Hey everyone!
I just have a few packing pointers here on things you may need, want, or want to leave behind that you may not have thought about. Also, there are a few things that we will probably want to bring as a team so sign up for anything that you can bring!
I know that you have already seen a packing list but here are a few things that I wished I had on my trips.
Personal
Be sure to bring your pillow
2 extra passport/visa photos (THIS IS A MUST HAVE)
bring recipes (we will be cooking for ourselves)
closet organizer – like a shoe rack you hang (definitely not necessary but can be helpful)
If everyone would bring a big jar of peanut butter that would be awesome!
A towel
Some photos of family and friends
You absolutely must have a rain jacket (it will rain most of the trip)
I wouldn't bother bringing a swimsuit. If, which seems unlikely, we do swim you will have to wear basketball shorts and a t shirt as a minimum.
As far as money, there should be ATM's but you will be charged an additional fee to use them. How much money you want to bring is totally up to how much you plan to spend. $100 dollars a month is a good approximation. The only time you will actually NEED money will be for buying saris or salwars when we arrive which you can do for 20$ if you want. You will have your food and lodging covered in the money that you rose. Any additional money you brought would just be for snacks and souvenirs.
Team Items
Measuring cup (I have one)
spices (I someone volunteered for this)
portable speakers (would be nice but not necessary)
Power converters (we probably want two for the team) Power strip or multiplier (just the things that can give you two places or more to charge for one)
Don't be too stressed about packing. Millions of people survive of the resources in India and you will be able to buy anything you may forget or need 🙂
The only time you will not be wearing long pants, a sari, or salwar is in our rooms where you can wear shorts and tank tops as long as no men are present. India is extremely conservative so you may be able to wear v necks if you have an undershirt and are fully covered. For sleeping, we will have mattresses provided so there is no need to bring a mat. Feel free to ask questions!
Can't wait to meet you all this week!!!
Calie
I bought some peanut butta today! For the team items, do you want us all to bring them? Like measuring cups? Is it necessary for everyone to bring them? Just curious!
For team items we only need one or two people on the team to volunteer to bring each item.
Also, I said you wouldn’t need any money but then I remembered that we will be buying Salwars and Saris when we get there and that they are between $4 and $12 each. You won’t need more than 2 or 3 I would guess.
I was going to use a sleeping bag as a sleeping mat just so I wouldn’t have to buy one, but it just takes up so much room in my bag! Would you suggest me buying a sleeping pad and forget the sleeping bag?
Yvette, instead of bringing a sleeping bag I sewed a sheet in half and am using that and then a sleeping pad which rolls up about the size of a small sleeping bag. I don’t know if that helps though.
I have a measuring cup an tons of spices already in my apartment so I’ll bring em! I’ve got tons of lemon pepper! I can’t wait to meet everyone!
I’ll volunteer to bring measuring cups. Are measuring spoons necessary too?
Also–Yvette, I am doing the same thing Rebecca is (sort of), I’m just bringing 2 sheets and a sleeping pad. I feel like its going to be really hot and humid there at night anyways, so bringing a sleeping bag would be too much.
Thanks! Yeah, I’m going to bring two sheets too. I guess I’ll ditch the sleeping bag and go and get a sleeping pad. Is there a specific kind of sleeping pad you girls suggest?
When I went to Southeast Asia, they were super strict when we exchanged money. They only took $100 bills that were super crisp and practically brand new; they didn’t take any bill before like 2000. What’s the deal in India? Is it similar?
Mine is one that kinda inflates a bit when you unroll it but not like a whole ton or anything. I am just borrowing it so I don’t know any other types or anything like that.
I’m literally doing the same thing as Rebecca, again! I’m borrowing it from a friend who went on the world race–it inflates and rolls up. Its literally nothing special, but can get relatively small to fit in a suitcase.
How many t-shirts do we need to bring/are ya’ll bringing?
I’m bringing 6 t-shirts. I’m not sure if thats too many, but again I do tend to over pack. Is anyone bringing portable speakers? That would be awesome if someone could!
I bringing about that many shirts too!! I didn’t our shorts had to be to our knees so I’m working on that. And I got measuring spoons and some spices today.
Okay, I don’t know about shirts either? Are we allowed to wear v-necks? I asked some other people who went to India, but I’m waiting for them to respond back 😛 I’m just wanting to know if we can bring clothes that are more “our style” for when we are walking around the city or whatever(obviously keeping in mind that our shoulders need to be covered)? Does anyone know?
Ok, so since we will have mattresses, I DON’T need to go buy a sleeping pad, right? I just want to make sure.
does anyone have a outlet converter for India that they are bringing? I don’t have one, but did not know if we would be able to share. I was also wondering about the V-necks and if that was acceptable.
In case you didn’t notice I edited the oringinal post to answer most of your questions.
Amanda – no a slepping pad is not necesary 🙂
We will be meeting soon!!!
Calie
Just wondering, if for whatever reason there are delays or what not with traveling to Chattanooga, who should be contact?I’m sure everything will go smoothly, but just in case.
Contact your mobilizer, Katie Gossard, if there are flight delays or problems.
Hey guys! I heard from our ministry base and they are asking that you do not bring a laptop/computer/iPad to India. Also, you will need to wear closed toed shoes at times and should bring st least a scarf.
I bought a converter the other day (I hope it’s right!!), but don’t have a power strip, but that is a good idea!
1) I got a converter, but I don’t know if it will work there?! I was looking for type c or d…but the one I got was for “Asia” but obviously the countries in Asia are all different…so I mean, I’ll bring it…and hope that it will work?? Where did everyone else get converters?
2) I unfortunately do not own a raincoat, although I would like to have one…BUT i DO have a poncho..haha. Would that be fine?
3) I wasn’t planning on bringing a computer or anything, but I did want to update a blog for people who were curious about what I am doing. Would there be a way for us to use computers? I know thats so lame for me to want to go on the computer…but its just because I want to keep people updated 😛
Jillian:
1.I got my converter at good ol’ Target. Mine also says that it’s for Asia, Europe, and the UK. (the thing is massive)
2. As far as a rain coat goes I don’t own one either, so I just going to use a poncho too!
3. I was told that we are going to internet cafes or something like that to keep everyone back home updated. I’m not sure how often though.
Hey I got mine at target too! Hopefully both of ours will work!!! And yes! We will have to just rock the ponchos. And I was thinking internet cafes might be an option? But obviously ive never been to India, so what do i know?! But thanks for letting me know! 😀
I can’t really say what internet access will be like because I am not sure at the moment, but you will have some sort of access. A tumbdrive is a good idea bring for bringing emails to and from internet cafes if we end up using those 🙂