TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION FOR INDIA
PASSPORTS
Every ISSJS participant will need to have a passport that is valid for the entire length of his or her time in India. The United States has recently started requiring passports for all travel to Mexico and Canada. The result is that there are more applicants and longer waiting periods for passports. Please allow at least two months for the passport application process. For more passport information please see:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Before leaving for India please make several copies of your passport. Leave at least one copy with a friend or family member in case your passport is lost or stolen. While in India keep a copy with you, along with extra passport size photographs in a separate location from your passport. These precautions will allow the U.S Embassy in India to replace your passport as quickly as possible.
VISAS
All student participants are expected to pay for their own visa fees. Each participant should get a tourist visa and NOT a student visa. Please request a multiple-entry visa, even if you have no immediate plans to travel elsewhere. This will allow you to travel outside of India and return to India without obtaining a return visa each time. However, if you are sure that you do not plan to travel anywhere outside India at this time, you may also apply for a single-entry visa. (Please note that during the program, June 1st to July 31st, you will not be able to leave the program venues).
The visa application process depends upon the participant’s country of origin. These instructions are based on requirements for the United States. U.S Participant’s are advised to apply for an Indian visa early as possible. It can take up to several weeks for processing, although rush processing is usually available for an extra cost. Visa Application Forms can be downloaded from the Indian Embassy website under Visa Services. Make sure that you are using the correct consulate jurisdiction over your state. (i.e., if you live in Los Angeles or Denver you would send your passport to the Indian Consulate of San Francisco). A list of consulate jurisdictions is available online. This is the Indian Consulate website for San Francisco
http://www.indiacgny.org/ and for New York http://www.cgisf.org/. At these websites you will be able to download and fill out the visa form for India, as well as redirect yourself to the correct consulate needed for your location.
PACKING & WEATHER
Packing is highly individual, and no single list will work for everyone. However, please make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, umbrella, raingear, flashlight, bath towels (preferably, an easy to dry travel towel), bed-sheets (or a sleeping bag liner, since it dries faster and is smaller to pack). The following additional considerations can help you pack wisely:
WEATHER IN INDIA: June and July are summer months in India. Monsoon rains start at the end of June or the beginning of July. Daytime temperatures in most of the places we will travel will be 100+ F (as much as up to 108 F). Nighttime temperatures will be slightly less. During Monsoon days, it can be hot and muggy.
THINK ABOUT LAUNDARY: Lighter colors help you stay cool, but darker colors show dirt less; you might wish to strike a happy medium. Stress lightweight fabrics that can be easily hand-washed, can hold up to repeated washing, and do not need ironing. A key question for choosing clothes: How long does it take to air dry?
If you choose, a laundry service will be provided at a reasonable cost. A washer, or dobhi, will come to the ISSJS accommodation every alternate day. He or she will take your dirty clothes for washing and will deliver them back to you after two days at a very reasonable cost.
PLAN TO BE PRESENTABLE: Plan to dress nicely. Clean, fairly conservative apparel is appropriate. Include one or two dressy outfits for evening outings. Pack clothing that is relatively new, both to be sure it lasts through your stay in India and because you will feel uncomfortably out of place if you wear ripped, baggy, or faded clothes. We can make arrangements for traditional kurta-pajama, slawaar-kameez, and saris at affordable prices. You will find that dressing in Indian style clothing is the most comfortable option, in terms of weather and cultural appropriateness.
BE CONSERVATIVE: Some clothing that is common in North America would be considered provocative or inappropriate in India. If you wish to pack exercise clothes, pack athletic pants or shorts that extend to the knee. However, shorts are not cultural appropriate do please do not plan on wearing shorts in public settings.
Clothing choice is particularly important for women. In some areas, exposing the shoulders or ankles is not suitable. Women tend to wear long skirts in rural areas, and although you may wear slacks without offending, in some rural settings you may feel out of place.
CHOOSE YOUR LUGGAGE WISELY: Pack what you can carry! Be selective. Decide what, and how much, is really essential to you. Try to get by with one large suitcase and a carry-on. Remember, you can purchase clothing and almost everything you need in India, although because of the program schedule you will not have significant time to devote to shopping. It’s a good idea to bring an extra empty duffle bag in your suitcase in case you have items to bring back with you. You may also wish to bring a daypack/backpack for daytrips and class/research materials.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We request that you fill out the form in the applications materials (if you have not already done so) informing us of any physical ailments and/or medical conditions before arriving in India. Please also fill out the Emergency Contact Form, also available under the forms section.
The website of the Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/travel, provides extensive information and advice on immunizations and on staying healthy in India. Another good site is Travel Health Online at www.tripprep.com. It is important that you inform yourself prior to departure what precautions to take while living in India. Please bring all medications, malaria, toiletries, and repellents with you. You may always supplement after you arrive.
IMMUNIZATIONS: We strongly encourage you to consult with a travel physician or travel nurse well before departure to allow for enough time to complete certain immunization series. All program participants should get a Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid shot, as well as any other booster shots needed. A rabies vaccination is recommended but not required prior to departure.
Please bring your immunization record with you and keep it with your passport
MEDICATIONS: Please bring your medicines, medical prescriptions (including glasses/contact lens prescription), medical equipment, and special dietary needs with you. Many prescribed medicines are available in India but may be under different names. You may also wish to bring medication for diarrhea. An antibiotic, ciproflaxin, is available and less expensive in India.
MALARIA PREVENTION: Summer months are breeding months for mosquitoes. Therefore, please bring mosquito repellant's and malarial medication with you. Malaria is a very serious illness. Your travel health specialist will recommend that you take a prophylactic (preventive) drug for malaria, probably beginning a week or two before you are scheduled to arrive in India. It is essential that you purchase and bring with you the necessary medication. Without medication there is a chance that you might become very ill fairly quickly and require hospitalization. While the medication cannot prevent you from contracting malaria, it significantly reduces the symptoms, allowing you time to seek medical attention at a clinic and facilities for a speedy recovery. In some cases, visiting scholars have experienced side effects from the CDC-recommended drug, mefloquine. Some scholars have experienced strange dreams or nightmares as a result of this type of malarial. A new medication, Malarone, is now on the market and may avoid the risk of side effects. Scholars have inquired about purchasing medicine in India against malaria. In order to be protected, you must take the medication prior to your departure. Also, bring your insect repellant! Repellent with at least 21% DEET will help ward against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. A new cream, Ultrathon, manufactured by 3M contains 30% DEET and has been recommended by health professionals as an alternative to aerosol sprays.
INSURANCE: All program participants must have travel insurance. Each participant must pay for his/her own insurance coverage. You must provide a copy of such insurance to the Student Affairs Coordinator. There are many international insurance options online. One relatively inexpensive accident and sickness program is administered by HTH Worldwide Insurance Services, Inc. at
http://www.hthworldwide.com Several previous participants used travel insurance from Travel Guard International at
http://www.travelguard.com.
SPECIAL CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN: The feelings engendered by being female in what may seem an anti-feminist society have proved a difficult challenge to overcome in terms of experiential fieldwork and lived scholarship. It is important to remain aware of the cultural context at hand. Women might sense a feeling of over protectiveness by your host families regarding curfew, places frequented, and friends. Roles are often defined by gender in many cultures, and you may elicit negative responses if you do not follow, or at least are sensitive to, the prescribed roles; moreover, foreign females may sometimes experience harassment even if they do follow the rules.
SEXUAL HARRASMENT: Do not tolerate behavior that feels threatening or disrespectful by colleagues, staff or faculty members. When in any doubt, consult with an ISSJS staff member with whom you feel comfortable. Report any incidents of sexual harassment or sexual assault immediately.
