based the language becomes. In the area that we visit the most, the common language is called Telagu. The pastors wife and family speak Hindi & English and are learning Telagu. Remember, Indians outside of India are Indians: but inside India they are identified with their ethnic group.

ETHNIC GROUPS: 1. The Hindi Belt speak Hindi (Bihar, UP, MP,

Haryana, Delhi).

2. Bengalis ( West Bengal)

3. Tamils speak Tamil (Tanil Nadu)

4. Karnatakas speak Kannada (Karnataka)

5. Oriyans speak Oriya (Orissa)

6. Maratis (Maharashtra)

7. Gujaratis (Gujerat)

8. Andhras speak Telagu (AP)

9. Malayalis speak Malayalam (Kerala)

10. North East Triba;s from (8) Northern States

speak their various tribal tongues and English

11. Plus another 4000 dialects and other ethnic

tongues.

GET THE PICTURE?

THE ART OF COMMUNICATION: You don't have to speak slowly to those who know some English, but dont speak fast either. Remember, there is a communication gap especially with those who speak "some" English. Don't always take it for granted that they understand what you have said. If it is really important, you might need to get the translator. One good sign that what you have said has not been understood is a "laugh" whether appropriate or not. Please refrain from slang if you want them to understand what you are saying. Slang phrases from America do not translate. Humor is another area that doesn't translate well. They wont get it.....get it? When using an interpreter, speak normally. Remember to give him time to interpret between thoughts. Also give him enough information to work with. Do not speak two or three words at a time and expect him to interptret. He needs a complete thought because they do not interpret word for word in Telagu. Talking louder doesn't help either. Stop and reword your sentence and give it again until the light bulb goes on.

One very important tip in communicating is about a little gesture from the Indians called a "waggle." The waggle is a side shaking of the head a lot like our shaking our head no. Their shaking however, means "yes, okay, or I understand." It gets very confusing if you dont know this. You might be talking and they are shaking their head "no" to everything you are saying. But it doesnt mean "no"... it means "yes." Confused yet? Just keep this in mind and you will do fine.

TIME SCHEDULE?: Do not expect to keep a strict time schedule. It will not happen. The Indians are much more relaxed about time than Americans. If you are scheduled to speak at 10:00 am, expect it to be at least 11:00 or noon before you actually do. If a conference is supposed to start at 9:00 am, you might not even arrive at the scheduled speaking place until 10:00 or 10:30. Just relax though. It all seems to work out perfectly. Also, trying to do business with a hotel operator or a store clerk can be challenging. Be patient. Their newest customer can often get their attention. They tend to respond to the immediate situation but things do get done. For example, if you are being waited on in a hotel and someone new approaches the desk, the clerk may very well attend to the newcomer first. It is the same when shopping. This is just their way. You have no choice, so just wait with a smile on your face.

BEGGARS & CHARITY: It is generally considered not wise to give money to any of the many beggars that you may encounter unless you are told their situation by the Pastor or leader. Many of them are professional beggars who take home a substantial income and their success only encourages more to make it their profession also. If you feel the leading of the Spirit to give money it is a good idea to leave the money with the Pastor and let him give it out. The best way to deal with the beggars is to completely ignore them. This may seem harsh especially when some of them are carrying children with them. Many beggars actually "rent" children to carry on the streets. If they grab at your arms or hands, just continue to walk. If you pay attention to them they will continue to follow you and if you respond, you will quickly attract a crowd. Their favorite places to hang out are tourist areas, shopping sites, train and bus stations, ticket agents, and some hotels. If you feel the need to give, just ask the Pastor first. He knows the ones that are legitimate and those that are pulling as scam.

Be "very careful" when talking with the Indians, They consider you very wealthy and a great source of funds. Most Indians make a minimal amount of money a month ($20.00 to $50.00). Some make even less. The slightest hint or impression that you "might" be willing to "maybe" help in "some small" way financially, will likely be taken as a "promise" or they might assume that you have just "pledged yourself" for a serious commitment. Be careful! We have learned that the best response when presented with a need is, "I will pray about it." This keeps you uncommitted until you know more about what is going on. What they have proposed in their mind and think they have communicated to you may in fact be vastly different. A brother can and will be offended if they think you have committed to something you didn't no matter who was at fault in the communication.

1. Alarm clock

2. Flashlight

3. Blow dryer

4. Curling Iron

5. Electric adapter

6. Travel iron

7. Pajamas

8. Bath towel

9. Wash cloth

10. Bar soap (antibacterial)

11. Zip lock bags (large & small)

12. Flip flops (showers)

13. Toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)

14. Shampoo & conditioner

15. Skin lotion (good smelling kind)

16. Container of wipes (like baby wipes or face wipes)

17. Hand sanitizer (1 large bottle (for refill) & tiny ones

to carry with you)

18. Money belt

19. Camera, film or extra cards, charger, or batteries.

20. Mosquito spray or towelettes

21. Passport & visa & extra copies

22. Drivers licenses & extra copies

23. Coffee singles (tea is readily available)

24. Snacks for the lay over at airports and while in

India (peanut butter & crackers, peanuts, gum,

jerky, etc.)

25. Pepto-Bismol (liquid & tablets)

26. Imodium (liquid & tablets)

27. Sinus meds/ ( Sudafed, Benedryl)

28. Asprin, ibuprofen, tylenol

29. Cough drops (for yourself & to give away)

30. Prescriptions in the original container

31. Tums, Rolaids, Pepcid etc

(We like to take extra meds to leave with the

people)

32. Small bills (twenties, tens, fives, ones (airports,

shops, & tipping)

33. Larger bills ($100.00's for paying hotel bill)

34. Small gifts to give away (scarf, socks, hat, pen,

lotions, etc.)

35. Bible (Bags or briefcase to carry your stuff)

36. Ministry notes

37. Paper pad & pens (hard to find a pen in rural India)

38. Extra money to give away or buy needs for others

(optional but fun)

39. Extra money for shopping in India & at airports

(optional but fun)