More Duct Tape Adventures: Luggage Tags

So, I decided that, since I am newly enamored of Duck brand Duct tape, I would make some cool luggage tags for me and my guys.   I used duct tape and more clear box tops to make some nifty tags following these steps:

1. Make some sheets of tape in the colors you want.









2. Cut out two pieces of sheet approximately 3.5 " x 4".
I didn't measure precisely.

3. Put one piece aside. This is the top cover of your tag.
I put a card on top of the bottom sheet to measure and see how it fit.

4. Cut a piece of plastic a little bigger than a business card.

5. Tape the bottom edge with a tiny strip of matching/coordinating tape.

6. Tape the sides of the plastic to the sides of the bottom sheet of duct tape using a matching/coordinating strip of tape. (If you cut a strip into thirds the long way, that will usually suffice.)

7. Slip in the address of your destination. I used a personal "calling card," as it has my address and phone number on it. I turned it over and wrote the address of Raja's parents on the other side. I'll use that side traveling to India, and the other side (with my address) when returning from India...so the airlines know where to send my luggage should they "misplace" it.

8. Place the cover over the top of the address. you can tape it together, if you wish. I drew a couple of dots, because I am going to use brads (metal fasteners) to connect the two sheets together.

9. Decorate the cover. You can use more tape, Sharpies, or whatever.

Five down, a bunch more to go... but no more tonight: I'm exhausted!

Challenge: Make some luggage tags for your own, which reflect your personality or your destination!

Until we meet again, be good!

Awesome Passport Wallet Part II: Decorating

Okay, I took pics this time.

1. First I decided what theme I wanted. I chose India...duh! I looked on the internet, and chose an image I liked. I actually had one in mind, as I knew I wanted an elephant, and I'd researched that before when I designed my tattoo (top). I found the one I wanted (bottom), printed it, and cut it out.

2. Then, I made a bunch of copies so that I could experiment (and just in case I needed them.)

3. First I cut out the "flower/sun" shape.

4. I lay down some yellow tape. I stuck it onto a binder with a plastic covering (one I didn't care about preserving)

5. I traced around the paper with a dry-erase marker, and removed the paper. Then I cut around the shape with an x-acto knife.

6.  I peeled the outside tape away, and voila!

7. I gently pulled the tape from the binder, and positioned it on the back side of my wallet.

8. Next came the circle. I did it in green.

9. When I cut the circle, the whole plastic piece came with it, and I had to gently pry it apart, and place  the circle of green tape on top of the sun/flower.

10. Next was the elephant's head. This was the toughest piece, but I just did the same thing as before: cut out the paper, lay down the (blue) tape, traced, cut, pulled (gently!) and placed. I did a little patching on the bottom to make sure it looked okay.

11. The last bits: the ear, the eye, the triangle (of purple) came last. I just cut these pretty much freehand to save time.

12. I stuck all the bits onto the back of the wallet.
(I tried to get this pic turned right-side up. I could do it in i-photo, but it wouldn't upload that way!)

13. Last, I used a Sharpie to add decorative details. I think it turned out nice. :)

After this, I realized that the whole thing was on upside down. The great thing about duct tape on duct tape is: unless the sticky sides are together, it's easy to peel it off and reposition it!

14. On the other side, at the top flap, I sewed a metal Namaste which I bought in the bead/jewelry making section at Michael's.  Namaste is a common greeting in India. It indicates that your spirit recognizes and acknowledges the other person's spirit. It comes from the ancient language Sanskrit, and although it's a Hindi word, most Indians recognize and use it in greeting.

My wallet is done! Now to other projects!

Until then, be good!

My Awesome Passport Wallet

I just thought I would show you the awesome passport wallet I made. I'll also tell you how I made it.
I forgot to take pictures as I went (sorry) but I'll try to explain as best I can.  I'm also going to make some luggage tags for me, Raja, Monkey, and the Man Cub, so I'll post step by steps for that.

1. First, I chose the colors I wanted. Duck brand Duct tape comes in tons of bright colors. You can get it at Michaels or through the Duck Tape website. I chose bright, pretty colors: aqua blue, purple, neon green, yellow, and blue/purple tie-dye.

2. I drew my design out on graph paper to see what it might look like, and how it would go together. I drew out the pieces, cut them out, and made a practice wallet out of paper. Turns out it was way too small. I measured around my passport, my driver's license, etc. to see what size it needed to be. I drew the pieces out again, in the correct size, on graph paper. The new wallet is actually a bit big, but that's okay, because then I will be sure to have enough room for all of my documentation, plane tickets, etc.

3. I made my first sheet of duct tape. To do this, you cut a long piece of tape and place it, sticky side up on the table. Then you take another long strip and stick it, sticky side down, about halfway down, at the middle of the last strip. When you turn it over, there should now be about half a strip of sticky duct tape at the bottom. Rip another strip of duct tape, and place it slightly overlapping the first piece of duct tape, and covering the sticky side of the last piece, with about half the new piece exposed when you turn the tape over again. This site , which shows how to make a regular duct tape wallet, shows how to make the sheets. The sheets are everything. You will make several, and then tape them together to create the finished product.  Because I wanted a multi colored wallet, I made a sheet of tape that was purple on one side and aqua on the other, a sheet that was aqua on one side and tie-dye on the other, and a sheet that was yellow on one side and green on the other.  Using these three sheets, I created my entire wallet.

4. Once all the sheets were made, I cut a 13 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of the purple/blue sheet.  I folded it over so there was an approx.  5 3/4" wallet with a  2 " flap on top.  I opened it up, and on the top half (from the bottom of the flap to the middle fold) I taped two "wings" (5 3/4" x 2 1/2") to the sides, using tape that matched the respective sides.

5. I then took a sheet of blue/tie-dye that was twice the width and the same length as the blue/purple sheet. I folded it over to make a pocket and taped it on 3 sides to the blue/purple sheet, creating two long pockets, one aqua, one tie-dye. I had to be careful when I taped it (with more aqua tape) as I had to tape part of it closed, and part of it to the bottom (or right hand, depending on how you're holding it) "wing" of the wallet.

6. Now came the tougher bits.  I took my driver's license and traced around it using a non-permanent marker on a sheet of yellow/green tape.  I drew a "frame" around it, and then cut out the frame.  (It looked like a rectangle with a smaller rectangle cut out of the middle.) On the back side I taped a rectangle of clear, stiff plastic I cut from the top of a greeting card box (although you could use a transparency sheet or even a page protector, any clear, sturdy plastic)  Then I taped the part I cut out to make the frame onto the back, just at the bottom, to hold my driver's license in place. I made sure I wiped off all the pen so it looked nice.

7. In addition, I cut some slightly smaller rectangles of yellow/green tape, and folded them into little "pockets " to hold credit cards, etc.  I folded one rectangle at a time,  always unevenly, to allow the card to peek out the top of the pocket and to allow each one to be seen. I taped these together on the back, and then attached them to the top/right hand side of the wallet with aqua duct tape. At the bottom I attached the I.D. holder, taping it on the sides, but leaving it loose at the bottom. Also, I had to be careful and remember not to tape the passport/money pockets together!

8. I made a little change purse out of the yellow/green tape sheet as well, and attached it to the bottom/left hand side of the wallet, using yellow tape to trim it/tape it on, and then edging it in blue again to match it and neathen the lines.

9. underneath the I.D. frame, I attached a loop made from purple/blue sheet (just to shake things up a bit.) I could put a pen in there (but I found the wallet doesn't really want to close, then) but I really added it so I could thread the cord through it and hang the wallet from my neck.

10. The last thing I did was add velcro "buttons." I put two on the flap of the change purse. Then I put one on the inner bottom corner of each of the "wings" to hold them in. I put one on the front top side of each of the wings so that the bottom of the wallet could fold up and attach. Last, I added three to the flap of the wallet so it can fold over and attach to the bottom flap that was just folded up.

It sounds really complicated, but since I made a paper model, it wasn't that bad. Here are some photos of the finished product. I think I am still going to add some decoration to the outside, but that will have to wait until later. I'm tired!

Here is what the wallet looks like, closed.

Here it is with the top velcro opened.

                                                          Here you can see the pockets.




And here is the finished product. TA-DAAAA!

I think it's pretty cool! What do you think?

Challenge: Make a duct tape project of your own. Make a wallet, passport cover, coin purse, or other item that will be useful on your trip!

See you soon! Until then, be good!

Dealing with Money

 Part of avoiding culture shock is simply realizing that any foreign country is just that, a completely different country, and accept that almost everything will seem different and new.

Money:

The unit of money in India is called the rupee. The rupee was originally a silver coin. A rupee is made up of 100 paise.  100,000 rupees are called a lakh, and 100 lakhs are called a crore. (Trivia: India has a Hindi version of "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" called "Kaun Banega Crorepati.")


Rupees look like this:

Who knows who that is on the Rupee notes? (Notes = bills) Yup. It is Mohandas K. Gandhi. If you don't know who he is, you have some research to do. Clicking on his name will take you to his wikipedia page.

Usually, a visitor exchanges their dollars for rupees at a bank or exchange kiosk in India. The amount of money you get in return depends on the current "exchange rate." The way the exchange rate goes up and down has to do with economics, and I admit that is not my strong suit. Maybe your teacher can explain it, or you can research it on your own.  An easy way to figure out the exchange rate is to use a website like XE.  1 rupee is currently worth .02 cents. That means one lakh = $2244.42 and 1 crore= $2, 244,417.00 (and one paisa= .0002 cents!)  I plan to save up some money to take to India with me, so that I can buy things for myself, plus gifts for all my friends and family. Because there are a lot of rupees to the dollar, I think I'll feel really rich! $100.00 will equal 4,455.50 in rupees! One traveler to India said that she lived in India for 2 months and only spent $400.00 USD. Things are very inexpensive in India. Even 100% silk designer saris can be bought for around $150.00 USD. You can rarely buy a nice silk skirt for that much at a department store in the U.S.!

People are not supposed to take rupees out of the country, so they have to exchange them before they leave. It’s a lot easier just to spend them on last minute items like drinks, snacks or souvenirs. Because he is a dual citizen (that means he is a citizen of both countries, India and the U.S. How cool!) and has property there, Raja has a bank account in India. He told me that he’ll deposit my U.S. money there, so he can take some rupees out for me whenever I need them. I assume I can put any I have left over back in before I go (like I'm going to have any left! ha ha.) I am also going to take my debit and credit cards, as they can be used in most places in India.  Still, credit card companies may charge an overseas fee, so I have to call ahead before I go to see how much that will be. I may be safer (or at least save more money) just using cash as much as I can.

Keeping your Money Safe:


If you have money on you, you are going to want to keep it safe so that you still have it when you want or need to spend it! Big cities, especially ones in which there tons and tons of people packed together and many of them are poor, are risky places to carry a lot of money. Thieves can pick your pocket, purse, or backpack without you even noticing. Some even cut open your bag when you're not looking in order to steal your stuff out of it! If you let go of it for a moment, it can disappear without a trace. If you trust the wrong person, they can rob you blind. This doesn't mean everyone is bad or "out to get you," but it is always better to be safe than sorry!

Some suggestions for keeping your money safe include:

• Carry money in small bills and coins, and in different places: some in a coin purse, some in a pocket, your shoe, or some in a travel wallet like this one  on the left (from R.E.I.) I made one of my own out of duct tape, because I'm cool like that.
• Don't carry large amounts of money with you. Carry some travellers checks, your ATM card, or a credit card (or two). They will fit nicely in your travel wallet.
• Don't flash around your money, it can be really tempting, and especially to people who figure you have a lot more where that came from anyway. Don't just leave it in your hotel room (you'll probably be safe leaving it at home if you are visiting friends/relatives.) One idea is to use a diversion safe. This is a safe that looks like something else: a book, a can of shaving cream, or something else that will be passed over by most thieves. Some unique suggestions I found on the internet for hiding money are: hide it in different clothes, duct tape a baggie of cash to the top inside of your dresser,  drop a sealed and taped baggie of cash into the tank of the toilet, or roll up a wad of cash and hide it in the shower curtain or toilet paper rod. Some even said to screw open the bottom of the telephone or the back of the T.V. and put your money there. These last ones seem a little extreme to me, but whatever makes you feel secure. 

Buying Stuff/Bargaining:


In India, people haggle.  That means the seller offers a price higher than the item is worth, and the buyer offers a much, much lower price, then they make a deal by going down a little/up a little over and over until they meet somewhere in the middle. Some stores are "fixed price" which means no haggling, but it's part of the fun of shopping in most places. Remember, in comparison to most Indians, Americans and Europeans are very rich. Therefore, tourists (and any white people) are always charged more. Luckily I’ll have Raja with me. Not only is he from the area* and speaks the language, but he is a shrewd shopper (some might say frugal) and he will no doubt  keep me from getting cheated too badly.

*even though he is now considered an NRI= "Non Resident Indian."

Because people make their living selling their wares for cheap prices, and because it takes some time to haggle (some people can spend hours haggling over more expensive items) it is considered very rude to haggle over things you aren't really interested in buying. However, you may want to keep it to yourself how much you really want an item, as you might not be able to get as good of a deal once the seller knows he has the advantage.

Also be aware that if you buy something, it's yours forever. There are no return policies in markets and vendor stalls. If something breaks after you've paid for it, it's yours...even if you are still standing right in front of the guy who sold it to you!

Getting Around


I'm not sure how we'll be getting around in India. Some people have cars, but a lot of people ride motorbikes, scooters, take buses, taxis, or auto-rickshaws, which are like three-wheeled taxis. There are also regular rickshaws (carts, even trucks) powered by a guy on a bicycle! There are also lots of trucks on the road, transporting stuff (and people.) Also, there are the cows.  Streets in Chennai are busy places, and not the safest places to walk or try to cross the street. Just remember, drivers would rather hit a person than strike a sacred cow. (More about the cows elsewhere.)


Tips /Services


In India there are many people who earn their living by performing services for others. Even middle class families often have domestic servants, and most expatriates (people from other countries living in India) do have someone to help with the cooking, the cleaning, or the kids. Dhobiwallahs are laundry cleaners, and they clean, dry, press and fold your laundry for you. It doesn't cost much money, and your clothes are delivered the next day. You will not find a lot of laundromats in India.  Not a lot of tourists drive in India because the roads are so crazy. They hire drivers, take auto-rickshaws or taxis. A lot of drivers will try to take advantage of "rich" foreigners, so you have to agree on a price before you go.

Tips are not expected (although they are certainly appreciated) in most places in India. As in other countries, tips are pretty much expected in restaurants and hotels, although sometimes a restaurant will automatically add the tip to your bill. People you might like to tip: waiters, of course, and bartenders, the doorman, the bellboy (that's the person who carries your bags at the hotel), drivers (you don't usually tip your taxi driver, but you can round off the bill), delivery boys, and the people who help you at gas stations, spas, barber shops or beauty salons, or even in bathrooms! (Some restrooms will have an attendant who keeps the restroom clean an offers you a towel for your hands or even a spray of cologne.) You can also tip people who help you around your home or garden, but that's usually done with small, personalized gifts.

Reference: Rediff India Abroad

Touts: Touts are everywhere in India. They are those people who are willing to help you get whatever you need, at a great price. However, they are also master scammers. They will offer to get you a better exchange rate, and pass off counterfeit money, or tell you the train ticket office is closed, and that you can get tickets across the street. Imagine your surprise when you are not allowed on the train with your useless, fake ticket! They will offer tours, taking you wherever you want to go: the "best" shops, restaurants, spas, hotels...all owned (unbeknownst to you) by their relatives, who give them a slice of the cash. Taxi driving touts may tell you the place you want to go (a restaurant, shop, even your hotel) has burned down or is out of business, but they can take you someplace even better. You pay a high price; they get a commission.

Touts often swarm tourists at airports, train stations, or tourist sites. The only way to get rid of them is to ignore them. If you look at them, talk to them (even to say "No Thanks"), or otherwise acknowledge them, they will not leave you alone, but will follow you and pester you, hoping you will be so annoyed that you will finally give in (kind of like some kids!)

The one time touts can be useful is if you really do want to explore someplace, especially the more unique or remote areas of a city or village. Then it is a great idea to find a local to help you. Once he knows you are truly interested in his services, a local tout can show you sights and out of the way "hidden gems" that guide books might not mention. Hiring one specific guide for your entire stay might afford you an opportunity to have a very special experience you might not otherwise have had.


Reference

Beggars:

One of the most difficult sights for foreigners in India are the homeless beggars, many of whom are malnourished,  disabled, or children.  There are an estimated 170 million slum dwellers in India, and over 18 million homeless children. Many of these work on the streets. Begging is a profession in India, sometimes several generations are in the business. Many groups of beggars are led by unscrupulous leaders who manipulate and exploit others, especially children, in order to make money. Some women will approach carrying a malnourished baby, and begging for money for food. Often the baby is not even theirs, but borrowed for the day in order to help the beggar gain more sympathy!

It is really hard not to feel sorry for the people who live in the slums of India. Their lives are more difficult than most of us can ever imagine. However, it is not possible to help them all. If tourists give money to one person, they will be swarmed by others wanting the same. Here are some tips to dealing with beggars:

• It seems mean, but if you can, ignore them. If you want to help, consider giving money to a reputable service organization that serves the poor, or doing some volunteer work.
• If you feel you must give something, do so just as you are leaving the area. Otherwise, you will be swarmed by other beggars once the person you gave to shows off your generosity.
• Don't give money. Often money goes to the criminal leader of the begging ring, and not to the beggar. Instead give something to eat, or to children give pencils, stickers, or candy.

Here are some interesting websites that talk about begging in India:
Homeless International
Begging as a Profession

Questions/Challenges:

1. What kind of currency (money) do they use in the country you plan to visit? What does it look like?How does it compare to the currency of your country? Draw (or print out and color) some money from the country you plan to visit.
2. What are the rules regarding bringing foreign money in and/or out of the country? How is money exchanged in the country you are visiting?
3. What kind of things would you like to buy in the country you are visiting? what kinds of things do they have there that they don't have here, or that are native to that area? Research to see if you can find out how much those things might cost.
4. How do you plan to keep your money safe when you travel? Use your imagination to design and make a passport wallet or diversion safe to keep your money safe from thieves. You can use Google to find some ideas on how to make diversion safes. Here's a site that tells how to make a cool one from a book. Make sure to buy the book at a garage sale or thrift store...don't use your mom or dad's (at least not without asking!)  How to make a book safe
5. Role play a day in the market. Practice haggling. It can be fun!

Have fun, and be good!

Health Concerns: Preparing for Overseas Travel

As I mentioned in my last post, there are many health concerns a person has to consider when she travels overseas. Different germs, bacteria, and other things that occur naturally in one country don't exist in another. That's why a local won't get sick from drinking the water, but you might!


Speaking of water, it's a good idea not to drink the tap water in lots of foreign countries, including ones near the U.S., like Mexico. That means not dreaking it in anything either, like ice, iced tea, lemonade, mixed drinks, shakes, icees, snowcones...and what fun is that?  Sometimes the water used to wash vegetables can even make you sick. I've read that it's best to use bottled water to brush your teeth, too, and be careful not to swallow your shower water! Of course, some areas will be cleaner than others, but most of the main waterways in India are horribly polluted with sewage, chemicals from factories, and other stuff we don't want to even think about (come on, isn't "sewage" bad enough?)


On top of this, people who care for the environment will tell you that in India (and many other countries), they haven't figured out very good ways to deal with their garbage problem, and they're not quite up to where we are with recycling so....drinking a lot of bottled water can really add to the problem! What does an earth-loving traveler do, then? Well, I have read about this really cool thing called a Steripen, which is an ultraviolet light that you stick in water, and it kills all of the bad microbes! If you look on the site (just click on the word "Steripen" above) you can even find a list (under "water facts/ glossary") explaining all of the gross things that could live in your water. It's both interesting, and very disgusting.


A travel sized Steripen costs about $60-$70, depending on what style you buy (the smaller one is more expensive. Go figure!) However, it's much better than getting sick. No one likes vomiting or diarrhea. Seriously.


Ouch! It's Not Fair!


Before I go to India, I am going to have to get several vaccinations. For those of you who don't already know, that means shots. Luckily, I'm not afraid of needles (I have three tattoos!)


I have made an appointment with my nurse practitioner for next Tuesday. When I see her I am going to ask her about vaccinations for the following:


DPT (diptheria-pertussis-tetanus): This is one of those basic 3-in-1 shots we all get when we are kids, and then we are supposed to get a "booster" shot every 10 years or so. I think I had my last one at age 16 or so. Time for an update. Diptheria and pertussis (whooping cough) are lung infections (like colds gone terribly wrong) and are very contagious. Tetanus is the one I'm most concerned about. This is the infection you can get in an open cut or wound, like if you step on a piece of glass or a rusty nail. It's better to be safe than sorry, don't you think?


Typhoid: This disease is spread through contaminated food or water. It's especially bad during monsoon season (September-December), but I'll get it just in case.


Hepatitis A: Hep. A is caused by contaminated food or water. It is not as dangerous as Hepatitis B or C, but it is probably more common. Two shots will last 10 years.


Hepatitis B: Hep. B is dangerous. You get it from exposure to bodily fluids. One of the ways you could get it in India would be if you have to get a blood transfusion. That's not likely, but I was planning to get this vaccine anyway, as I am sometimes exposed to bodily fluids while working with kids (eeewwwwww.) The vaccine is given over 6 months. There are 3 different shots. It's not likely I'll have had the whole series by the time I go, but at least I'll be on my way to being well vaccinated for my next trip.


A Spoonful of Sugar...


"Helps the medicine go down, " Mary Poppins said.  I think it pretty much helps anything taste better, but then, I'm a sugar fiend.


I am going to have to get prescriptions filled for my regular medications so I can take them with me. I take medicine for my asthma, for example. Along with my meds, I am also taking copies of the prescriptions my doctor wrote. She told me that it is not difficult to get in to see a doctor in India, nor would it be terribly difficult (or expensive) to get prescriptions filled. That's good to know, in case I somehow lost my medicine.


Another thing I need to ask for is pills to prevent malaria. What is that? Well...


Malaria is a blood-borne infectious disease naturally transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken, which contains malaria parasites. These develop within the mosquito, and about one week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, the parasites are injected with the mosquito's saliva into the person being bitten. After a period of between two weeks and several months (occasionally years) spent in the liver, the malaria parasites start to multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that include fever and headache. In severe cases, the disease worsens, leading to coma and death. (source: Wikipedia)

Now, that doesn't sound good! Even when it's not monsoon season, there are a lot of mosquitoes in Southern India. So bug repellent and anti-malaria pills, here I come! Now as long as I don't get bitten by a poisonous snake, I'm okay...

Questions/Challenges
1. Would the possibility of becoming sick prevent you from traveling somewhere you wanted to go? What could convince you that it was worth taking the risk?
2. Explore some of the health risks of the place you would like to visit. Explain how you might prepare for such risks. What are some of the things you could do to prevent yourself from becoming ill?
3. Make a list of all the things you need to stay healthy in the place you are going. What would be in your first-aid kit?
4. Act out a visit to the Doctor to get your vaccinations. What questions would you ask? What might the doctor say?

Enjoy your assignment, stay healthy, and be good!

Packing

This weekend, Raja and I discussed our trip, as we likely will every weekend for the next several months. (We don't live in the same city, so we usually only see one another on weekends.) He gave me some tips on packing.  I have also read many tips in other places when I was researching my north India trip.

•  Buy inexpensive luggage. Raja tells me that in India, luggage is handled very roughly, and you may need to replace it when you get home anyway, so don't spend your money on expensive suitcases.
• Pack light. For one, I'm going to want to buy a lot of stuff there, and there are weight requirements for suitcases on most flights. Most of the stuff I need I can buy there, and  inexpensively. I'm planning to pack a small suitcase inside of a larger suitcase, so I have one suitcase going, and two coming back. How else will I be able to bring home all the presents I am going to buy? This one is hard for me, but I'm going to do my best.
• Pack an extra set of clothes in your carry on. It's important to do this, just in case your luggage gets lost. Also, it's going to be a very long trip. We leave very early Wednesday morning, and don't get in to Chennai until Friday morning (which is actually Thursday evening, Pacific time. It is 12 1/2 hours ahead there.) It might be a nice thing to "freshen up" on the way.
• Keep your necessary/valuable things on your body. Same reason as above. No one wants their money, passport, medication, or other vital things to be lost.

These are the things I am going to take with me. If I am smart, I can pack almost everything into my carry-on luggage.

Clothes:

1. Salwar-Kameez: Salwar (or Churidar)-Kameez are commonly worn by women in India (and by Indian women in the U.S. My doctor is from Pune, and she always wears them.) They are a type of casual clothing (although they can also be quite fancy) consisting of a tunic (Kameez) and pants. Salwar are baggy pants, and Churidar are skinny pants.  You can see lots of pictures of both on catalog sites like Utsav Sarees. They are modest, yet they look good and feel cool.  I have several of these, and I plan to pack a thin cotton Salwar Kameez and a silk one. I will wear the cotton one for travel, and pack the silk one. I plan to buy more when I am there, too, as they are extremely comfortable.

2. Sari: The last time Raja was in India, he bought me a beautiful sari. Saris are a 5 1/2 (or so) yard piece of cloth which is intricately folded and wrapped into a dress. It is worn over an underskirt (pavada) and a short-sleeved, cropped blouse (choli) Saris are usually worn by older women in India these days, as most younger people wear Western clothes unless it's a formal occasion. However, I probably won't get many chances to wear my sari here, so I'll take it to India with me as  I also want to get some advice on ways to wear it appropriately. Since my sari is fancy, I also want to purchase a very plain sari to wear for "everyday" and to better experiment with different ways of draping (there are several methods,  many of which vary depending on what part of India you are from.) When you first buy a sari, it is often starched and very stiff.  When I first got my sari, I washed it by hand, air dried it over my shower rod, and carefully ironed and folded it. It took a very long time! Raja's sister (with whom I have become very good friends) tells me she will only get her saris cleaned in India. They know how to do it correctly, without damaging the fabric or fine embroidery!

3. Pants/Shirt: I think I will take one pair of western style pants, just for comfort and practicality. Since it will be so hot, I will probably not take jeans (although I would if I were going to Northern India. It's a desert there, so it gets cold at night), but rather some loose cotton pants. I will take a shirt, but likely an Indian one, as they make clothes out of very thin, fine, soft cotton which can be cooler than a t-shirt.

4. Sandals/Socks: Indians do not wear shoes inside the house. They also do not wear shoes inside temples. It's going to be hot, so sandals are the way to go. I plan to take one pair of pretty sandals, and one pair of walking sandals (like Keens or Tevas) and some light ankle socks. After that I'm set. I plan to buy some pretty Indian shoes when I get there. They are really beautiful!

5. Swim Suit/Sarong: Since we are so near the beach, I hope we get to go at least once. Because India is so conservative, Women wear sarongs (a big piece of cloth you wrap around you like a skirt) or coverups over their bathing suits when they are not in the water, for modesty's sake. They also wear more modest swimwear, like one-pieces, rather than bikinis. It's okay, I prefer a one-piece, too!

6. Long-sleeved shirt/hoodie: I'll probably wear a long-sleeved shirt or light hoodie on the plane, as most planes are highly air conditioned. I don't want to be cold! I doubt I'll need it once I'm there, though.

7. Nightgown/Pajamas:  In the movies, women sleep in their saris. I think I might feel too constricted, wrapped up in all that cloth, so I'll just take a summer nightgown or pajamas. Those of you who were my students last summer know that "pyjama" is originally an Indian word, meaning baggy drawstring pants. They are worn by men with a loose tunic called a "kurta." The British adopted them when they ruled India because they were so comfortable!

8. A Hat:  I am a pale Irish girl going to a hot, hot country in summer. If I don't want to become a crispy critter, I need sunscreen, and I need a hat.

8. Underwear: I will say no more about that.  :)

NON-Clothing Items:


1. Toiletries: As most of these can be purchased in Chennai, I plan only to carry travel sizes of the following: shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, floss, mouthwash, and lip balm. I will also bring minimal makeup ( a little is always nice), a comb, a regular toothbrush, a razor, hair ties (if my hair is long enough by then), sunscreen, bug repellent, and any medications I need, such as anti-malaria pills.

2. Emergency kit: It's always nice to have a little emergency kit with you. Suggested contents include: a painkiller (tylenol or advil), an anti-diarrhea medicine (people often get sick because there are different germs in the food/water than our bodies are used to), antibiotic ointment (for cuts and scrapes), bandaids and gauze, cough drops, tweezers, alcohol wipes, antacids, hydrocortizone (for itchy rashes), cotton swabs, tissues, hand-sanitizer, soap papers and baby wipes. There is also supposedly a pill you can get that eliminates jet-lag. If I can find that, I'm all on it. I will only carry a few of each of these items with me. I want an emergency kit that is no bigger than a paperback novel.

3. Money: It's always good to have some cash on you. I will carry some small bills and coins in my wallet/coin purse, and some in a special wallet that I will wear under my clothes. That prevents it from being stolen. When we get to India, we can exchange our U.S. money for Indian money. I will also carry my credit cards in my special wallet, just in case. You can use credit cards in most major stores in Chennai.

2. Extra Luggage:  I plan to pack a suitcase inside of another suitcase to be checked in. I will also be taking a carry-on bag and a "messenger bag" to use instead of a purse or backpack (to carry my stuff around as I sight-see, etc.)

3. Documents: It's important to carry your documentation with you. They can go in your special wallet under your clothes, or in your day bag, if you are certain it won't get lost or dipped into. Documents to bring include: passport w/visa, Medical Insurance information, flight confirmation and boarding pass, and emergency contact information including names and phone numbers of people both in India and back in the States. It's also good to have copies of as many of these documents as possible, in case anything happens or they get lost. I'm also going to bring copies of my resume (they call it a CV), and some personal calling cards, as there is a chance I could move to Bangalore and stay for a while after some time, and I want to make some connections and find out what it takes to find a job there.

4. Memory Makers: All the things I need to document my trip. For me that means my digital camera (and extra batteries, charger, and cord for uploading), my laptop (plus power cord), and my journal and pens (because I am old-fashioned and can't be without one. Also, I'm not going to lug my laptop everywhere!)

5. Entertainment: For the plane, or for down-time (that is, afternoon naps when it's very hot), I'll bring my iPod (and charger), a book (only one, as I know I'm not likely to spend all of my time reading), a Tamil phrase book (why not learn something on the way?) and a magazine. (I'm going to buy several over there for the trip back, I have no doubt, as I love Bollywood movie magazines!)

6. Comforts: Eyeshade for resting, earplugs for blocking out noise, sunglasses, and snacks (which for me always includes gum.)

7. Other: Many other countries do not use the same kinds of electrical plugs we use. Because of that, you may need adaptors for your electronics. I think Raja probably has some of those already, as he has travelled to India many times. Still, it's good to check. It's also a good idea to buy locks for your luggage and bags. You can even buy them for backpacks and day bags so people don't steal stuff from them. There are so many people in Indian cities, that someone could take something out of your bag, and you might not even notice until later. I'm going to have to check on the practicality of using my cell phone while in India. I know Raja has a completely different cell phone he uses when he goes there. Lastly, I think it would be very nice to take some gifts for Raja's parents, as a "thank you" for their hospitality. I am thinking about some treats that are local to the Pacific Northwest.

Looking at all this, it seems like a lot, but there are ways to pack compactly, and I will do my best.

Questions/ Challenges

1. What would you need to pack to take on your trip to your dream destination?
2. How many of these things do you own right now, and how many would you have to buy?
3. What are some ways you can think of to pack light?
4. Draw pictures or make a list of all the things you would need for a great trip. How many suitcases do you think it would take to pack your stuff?

Enjoy your imaginary journey, and be good!

Applying for a Visa

After a person gets their passport, they have to apply for a travel visa. The visa is the stamp that goes in your passport. Applying for the visa is basically asking for permission to enter the country that you want to visit.  The country can choose whether or not they want to admit you. If you have a criminal record, for example, they may not want you to visit. Why do you think that is?

In order to get a visa, you need to apply to the consulate of the country you wish to go to. The consulate is an office which represents a certain country in other countries. In any country you visit, there would be a U.S. consulate. You might go there if you lose your passport, have an emergency, are a victim (or are accused of) a crime, or just need help with something that can not be solved easily by local authorities. When I am in Chennai, this will be the consulate office I can go to: U.S. Consulate- Chennai. Look under "U.S. Citizen Services" in the top drop down menu for information on how the consulate could help a U.S. visitor to Chennai.

In order for me to get a visa to visit India, I need to apply to the Consulate General of India. The closest one is in San Francisco. Indian Consulate- San Francisco. However, they have "outsourced"  their visa applications to another company (that means another company handles all of the visa applications for them) and you can fill out the application online at this website: Visa Application for India. That's what I did. Don't worry, you can create a made up one to see what it's like, then erase it.

I decided to apply for my visa by mail, because I don't really have time to go to San Francisco to apply in person. In order to apply for a visa to India by mail, I had to fill out the online application which included the following information:

What type of visa you are applying for: I'm not going there for business or medical reasons, for a conference, to work, or as a student, journalist, missionary, researcher, or medical worker, so I just applied for a tourist visa. U.S. Citizens can apply for a 6-month visa, a 5-year visa or a 10-year visa. The 5 and 10 year visas allow a person to go to India as many times as they want during that period, as long as the visits are no longer than 6 months, and they spend 2 months in the U.S. between visits. Because I will likely go to India many times with Raja and the kids, and because I am hoping to volunteer there in 2011, I am applying for the 10-year visa.

Your Current Nationality and Nationality at Birth: Of course, I just put "United States," but if you were born in another country, you might have to put something different. If you were born in another country because your parent/s were in the military, you are a U.S. citizen, and can just put "United States."

State of Residence: I live in Washington, so that's what I put.

Then, they will lead you to a series of pages where you have to enter a bunch of personal information:

1. Personal information: Name, Last name at birth (If different), Marital Status, Gender, Date of birth, Place of birth
2. Spouse information (if married): Maiden name, Name, Nationality
3. Nationality: Current nationality, Acquired by birth or by naturalization
   Nationality at birth, Any other nationality held at present/past
4. Present address: Street number, City, State, Zip, Have you continuously living in USA for over 2 years
5. Permanent address: Street number, City, State, Zip, Country
6. Contact phone: Home phone, Work phone, Cell phone
7. Profession, Are you traveling on behalf of a company? (If yes): Provide details
8. Employer information: Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Country
9. Passport information: Passport number, Date of issue, Date of expiration
10. Parents information: Father/Mother's name, nationality
    Parents or Grandparants (paternal and maternal) held Pakistan Nationality? (If yes): provide detail
11. Visa information: Visa Type, Number of entries, Places to visit, Object of Journey
12. Visited India before (if yes): Addresses visited, Cities visited, Consulate that issued visa
    Starting/Ending Dates, Have you visited India on Tourist Visa in the last 2 months?
13. Have you ever been refused an Indian visa before? (if yes): Provide details
14. Are you holding a valid "No objection" to return to India endorsement? (If yes): Provide details
15. Expected departure date from USA, Expected arrival date in India, Port of arrival in India
16. Reference information in United States: Name and address of reference in USA
17. Reference information in India: Name, address and phone number of reference in India
18. Countries visited in the last 10 years

I put Raja's parents address as my reference in India, and my mom's address as my reference in the U.S. If people do not have a reference person in India, they could connect with an organization which aligns with the purpose of their visit, or just put the name of their hotel or travel agency.

Once I print the application out, I will mail it to San Francisco along with my passport (they need it to put the stamp in), 2 more photographs (just like I did for my passport. If I had known, I would have ordered them all at the same time! Time to slap down another $7.99!), a photocopy of my driver's license (proof of residence/address), and a photocopy of my birth certificate.

I have to take an extra step, because I moved recently and I have not changed my address on my driver's license. I could change it by mail, which allows you to simply write your new address on the back of the license, but that might not be acceptable to the consulate. Thus, I have to go down to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and actually get my license changed. That is going to be annoying, and unlike the other method, it will cost me  $10.00. Still, it is less annoying than having my visa rejected!

Because I choose to get a 10-year tourist visa, I will also have to send in a fee of $163.00. This will allow me to go in and out of India as many times as I want in the next 10 years. I am required to wait 2 months between visits; however, I can apply for a special letter which will allow me to return sooner. If I want my visa to be processed within 5 days, I will send the company a money order. That's a special paper you can get from the bank that is just like cash money. The amount is taken out of the bank immediately when you "buy" the money order, so the company you're sending it is guaranteed their money.

Once I have all of the stuff together, I will take it to the post office. I will send it Priority Mail because that way, I can track the package online to make sure it doesn't get lost (I use  USPS Package Tracking to track packages. There I can see every step of my packages' journey by truck, ship, or plane, and I know where my package is right now, where it's going next, and when I can expect it to arrive.)  Federal Express (FedEx) is another way to do that. I also have to send a pre-paid return envelope so that they can send my newly stamped passport back to me.  I will most likely use their Medium Flat Rate box ($10.70) to send all of the information, and include a flat rate envelope  ($4.90) so that they can send my passport back to me. I have to get a medium box so that I can fit the envelope inside. I'll be able to track the journey both ways. After all this work, I certainly wouldn't want to have to start back at square one!

This is a lot of work, but it brings me one step closer to my dream, and fulfilling dreams is never easy; however it is definitely worth the effort!

Questions and Challenges:
1. If I were to add up all the expenses I have paid so far to get both my passport and my visa, how much will I have paid? Don't forget the money for pictures, driver's license, fees, postage, etc.
2. Why do you think that countries make us go through all of these steps just to visit them? Do you think it's worth the trouble?
3. Look up the consulate for the country/ies you'd like to visit. What do their requirements for entry look like?
4. Look up the U.S. consulate site for the place or places you'd like to visit. What are 3 interesting facts you can find on that site?

5. With your parent or teacher's help, make a visa stamp for your passport representing the countries you would like to visit. This site shows how to make rubber stamps from scratch. However, you will need an adult's help as there is a sharp blade involved.  Make Rubber Stamps

Geography and Climate

When a person travels to another country, they have to prepare themselves. Often, there are a lot of things that are different: the climate,  the way people talk (even if they speak English), the way they do things, the food, the clothing, the religion/s, the expectations for behavior. If a person doesn't do some research and preparation, they may find themselves suffering from "culture shock," or a feeling of being lost and overwhelmed in a place that is so different from home.


Since I will be spending three weeks in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, I thought I would do some physical and cultural comparisons so that I won't be too shocked when I step off that plane.


Let's start with the lay of the land...


Climate:


The climate in the Pacific Northwest is temperate. This means that it is warm, but not usually too hot, in the  summer, and cold (but not too cold) in the winter. We don't get a lot of days over 80*F or below freezing. We rarely have snow in the lowlands (which means schools close for 2 inches of snow. This always amuses my friends from snowier places.) In Seattle, the average daily temperature is between a low of  57*F (14*C) and a high of  75*F (24*C) during the month of August, with an average rainfall of 1.6 inches (29.5 centimeters).


Chennai lies on something called the thermal equator, which is not the same as the physical equator. It means that it is that hottest place (on average) on that particular longitude (which, if you remember, is the invisible line that stretches from the North pole to the South pole.) In other words, Chennai is hot all the time. In August, the average temps range from a daily low of  78*F (26*C) to a high of 94*F (34*C) with a average monthly rainfall of 5.4 inches (137.2 centimeters.) Luckily, I'm not visiting during the hottest months (May and June) or the wettest (September or December.) Still, I can expect hot, humid (sweaty) weather, and bugs. Even in January, the coldest month of the year, the days rarely get below 75* F. (The kind of weather most of us only dream about in January!)


Geography


In the Pacific Northwest, we have beaches, mountains, forests: we seem to have it all. I personally think our region is one of the most beautiful in the world. Here is a photo of Oswald West State Park on the Oregon coast, one of my favorite places to visit.

Chennai is located on a coastal plain, which means it is flat, and it has a couple of lazy rivers which spill into the Bay of Bengal. Along the Bay's coastline lies Marina Beach, the longest beach in India, and the second longest beach in the world. Below is a particularly nice photo of Marina Beach.
I stole it off the interwebs, but it really belongs to the photographer. The site, showing some of India's gorgeous beaches is here: India's Beaches

I'm looking forward to some beach time, If I can grab it. Oh, and fresh sugarcane (karumbu) juice which I tried recently at an Indian market in California. It is bliss.

Size/Population:


Seattle is a pretty nice-sized city. It is the 23rd biggest city in the U.S. with a population of 563,374. For every square mile of the city of Seattle, there are 6,717 people.


In comparison, NewYork City is the largest city in the U.S., with a population of more than 8 million people. For every square mile of the city, there are 26,403 people.


So, now let's look at Chennai. Chennai is the fifth most populous city in India. There are 4.4 million people in Chennai, about half the amount of New York, however, the people are crowded more than 2x tighter there, with 63,926 people per square mile!


The crowds in Indian cities (of people, vehicles, and roaming animals) are one of the things that cause a major culture shock. Not to mention the consequences of all those people living together:  more traffic, more garbage, more noise, and more pollution.


I have no doubt that nothing I can read from 8,000 miles away will honestly prepare me for the actual moment I step into this whole new world. I look forward to every sight, every sound, all of my senses being filled with absolutely new experiences. No doubt I will be like a little child at a carnival, trying to take in everything at once. 


Questions:
1. Would you rather visit a crowded place or a place with very few people? Do you find crowds exciting or terrifying?
2. What is the nicest natural thing about the habitat in which you live? What kind of habitat would you like to visit? What is intriguing about it?
3. Would you rather visit a hot climate or a cold climate? What is appealing about the climate you are attracted to?


Challenge:
Describe your ideal vacation spot. Write a paragraph or create (draw, paint, color, collage...) a picture of yourself in this environment.