Glad I brought these

Glad I brought these:

Probiotics (acidopholus) (Sacramento Natural Foods coop brand)- doesn't need to be refrigerated. Didn't refrigerate for about 4 days, then realized I had a refrigerator, so now mine are there. I take one every morning and I think it has helped with my initial introduction to eating Indian food.

Other vitamins and prescriptions for anti-malaria

Bendable reading light – It's easy to find at night and the bendable part allows me to hook it anywhere (like over a towel rack). (I can easily just turn on the lights at night, but they tend to attract bugs, so this reading light is useful.)

Digital Camera – A must! I've been letting the monk students borrow this to take pictures and make a presentation during class.

Laptop – A must for teaching, blogging, emails!

Macabi skirt- I still find this the best piece of travel clothing I own. I just wish I had brought a second one, too. It washes and dries easily, has huge pockets, easy to wear while riding a bike, and wearing a skirt is cooler than pants!

N-rit pack towel – Although I am provided with a set of towels at the guesthouse, I use this pack towel to dry my clothes before I hang them up. It really helps reduce the drying time.

Sandals (Chaco sandals and Keen waterproof sandals) - I could have gotten by with just one pair of these. These are easy to slip on and off (a must for entering temples, houses, etc) and are comfortable to walk in. They wash up easily too. I was thinking of bringing a leather pair, but I am so glad I didn't. There is lots of mud and muck now that it has been raining!

Scarf - I brought one from home but could probably pick one up here as well. This is wonderful for 1) feeling like I fit in a little bit (like I can really ever do that- I'm constantly afraid I'm going to cause a traffic accident as cyclists and drivers stare! I've already seen two little boys crash on their bikes.), 2) covering my face and head in the hot sun—a must!

Button-down cotton/linen shirts: I wear one and then wash it every morning. They usually dry before my first class or if it is raining they will dry by the end of the day.

Cloth Handkerchiefs: These are so practical. Great for mopping the perspiration off of my face all of the time! They could even act as a water filter, if I needed that.

Nalgene wide-mouth bottles (2) and a Steripen – Although the guesthouse has filtered water and I am provided with bottled water, I usually filter and sterilize two bottles of water everyday. This helps a little with reducing the plastic bottle waste. Even so, I could have left the steripen at home, because I am so well taken care of here. The rains have started and the power goes out at times. When that happens, the filter which is plugged into the wall probably doesn't work. Now, I'm glad I have my nalgene filter and steripen!

Liquid soap (Dr. Bronner's lavendar soap) - I use this for everything, washing my hair, washing my hands and body, washing my clothes.

Pictures - I photo copied some of my family pictures. I used these to introduce myself and elicit questions from the monk-students about the pictures. They are great for starting conversations.

Sewing kit(travel) - I brought a travel size sewing kit that has thread, a tape measure, safety pins and needles, and a very tiny pair of scissors for cutting thread. I put this in my checked luggage and didn't have any trouble. I've used the safety pins to pin a blouse that felt a little to revealing and to pin up the hems of my pants to turn them into capris. The scissors I used to cut paper although they aren't strong enough to cut much.

Stickers (Mrs. Grossman's) – These are easily carried anywhere and I hand them out to the kids.

Notebook and loose-leaf, lined paper - I use constantly

Wish I had brought these, but I either easily obtained them or really didn't need:

Shampoo – some good stuff that cuts the grease! There was something that looked like shampoo in the guest house, but it turned out to be olive oil. Oops! Follow up – Don't need to bring this - I bought some Pantene here!

Polaroid Pogo – just because I have one and could print out pictures with it

Brush - I forgot mine Follow up – didn't purchase a brush but was able to obtain a nice comb!

Scissors- what teacher doesn't need this? Unfortunately, I couldn't even put these in my checked luggage. Follow up – I was able to purchase a nice, sharp pair here!

Could have left at home:

Daypack – no one carries one and when I carried it the first day, I was too hot! I just use a small, open top bag, like a cloth grocery bag.

Travel iron - I know, I know! I found one at the thrift store and read that sometimes it was hard to dry clothes in India and that ironing them helped. I haven't had a problem here because I have nice clotheslines outside and in, ceiling fans, and quick dry clothing. And ironing clothes? The humidity is 100% - my clothes are damp and wrinkle free and if they aren't I am too hot and sticky to care!!!