Your Packing Guide

In this section, we attempt to offer advice that deals with:

• Packing effectively
• Maintaining your health
• Credit cards and money
• Your tech toys
• Required paperwork
• Security precautions
  

What to bring

Pack as lightly and as minimally as you can. Then do a practice pack, and reduce what you have chosen by at least one-third. You’ll thank us for suggesting it. We also advise you to work together rather than buy and carry all the items listed.

Luggage

1. Use a backpack or a suitcase that converts to a backpack. Maneuverability is important, especially on trains.
2. Choose a 50-litre pack at most, but smaller if possible. 35 litres would do it.
3. You can check your backpack for air travel, but you must be able to lift it to the top shelves when traveling by train in India
4. Choose a second smaller bag or daypack for valuables etc. with a heavy strap you can loop over your head and shoulder, big enough to hold what you need for the day
5. There are many high-quality brands. One is PacSafe. Metal-like thread is woven through straps and bottom of the back for added security. Also is resistant to digital scanning. It is not necessary to buy this brand. This is just a suggestion.
   

Footwear

1. Sandals (when walking in unpaved areas or through wet areas, closed-toed shoes are safest)
2. Light runners – we exercise routinely at the ashram
3. Flip flops can be brutal when running for a train
   

Other Essentials

1. A good hat with sun block rating
2. Light scarf /shawl with a sunblock rating (women will need the lightweight cotton shawl to cover their heads when visiting temples)
3. Loose light-coloured culturally appropriate clothing
4. Sunglasses
5. A light jacket that is moisture resistant in case of rain, though some get by without one
6. Umbrella (compact travel size) if you don’t like getting wet
   

*Our yoga institute ashram partner provides this advice on clothing: “Culturally respectful clothing must be worn in all common areas at all times. no tank-tops, shorts or clothes that expose the midriff, chest, back or legs. We recommend that you avoid wearing tight clothing both for the full benefit of the practices. This dress code applies to all genders and is a sign of respect for the local culture.”

Clothing

1. Wear modest, conservative clothing. Even in areas where other tourists may be wearing revealing clothing, it is recommended that you maintain a modest look. Please remember, you are an ambassador of MRU and a respectful guest.
2. Comfortable light-coloured clothing
3. Shirts and t-shirts with sleeves that totally cover your shoulders and upper arms
4. Loose-fitting and easy-to-clean travel pants and/or long skirts
5. Shorts that go below your knees
6. Quick-drying travel underwear and socks
7. For CrossFit and yoga, plan on wearing loose sweat pants/capris/ very long shorts
8. 1-piece swimming suit (for women) for hotel in Agra and swimming at Ashram, over which you will wear a t-shirt
   

Avoid

1. Too-tight sports bras
2. Tight Lulu-type yoga wear
3. Flip-flops
4. Tank tops
5. Any logo that encourages alcohol use, references sex, or could be considered offensive i.e. the brand, FCUK
6. Any revealing clothing
   

Toiletries

1. A bar of soap for washing clothes. We should have laundry service at LPU and a local entrepreneur visits the ashram and collects laundry as well
2. A nail brush which is also great for scrubbing stains when doing laundry
3. Hand soap and hand sanitizer
4. Kleenex packs / Travel Toilet Paper/ Couple rolls of regular toilet paper. General supplies will be provided at hotels, Sri Ram Ashram and Lovely Professional University (note: in most cases, toilet paper isn’t flushed, but is instead discarded in wastebaskets)
5. Compostable bags for toilet paper and tampon applicators as many toilets will not function properly when flushing TP
6. A quick-dry small towel and facecloth
7. Sunscreen and bug repellant (we love Ben’s wipes)
8. Anti-itch creams and Afterbite
9. Feminine hygiene products (Tampons are hard to find in India)
10. For packing tips, check out” this site.”:https://www.mec.ca/en/explore/travel-checklist
    

Other handy items

1. A small pen-sized flashlight or head lamp
2. Extra batteries
3. Combination lock
   

Nice But Not Necessary

1. 1 nice outfit for when we dine out in Delhi
2. A bit of make-up for when we sing/dance at the Ashram
3. Playing cards / Travel games
4. Small musical instruments
   

*Some students pool their resources. For example, one student brings the sunscreen, the other, the shampoo.

Maintaining your health

An absolute key to staying healthy in India is to stay hydrated and to use electrolytes. Electrolytes help restore and maintain the minerals in your body. Taken by tablet with water, or as crystals added to your water, they will you deal with the heat. In past field schools, some students have also used probiotic supplements to help with the change in diet you will experience. Food served at the ashram and LPU is healthy and clean, but it is still much different than we are used to. So if you are prone to having stomach issues you might want to consider using a supplement.

Medications
Bring enough of any prescribed medication you need and in the original prescription bottle.

1. Tylenol or similar
2. Band-aids and ointment
3. Other first aid needs such as sunburn ointment
4. Over-the-counter diarrhea treatments such as Imodium
5. Anti-nausea treatments such as chewable Gravol ginger tablets, regular Gravol, candied ginger, Pepto-bismal
6. Most previous field school participants used a product called Dukoral, which helps prevent traveler-related diarrhea: https://www.dukoralcanada.com/ This medication can be obtained from a pharmacist and should be taken prior to departure
7. You should also seek and fill a prescription for antibiotics for bacterial infection as a precaution
   

Disclosing medical concerns
If you have a medical issue that requires medication, or allergies that may require the use of an EpiPen, an inhaler, or routine meds, we ask that you inform the field school professors. Your information will be maintained in the strictest of confidence and will only be used by the professors should you require their help. For anyone with potentially life-threatening allergies, please consider creating a flash card that visually and in Hindi, English and Punjabi, indicates what you’re allergic to.

You are responsible for managing your medical and personal needs.

Required vaccines
All field-schoolers are required to have the following vaccines:

1. Hepatitis A/B (Twinrix)
2. Typhoid Fever
3. Tetanus up to date
4. We also highly recommend up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations and must watch India’s entry requirements.
   

To discuss your individual needs, consult with your doctor or prescribing pharmacist at least 2 to 3 months before departure. We will be in northern India and above the malaria line. We will also largely be in cities and/or with our host agencies.
Note: Past facilitators have never taken anti-malarials. That said, you should consult your doctor and make the best decision for you. Here is what the U.K. government says about anti-malarials, but note there are many other sites to do research, including the Centres for Disease Control. You should also get a flu shot, ensure your Tetanus shot is up to date, and all other routine vaccines are up to date.

Alternative Medicine
Ask to be connected with former field school members who used homeopathic/natural/Ayurvedic remedies if you would like suggestions for the trip. Popular essential oils include peppermint, oregano, and lavender. They can truly yield big benefits.

Food & Nutrition

Most meals are provided by our host organizations. Most host partner meals will be vegan/vegetarian and comprised heavily of grains and legumes. Fruit and vegetables are costly for local Indians. Protein and greens can be less than what you are typically accustomed to. While you will not go hungry, the following items recommended by previous field school students may make your trip more enjoyable.

1. Flax seeds, protein powder, greens supplement and chia
2. Multivitamins
3. Energy bars and granola bars
4. Chicken soup packets (if not feeling well)
5. Herbal teas
6. Vitamin C tablets (Emergen C super “C” packets to boost your immune system or to use if you get sick)
7. Bring yourself (and the group!) a treat from home if you have room, chocolate, candy, etc.
8. Instant coffee such as Starbucks Via – chai (tea) is everywhere but you cannot get coffee at the ashram
9. Sugar alternatives (packets) if you use them
   

Food And Water Precautions

1. Drink only bottled water or filtered water (the ashrams have clean filtered water)
2. Make sure purchased water bottle seals are unbroken
3. Avoid ordering drinks with ice – the ice might not be made with purified water
4. Brush your teeth only with bottled water
5. Be cautious of consuming street food – in fact, for a short trip, it is best not to try it at all!
6. Consider buying a water bottle that purifies water (they run about $50. LifeStraw had good reviews from previous field schoolers.
   

Money

1. To avoid extra charges, put some cash against your card before you go & notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid having your card canceled or suspended.
2. Ensure all pin-codes for your cards are 4 digits, as letters and long codes are not accepted at Indian ATM machines
3. Ensure you have at least 2 money sources: credit card and debit card
4. Carry some U.S. cash ($150) in smallish bills in case there is a bank card or ATM issue.
5. You can change US dollars to Rupees at the airport upon arrival or in Delhi
6. Large hotels and banks will exchange US dollars for India Rupees as well.
7. You are not allowed to arrive with Rupees

Technology

1. Make sure your iPads, cameras, etc., are insured and that you leave a list of the serial numbers at home
2. Cell phone – your choice whether to bring a cell phone and whether to purchase a roaming package. You can also use Wifi at most of our stops. Please download Whatsapp as it’s a popular messaging app in India.
3. We should have access to the Internet (wifi) most of the time
4. If you bring an e-reader or other devices you’ll need an adaptor for Asia to recharge them. These can be purchased at any drugstore.

Required Paperwork

1. Current Passport with an expiry date of January 2021 or later
2. Indian eTourist Visa for this up to 3 months prior to departure) More info available under logistics. Apply for e-tourist option. Indicate your travel is pleasure since you are not taking Indian courses.
3. Students must make 4 copies of the following:

• Flight itinerary, which you MUST show to gain access to the Delhi airport for your return home.
• Passport information page
• Travel insurance cards
• India eTourism visa

Note: you will need to provide MRU international education office with a copy of your passport and your flight itinerary as well.

Security Precautions

In addition to leaving this information in a secure location at home, save the following information in a PDF document that you can access via email:

1. Credit card number, expiry date and security number
2. Passport information page
3. India eTourism visa
4. Flight Itineraries
   

*Savvy packing
To reduce duplication and excess luggage weight, it is recommended that students share as many personal items as possible. Some items can be purchased in India, especially cheap light-weight skirts, kurtas, and tights. However, not all items are easy to find, including tampons.