Erin: 18 Days Until Departure
Hello Everyone!
As my thoughts begin to turn towards packing and our exciting adventures to come, I thought I would write you with my own list of suggestions to take a look through!
We each have our own style in terms of traveling, and mine definitely reflects one that strives for minimalism, a light pack on my back and not a lot of extra ‘stuff’ to lug around. This may resonate with some of you from past experience and it may not. But, even if you don’t mind carrying your weight, I do recommend packing as light as possible for India! You will want to buy a shirt or two during the course of the program to wear while there, you will be carrying your pack on your own for extended periods of time, you will be heaving your bag on top of buses and carrying it up flights of stairs, and you won’t feel as much like a ‘tourist’ with a smaller load. I promise that you will be a happy traveler leaving the States with the philosophy ‘less is more.’
You can either spend days toiling over which shirt to pack, what size bottle of toothpaste you want to bring and how many extra batteries for your iPod are sufficient for a three month program, or, you can spend a relatively short amount of time and find peace with what ends up on the plane. My point is, don’t overly stress about packing and let it just fall into place. Rather, spend these next few weeks making the needed preparations, but also enjoying life, spending time with friends and family, and being present in the moment!
With that said, please read over the PVI packing list, John’s reminder email and Michelle’s note that are all posted here on Village Voices. Make sure that you do pack the essentials!
The essentials: You must have your passport with visa, shots record, all personal medications for three months, a way to access emergency and spending money and a money belt. Honestly, anything else that gets left behind we can make due without! Please get used to having these essential things on your person, therefore, pack them in you carry-on! Anything that you cannot be in India without should go in your carry-on.
I also wanted to touch on trekking/cold gear, as I seem to find myself in the mountains for long periods of time and am extremely excited for this portion of the program! When we are in the mountains, it is going to be COLD! It will be chilly during our homestay in Leh/Ladakh and will be even more frigid during our trekking portions of the program! Once April rolls around, we will make sure that everyone is prepared for the environment and locally supplement what we have. From the state-side, please read and take seriously the following advice. If you have any questions or find any of this confusing, please contact me!
1) Socks: Please bring at least 3 pairs of wool/synthetic socks, like the brand Smartwool, found at most outdoor stores such as REI or EMS. You will want to have one pair to wear at night (a heavy-weight warmer pair that stays dry) and a few mid-weight pairs to wear around during the day. I would highly recommend all of the socks you bring be of a synthetic/wool material, with a few liner/thin pairs to complement these heavier pairs. Leave cotton at home!
2) Long-underwear top and bottom: Please bring a non-cotton, breathable under-layer. A polypro or wool mid-weight set would be ideal, with the bottoms being fitted enough to be worn underneath other pants. This will keep you warm even when you get wet, and you will find yourself living in these during our last section of the course!
3) Sleeping bag: If you are buying a new sleeping bag for this program or have a choice as to what bag to bring, ideally a zero degree bag that is light-weight and compressible would be the best! Also, one that is the right size! If you do not have a warm enough bag (even those of you with 20 degree bags may be cold once we go to the mountains), we will supplement your existing bag with blankets and/or extra rented bags from Leh. Just be aware that if you are not bringing a proper sleeping bag, you will be spending a small amount to purchase or rent additional layers and you will be carrying extra bulk!
4) Thermarest/Sleeping Pad: Please bring some sort of padding to insulate you from the ground and keep you comfortable. Something small in your pack would be best. If you would rather bring a yoga mat that you plan on using on a regular basis, this has been done by program alumni. Just remember that you will be sleeping on this surface, so if you can be comfortable with a yoga mat this suggestion may work for you. We can find bulky padding in Leh to use during the trekking portion of the program if your mat isn’t sufficient for the cold.
5) Down jacket: This is self explanatory. It will keep you warm during an emergency and make life, after the sun goes down, much more enjoyable! Don’t feel the need to go buy a brand-new and expensive down jacket, rather bring something that will keep you warm. If you do not own a jacket of this caliber, but possibly have a different layering system you think may work, contact me and I’ll let you know what I think!
6) Headlamp versus flash light: The packing list states that ‘flashlights are ok,’… If you can bring or have a headlamp, this choice, along with a few extra batteries is ideal!! You will use it during the entire program to read at night, walk around outside, etc.
Other packing tips: Please make sure to bring the toiletries and other items recommended that are hard to find while in India, but just enough for three months! Everything else, you can re-supply while there. (Don’t feel that you must bring an enormous bottle that will take up half your bag!)
Ok, this is all for now. I hope this gives you enough to ponder over for the day!
Take care and see you soon,
Erin Popek
erin.popek@mail.sit.edu