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General Information
Many of you have never traveled internationally and it is unlikely
that any of you have traveled to a country as remote as Nepal. Many of the
things we take for granted simply are not available. So, to help you
manage your packing and luggage, we combined the
Packing
Packing for an extended trip such as this can be an adventure. Over packing is always a problem and there is always a debate as to how much you should pack and how much you actually need. You need to evaluate your own personal habits to make an informed decision. Do you require a clean shirt every day or can you wear a shirt a few hours and then again the next day? It's your choice. I can tell you that on clinic days you will be in scrubs nearly all day. Most students and faculty return to the hotel, shower and jump into shorts and a T shirt for only a few hours. It's not a problem to wear the same clothes the next day. You should therefore pack with this in mind. You won't need a new set of clothes every day. And should the need arise, there is a laundry service at the hotel.
A
few tips for those of you traveling abroad for the first time: You and
your roommate should get together discuss the packing list. Some items may
be shared by both parties, thus reducing the need for each person to pack
the same items. Commonly shared items include shampoo, toothpaste,
liquid soap, and sunscreen. Many students pack old shirts and shorts that
can be left in Nepal. This allows more room for souvenirs. This is always
an issue at the end of the trip. There are so many things to buy and so
little space in your luggage. You should also consider splitting your
clothing and put half of your shirts, shorts, etc in your partner's
checked luggage. In the event your checked luggage is lost or delayed, you
will at least have half of your clothes. Talk to Dr. Barber, Dr.
Littrell, or Dr. Ring for some more tips.
Carry On Luggage
Post 9-11-01, DO NOT pack any knives (no matter how small), glass bottles, sharp tools (such as Leatherman multi tools), or anything else that can be considered a weapon. Believe it or not, this banned list includes tweezers and fingernail clippers with metal files. Try to pack a bare minimum of metal objects in your carry on and on your person. The airport screeners are extremely cautious now and you may be forced to leave some things behind. The FAA is now warning passengers not to pack film in your checked bags. The new more powerful x-ray machines will destroy it. If you have any questions about an item, please ask BEFORE June 19th.
In addition to what you will need while in route to Nepal (one change of clothes), it's a good idea to have at least two complete changes of clothing, all your toiletries and an old pair of shoes in your carry on luggage. Should your luggage get lost, you will at least have something to wear (see suggestion above for packing clothing with your partner). I pack a minimum of five days of underwear, four shirts and three pair of shorts. Nepal is truly a Third World country. It's citizens are small in stature making it difficult to find off the rack clothing to fit Americans. Clothing Part of this trip is about cultural sensitivity and you will be expected to respect the local customs. Please adhere to the following guidelines for clothing while in Nepal.
Men are allowed to wear shorts and T-shirts, but no "hot pants" or tank tops.
Women must keep knees and shoulders covered. There a several places in Thamel where you can buy wrap skirts. These have been VERY popular on previous trips.
At the end of the trip, we attend a party for many of the dignitaries in Kathmandu. For this event, men will wear a traditional Nepali outfit which will be custom made for each gentleman. You will need to bring dress shoes and a sport jacket, dark colors will work best, to wear over the Nepali outfit. Women will also wear traditional Nepali outfits called saris. Saris can be purchased in Thamel or near Durbar square. Dr. Barber is a pro at directing you to the proper shop. She will lead a group to her favorite sari shop on one of the first free days.
Food You
will be fed like royalty while in Nepal. You will be served more food than
most Nepalis eat each week. In a country so poor, it is a shame to let
food go to waste. Unlike the US, food is a precious commodity and by no
means abundant. So if you decide eat out at one of the few safe
restaurants (see note below), it would be polite to let the hotel staff
know before you leave in the morning. If you don't, they will expect you
for lunch and dinner and prepare more food than is necessary. Also, if you
decide not to eat at the hotel, the cost of the meal is your
responsibility.
The staple food of the Nepali people is Rice. You will have rice at nearly every meal. Often some form of curried vegetable or lentil is served with the rice to make it a bit tastier. In addition, you will have a variety of dishes containing Buf (water Buffalo), chicken or goat. The cow is a sacred animal in Nepal, so you will not see beef on the menu. Pork is not to be eaten in any form in Nepal. It is not considered safe. Most dishes are curried and somewhat spicy. The chef at Hotel Tibet does a wonderful job of fixing us enormous amounts of food and tends to add very few spices, by Nepali standards. But some who have more delicate pallets find it a little hot.
At breakfast, eggs are common, as are croissants or toast. Milk is usually from a water buffalo or goat and is a bit more flavorful than most Americans are used to. Fresh curd, the Nepali yogurt, is another standard at breakfast. With its load of live acidophilus, it makes for a great corrective agent when you feel a bit less than 100%. Many alums swear it's what kept them going, rather stopped them from going, when things got tough. But it is an acquired taste. Sweeten it with a bit of sugar and it's not too bad.
The favorite drink of most faculty is Masala tea.....mmmmmmmmm Masala tea......... It is a spiced milk tea served hot. This may cost you a bit extra, but I must highly recommend it. It's a great way to start your morning or to unwind after a hard day.
In
preparation for Nepal, many students hit the India House on Harrison
street a few blocks south of Palmer. It is as close to the food of Nepal
as you can get in this area. If you find you really don't like curry then
you might consider packing enough snacks to get you by. If you get really
desperate, a store near the hotel carries some
Note: "Safe" restaurants include the Olive Garden in the Radisson near the Hotel. The restaurant is similar in name only to the American version. The Radisson also has a main dining room that is quite nice. But be warned, the chef at the Radisson prepares dishes that are more traditional when it comes to spices and heat. Fire and Ice is just inside Thamel and is a nice place to get a pizza. Other than the places listed, a banquette hall that Dr Subedi will take us, or food supplied at the adjusting sites you should NEVER eat outside the hotel restaurant. Nepali restaurants and street venders are not safe for Westerners.
Water For some reason this is one of the most troublesome issues on every trip. So please excuse me while I speak frankly. The ONLY water that passes your lips in Nepal is the bottled water that is provided for us. It is stocked at the hotel and will be delivered to all the adjusting sites. Hot drinks at the Hotel are OK as well because they are made with bottled water. Drinking water from the tap, rinsing your mouth out in the shower, cleaning your toothbrush under the tap, putting wet hands in your mouth .. etc.. etc... WILL lead to some form of gastrointestinal malady. If you are the type to stand in the shower and open your mouth under the water, I strongly suggest you "practice" NOT doing that now. You will need to rinse your toothbrush with the bottled water and dry your hands if you feel the need to stick your hand in your mouth (not sure why you would need to do that... but hey, what ever). I'll say it again NO WATER IN THE MOUTH UNLESS IT COMES OUT OF A BOTTLE, THIS INCLUDES ICE... Remember ice is just frozen water and frozen pathogens will thaw out very nicely.
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expertise
of several people and compiled a basic packing list. I would strongly
suggest you bring all the items listed and that you supplement with
whatever you feel necessary. You know yourself and your personal needs
better than anyone and thus what you bring is purely up to you. I have
compiled a personal packing list in Adobe
format. You may download, save, and print the personal packing list
Western
snack foods.