Chapter 1 (February 2010)
-Trip preparation
-Documents
-Travel
-Luggage
Chapter 2 (March 2010)
-Clothing and Personal items
-Packing list
-Climate
-Medical precautions
Chapter 3 (April 2010)
-Culture, People, and Social conventions
-Table manners and Food
-Money and Shopping
Chapter 4 (May 2010)
-Itinerary
-Pondicherry and the build site
-Construction
-Safety tips
-Free time
Chapter 5 (June 2010)
-Contact information
-Trip abroad registration
-Miscellaneous
-Team meetings
-Conclusion
CHAPTER 1
==========
TRIP PREPARATION
----------------------------
India is a vast, complex, and interesting country. This explains the number of books and websites that you can find about it. I suggest that you start familiarizing yourself with India by having a look at some generic sources of information, then moving on after that to the specific subject of the Tamil Nadu State where Pondicherry is located. Some information on India can be found at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/ngn/3454.htm and at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India On Tamil Nadu I suggest two websites: http://www.bharatonline.com/tamilnadu/ and http://www.tamilnadu-tourism.com/ Needless to say, much more on these subjects can be found on the web.
There are numerous travel books on India. You can find a large selection of them at: http://www.blogger.com/www.amazon.com. Just type “India travel books” on the bar at the top of the screen.
An interesting book is “The National Geographic Traveler: India” other books on the same subject can be found at http://lonelyplanet.com/. An advantage offered by Lonely Planet when compared to other publications is that you can choose one or more specific chapters of a book, order those chapters and pay online. You can then download what you bought as soon as the payment has gone through. To make this purchase you should go first to http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/index.jsp and click on “Buy by chapter”.
From there you should go to “Asia sub-continent” and select “India”. The Chapters that I suggest to buy are “History, culture, and food” (it should cost $1.40), and “Tamil Nadu” (whose cost should be $3.85).
Those of you who would like to stay posted on local news, or at least read some of the newspapers that are very popular in Pondicherry, can access The Hindu, (http://www.thehindu.com/), Deccan Herald (http://deccanherald.com/), The New Indian Express (http://expressbuzz.com/edition/default.aspx) , and finally Hindustan Times (http://www.hindustantimes.com/)
DOCUMENTS
-------------------
To enter India we will need a valid passport, a return ticket, and a visa that must be obtained before departure. The minimum passport validity must be six months from the day of the visa application. This means that you should apply for a new passport if the expiration day of yours does not comply with the India’s visa regulations. The US citizens who will need a new passport can go to the following website for obtaining all the information that they may need: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
The Visa: Here I will discuss the procedure to obtain an India visa for those who reside in the US and Bermuda. I will contact directly the others who reside in other countries with some indications on their visa application process. Since 2007 the Indian Embassy in Washington delegated a company (Travisa Outsourcing, Inc- in short T.O., Inc.) to release Indian Visas and to collect the related fee. T.O., Inc has offices in the same US cities where the Indian Embassy and Consulates are located. Each T.O., Inc office can release visa to those who reside in specific US States and Bermuda as indicated at their website: http://www.immihelp.com/nri/indiavisa/travisa-outsourcing-locations.html
The documentation needed for obtaining a visa can be presented in person to the T.O., Inc. or, as they strongly suggest, by mail. Either way, the process should start at http://www.indian-visa.com/get-a-visa When there you should select the “tourist visa” because it covers the non-business related trips like ours.
Once the fields of this website have been properly filled with the data requested, you will obtain a document that lists the visa requirements, and eventually a filled out visa application form that should be signed and submitted with the other documents and fees.
One final note: make a photocopy the of your passport pages where your picture, your signature, and the Indian visa are in order to facilitate obtaining an exit visa from the Indian authorities in the event of loss of your passport.
TRAVEL
-------------
I suggest that whenever possible the team members travel in a group to India. That kind of arrangement will allow us to start knowing each other and will facilitate the task of the local affiliate representative who will be taking care of us at our arrival. I contacted a travel agency to discuss a travel plan for those who will depart from the US and intend to make the trip together. The travel agency that I choose (Golden Rule Travel) is specialized in our kind of trips, has a very good reputation, and has been recommended me by other team leaders. Their website is: http://goldenruletravel.com/ The travel agent of Golden Rule Travel with whom I am in touch is Eldon Wagler, his email is: wagler@goldrule.net
His phone number is (620) 665-5058 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (620) 665-5058 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (620) 665-5058 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (620) 665-5058 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (620) 665-5058 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, the Toll Free: 888-950-3273, the fax number (620)-665-5425. I agreed with him to consider the airline Jet Airways for this trip. Information on this airline can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Airways The Jet Airways flight that I discussed with the travel agent departs from New York (JFK airport) for reaching Chennai, after a stopover in Brussels, Belgium.The roundtrip airfare New York- Chennai was US$1,577.88 (taxes included) . This airfare had been quoted on January 16, 2010. It goes without saying that the airfare is subject to change until the ticket is issued. The flight details are the following:
Friday, July 9, Flight 9W225 (Jet Airways), departure from New York (JFK) at 6:10pm
Saturday, July10: arrival in Chennay at 11.25pm
Saturday, July 24, Flight 9W226 (Jet Airways), departure from Chennai at 1:00am (Just after midnight on Friday, July 23)
Saturday July 24, arrival in New York(JFK) at 12:15pm.
Those who are interested in this travel schedule could check the Jet Airlines website for information on the check-in, baggage allowance, and any other topic concerning the trip. The website is: http://www.jetairways.com/ (go to the “Site Map” and choose “Terms and Conditions” on the bottom of the screen). I agreed with the travel agent that those interested in travel as a group could contact him directly. They should mention my name and the Habitat trip to India. The travel agent is available to issue tickets for those of you who should choose a different route from the one that I propose.
My final suggestions:
-Leave a copy of the travel itinerary with your family/friends
-Make a copy of the ticket and keep it separate from the original. You will need that copy should you lose the original.
-Keep all your boarding passes for the entire trip. If your luggage is lost you may need to provide the airline a copy of all of them.
LUGGAGE
---------------
Airlines have their own policy in terms of carry-on and checked baggage. At the previous section of this Chapter I gave you the guidelines for checking those of Jet Airways. I invite you to check those of any other airline companies different from Jet Airlines that you may chose for your trip.
Speaking of luggage, there are some sites on the web that offer ideas on packing. Among them I selected the following:
http://www.travelite.org/
http://www.onebag.com/
http://webfoot.com/travel/tips/index.php
In any event my suggestion is to consider using baggage that is lightweight and “soft” (old duffel bags are the best), possibly without wheels because it will weight less, giving you more allowance for your stuff. Besides, it will cram more easily in overhead compartments, and the means of transportation that we may encounter. The baggage that you carry should be mainly utilized for a change of clothing and for any items you cannot do without in case your checked-through baggage does not arrive with you. I urge you to lock your baggage and do not put items in unlocked outside pockets. It is better to use a combination padlock rather than those with keys. The latter are easier to be unduly opened. Besides the keys have a tendency to disappear when you need them. Those departing from the US should utilize a special combination lock that has been approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Those approved locks can be opened by the airport screener and re-locked once the content of your baggage has been checked. Some models of these TSA padlocks can be found at: http://www.safeskieslocks.com/index.html
As far the content of your baggage is concerned, you should be aware that there are rules and regulation enforced by the country from where you depart, and other rules and regulations enforced by the country where you will arrive. More specifically those who will depart from the US should visit the TSA site (http://www.blogger.com/www.tsa.gov/) before planning what to bring, and before start packing. When on the TSA site, you should click on the section titled “What to know before you go”. Those arriving from other countries should check their equivalent governmental web. Everybody, regardless where the trip starts, should have a look at the items that we will be allowed to take to India without paying duties. A list of those items can be found at the following website:
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/120/duty_free_section/Indian-Subcontinent/India.html
Finally, you will have to write on the luggage tag the name and address of the Hotel in Chennay where we will spend the first night in India. I will provide the necessary information at the Chapter 4 of this Trip Manual.
CHAPTER 2
==========
CLIMATE
-----------------------
Pondicherry’s climate is warm throughout the year. The summer season is mostly dry (my Habitat coordinator who spent two years there wrote me “you will probably not experience a drop of rain in Pondy in July”). The average temperature in Pondicherry in July is generally between 25 degrees C (78F), and 35 grades C (96F), the humidity level is high as is common in costal areas, and the evening ocean breeze brings relief. By the end of July the temperature should drop by a few degrees and some occasional rain could be expected. The actual rainfall, steady and heavy, occurs during the months of October and November when the monsoon season strikes Pondicherry. Should you be interested in the Pondicherry’s weather, you could check the following website: http://www.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp When on the website you should type “Pondicherry, India” on the bar atop of your screen and you would obtain a 10 day forecast. Another website that provides a weather forecast can be found at: http://weather.weatherbug.com/India/Pondicherry-weather.html
You can download the forecast just before your departure to have an idea of what you could expect when there.
CLOTHING
-----------------
Generally speaking we will need a mix of work clothing and regular daily clothing, the latter to be worn when visiting places and spending our free time. Work clothing should include durable, simple, lightweight items that are not white in color items, and not of sentimental value to you. On the working site the recommended dress for women consists of pants that cover the knees and T-shirts. Recommended dress for men on the working site are short pants (not too short) or regular pants and T-shirts. Long pants and T-shirts or shirts with collar should the clothing for men when not at the worksite.
Women should dress conservatively. Short tops, short skirts, and the like should be avoided.
Make sure that clothes are not too tight or body revealing. Please remember that when visiting places of worship everybody should be fully clothed (and remove footwear before entering any religious place).
In addition to the items already mentioned, women and men should wear the following clothing when at the build site: study shoes, work gloves, and a broad rimmed hat.
PACKING LIST
---------------------
The Packing List that follows should help you when collecting and organizing the items that you intend to bring with you. It is based on my personal experience. You have a choice to leave home with few items and to buy the others that you will need when in India. Clothes in particular are cheap there and can be easily purchased at local markets. If you decide to do so, you should keep in mind that some products (in particular toiletries) might not be what you generally use. Therefore, for your own comfort you may choose to bring yours from home.
Documents and financial means
___________________________
-Passport (with a valid visa on it)
-Airline tickets (and a copy, kept in a separate location) (1)
-A copy of your prescriptions (if any)
-A copy of the itinerary (leave another copy with family/friends)
-A copy of your own packing list
-A copy of the Short Term Mission Manual that you should have received from Habitat
-The team biographies and pictures
-Cash (1)
-Credit Card (1) A part of your trip fee covers the cost of a very comprehensive overseas health insurance plan. This includes emergency medical treatment. I recommend carrying a credit card as expenses are usually paid upfront and then reimbursed.
Clothing and related items
____________________________
-Daily work clothes: T-shirts, underwear, slacks, sturdy work gloves, hat, bandana, socks, sturdy shoes.
-Evening/free time outfit: shirts, underwear, pants, socks shoes, a fleece or a sweatshirt
-Other: pajamas, “flip flops”/sandals, light weight jacket, handkerchiefs, sun-hat.
Toiletries and health care items
______________________________
-Toothpaste, (2) toothbrush, dental floss, toothpicks
-Shampoo (avoid floral and herbal ones. They can attract insects. Head & Shoulder is recommended) (2)
-A comb
-Nail clippers, tweezers
-Insect repellent, disinfecting spray (2)
-Hand sanitizer (2)
-Sun screen, (2) sun glasses
-Contact lens supply and reading glasses (if needed)
-A simple first aid kit (for its contents, please refer to the next section)
-Ladies: feminine hygiene items
-Gentlemen: razors and shaving cream (2) Do not bring after shave, since like floral and herbal shampoo, it could attract insects.
Personal Items
____________
-Guidebook, information on the country
-Family/friend addresses (e-mail, snail mail, telephone numbers)
-Journal note book, pens, pencils
-Games, cards, books
-Camera, memory cards, and batteries (1)
-Picture of your place, your family and so on
-A knapsack or a bag to carry items to the building site
Tools
_______
The Affiliate should have all the tools needed to support the work of the team. On the other hand it would be acceptable if we would like to bring our own tools to use and/or donate to the Affiliate before returning home. Please note that we are under no obligation to bring any tools. Should we decide to bring some, this is a list of typical tools that an Affiliate could use and that will be easy to pack:
-metric tape measures
-working gloves
-carpenter pencils
-small trowel
-levels (any size that is small enough to pack)
-squares
Notes:
1. Bring some zip-lock bags to protect cameras, valuable papers (cash, airline tickets, credit card, passport and so on), and any other items that are valuable and perishable
2. Pack leaky items (toiletries and alike) in zip-lock bags and tighten their caps
A final recommendation: do not bring valuables, especially jewelry, as the security of such items cannot necessarily be assured.
In terms of packing, I suggest that you visit the following website for some ideas on how to organize your stuff: http://www.travellerspoint.com/packing-tips.cfm
HEALTH / MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS
--------------------------------------------------
Before departing for a trip like this that includes hard manual work in a tropical environment, it is advisable to get a medical exam, and a check of your routine shots (measles/mumps/rubella and so on). If you are not updated with your shots you should discuss your situation with your doctor. There are no specific vaccinations required for India but some sources suggest getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A as precaution. Hepatitis A is a virus associated with water and food. Something else that you should do before departing is to make a photocopy of your vaccinations record book and of any medical records that you may have. You should also prepare a medical kit which should include any prescription medicine that you frequently take or that your doctor recommends that you take with you. Your kit should also include at least the following items: band aid, treatment for upset stomach and for diarrhea, Tylenol or aspirin, and antibiotic ointment.
It is advisable for you to carry your own medicines since almost all medicines in India are locally manufactured and you may not find the same brand name or you could experience some difficulties in obtaining a substitute product. I will bring a first aid kit to complement the supply that you will bring along with you. When in India you have to keep in mind that the health hazards there are mainly related to the tropical climate where bacteria and germs can easily bread particularly in a place like the rural village where we will operate. To prevent unpleasant surprises I suggest that while there you use an insect repellent that has at least 25-30% DEET. I suggest to those who want to be extra protected should discuss with their doctor the possibility of taking malaria pills. A simple effective method of protecting yourselves from possible viruses is to keep you hands clean. Since water and soap will not always available when needed, I suggest that you always have a supply of hand sanitizer handy. You should also have a supply of sunscreen with you. At the tropics the sun is intense and if not protected by sunscreen you could experience severe sunburn or sunstroke. You should also have your head protected by a hat. Our work there could bring with it occasional cuts and scrapes. When those should occur, the affected area should be washed with bottled water and an antibacterial ointment should be applied on it.
Some advice on water and food since they could be the source of health problems: In order to not incur any risk, we will bring bottled water at the built site. Speaking of water, we should drink a lot of it even if we will not feel that we are particularly thirsty. Do not forget that we will be involved into manual work and that the temperature will be high. In those conditions a massive loss of body water through perspiration is the norm. If that water is not replaced, we could run the risk of dehydrating. A few words on the food: to avoid illness, do not eat uncooked vegetables and do not drink un-pasteurized milk. Eat food that has been cooked and is still hot, and fruit that you have peeled yourself. Remember the rule: if it has not been cooked, or pealed, or boiled, forget it.
When back home it would be advisable to have a check-up. In any event seek medical attention for any fever flu-like symptoms.
CHAPTER 3
==========
CULTURE, PEOPLE, AND SOCIAL CONVENTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The appreciation of cultures different from ours implies interest, tolerance, politeness, and common sense. That is particularly true when other cultures are ancient, well routed on a territory, and still alive like that of Tamil Nadu, the Indian State where Pondicherry is located. One of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Tamil Nadu culture developed over 2,000 years ago and still continues to flourish. This great heritage evolved through ruler dynasties that gave patronage to art and that resulted into the development of a unique culture called Dravidian. Dravidian culture incorporates art, architecture, and a rich Tamil-language literature that goes back thousand of years. During our stay in Pondicherry we will have a chance to see some majestic examples of the Tamil culture in the form of temples architecture. This is a topic that I will discuss at the next Chapter.
Let me spend here a few words on the people of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized States of India. A large part of the population is confined to the Chennai industrial areas, townships and the surrounding villages. Other cities and the villages surrounding them are a magnet for most of the population. In Tamil Nadu there is an established caste system that is more pronounced than in other parts of India. The highest caste in the social hierarchy is that of Brahmins. The class of Brahmins, that at present is a minority, includes educators, scholars, law makers, and Hindu priests. Other groups include the Vaishya, that in origin was a high class of landlords and warriors. At present its members are mainly involved in agriculture. An affluent mercantile class is that of Shaanaars. The majority of the agricultural laborers belong instead to the Untouchable class. For centuries people of various religions have been residing in the Tamil Nadu State. At present the main religion there is Hinduism (about 80% of the people follow this religion), followed by Islam, Christianity, and Janinism. Hinduism, along with its various sects, is the State’s oldest religion. Through turbulent political upheavals, religion remained a major motivating force in Tamil Nadu as the temples traditionally are the focal points of the society. Shops and houses are built around them. There could be no village without at least a temple: in fact a village without a temple is considered like a person without a soul.
After this generic introduction, let me be a little more specific on the structure of the society for appreciating the Indian culture and the meaning of it. The center of the social structure is the family. That is the place where individuals can find emotional, financial and any other kinds of support. As a result of this, there is a great emphasis on unity of the family, on the loyalty of its members, and their respect for the relatives- particularly those who are elderly. This concept is easy to understand and appreciate. Some other concepts require an explanation. I refer here to reluctance of saying “please” or “thank you” and the difficulty they have to say “no” either verbally or not verbally. They prefer to not say “please” and “thank you” because they believe that actions are performed from a sense of duty that they do not require unnecessary word. They do not say directly “no” because they do not want to disappoint their counterpart. Based on situations they will rather tell say “I will try”, or will give a response that they think you would like to hear. This attitude should not considered dishonest since an Indian would feel terribly rude if he/she did not attempt to give a person what had been asked. Since they do not like to give negative answers, they may give an affirmative answer bent deliberately in a vague format and without specific details. Out of this a simple rule: refrain from posing questions in a leading manner since you could receive a “fabricated” answer which most likely will be “yes”. For instance, it would be better to ask: “Which is the way to the temple?” Rather than “Is this the way to the temple?”
When visiting India, visitors should observe some social conventions. Let me start with “body language”:
-Greeting with “namaste (na-mas-TAY) placing both hands together with a slight bow, is appreciated and is a shown of respect for Indian customs.
-Traditional Indian women may shake hands with foreign women but usually not with men
-Do not stand close to an Indian person, rather keep an arm’s length space. Indians value personal space.
-Do not feel offended if they stare at you. It is just curiosity on their part (By the same token do not feel offended if you are asked personal questions like how much you earn, if you are married and so on. It is just their way of getting friendly.)
-When Indians smile and move the head in a figure 8, it means “yes”
-The Western sign for “hello” (side-to-side hand wave) is frequently interpreted as “no”, and “go away”.
-The right hand is the “holy one”. It is used to eat, and to point at something. Both hands are used to give or receive something.
-Do not touch anyone’s head.
-Feet are sacred for holy men and women only. They are considered unclean for everybody else. You have better to apologize immediately if your feet or shoes touch somebody.
-Never point with one or two fingers. Just use your whole hand or just thumb to point.
-To beckon, extend your arm, palm down and make a scratching motion with your fingers kept together. Other ways of beckoning with hand and arm waved up and down are considered rude.
A few words on religious etiquette:
-Before entering a holy place, remove your shoes. You will be permitted to wear your socks in most places. Please note that you should remove your shoes even when you enter somebody house.
-Do not touch a carving of a deity
-Always dress and behave respectfully: do not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts, do not speak aloud, do not display affection or kidding around.
-Do not feel frustrated if you are not admitted in some places of worship.
-Better to carry something to cover your head (particularly for women, and sometimes for men) because you could be required to cover your head in some places of worship.
-Ask before taking pictures. This principle applies to buildings as well as to people, particularly women. It could be considered offensive to take picture in some places or to some people.
TABLE MANNERS AND FOOD
--------------------
Chances are that when in Pondicherry we will eat in a Western style (meaning sitting at a table and using utensils). In any event let me provide you with some basic information on eating the Indian way, particularly in Tamil Nadu:
-You should properly wash your hands before starting to eat because most of the food is eaten by hand,
-Traditionally the food is served on a banana leaf which in turn is placed on a carpet around which people set with their legs crossed. Regular tables and chairs are also used.
-Even if you are starving, do not “attack” the food or eat hastily. It would be considered bad manners.
-Use your right hand for eating.
-Food can be taken from a communal dish. To do so you should use a spoon or bread torn into small chunks to scoop up food. Never use your fingers to bring the food to you plate.
-If you are offered a sugary, milky tea, coffee or soft drinks, do not refuse it. Note that your glass or cup may be refilled as soon as it is emptied.
-At the end of a meal, wash your hands in a finger bowl (lemon and water) to wash your greasy hands.
Finally:
-At social gathering garland of flowers is often placed around a guest’s neck. Remove it after a few minutes and carry it in your hand to show humility.
Let me discuss now some information on the food that we will eat when in Pondicherry. The breakfast can include steamed rice cakes (idly), pancake made from a batter and rice (dosai) or batter from lentils (vada), a mash of rice and lentils boiled and seasoned (pongal) and so on. A vegetarian Tamil Nadu lunch or meal consists of rice (mostly steamed) served with different kind of vegetables dishes, hot broth and curd (yogurt). A non-vegetarian lunch includes curries or dishes with mutton, chicken or fish. A Tamil Nadu meal includes papads which are round wafers made of fragrant spiced lentil flour. Papads are used as an accompaniment to the meal, and as a croutons in soups. On the Tamil Nadu food I suggest that you access the following website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_cuisine
MONEY AND SHOPPING
----------------------------------
The official currency of India is the Rupee. One Rupee is further sub-divided into 100 Paise. The Rupee banknotes are in denomination of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, and 10. Coins are in denomination of 5, 2 and 1 Rupees, and 50, 25, 20, 10, and 5 Paise. Should you want to familiarize with the current India banknotes and coins, you could do it at: http://www.rbi.org.in/currency/banknotes.html
The current (April 2010) exchange rate is around 1$=45 Rupees. An updated exchange rate between your national currency and the Rupee can be found at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet. On that website you can obtain a schedule that compares various amounts of national currency into Rupee and vice-versa. I suggest that before leaving you print an updated version of that schedule and bring it with you. That schedule could be of some help when checking the prices Cash is commonly used for transactions, however most of the malls/shops in bigger city (like Chennay) accept credit cards. International currencies can be exchanged for local currency at banks, exchange bureaus, and major hotels. Local currency can be withdrawn at Automatic Teller Machines (ATM). The ATM network is rapidly expanding in India. Just the State Bank of India, the country’s biggest Bank, has a network of over 12,000 ATMs.
A question that I am sometimes asked is how much money we should bring with us. It is difficult to answer this question because each of us has different inclinations toward shopping, and shopping should be the main reason for bringing money. Apart from shopping, other expenses that we could incur because are not covered by the amount paid to Habitat are alcoholic beverages, and the “airport tax” (500 Rupees), unless the latter has not been already included in the airfare amount (this is a detail that you should check with the travel agent who will issue your tickets).
A few words on shopping: India is well known for its arts and crafts. The most well-known items that you could buy there include fabrics (silk, cotton, and wool), carpets (India is one of the world’s largest carpet producer. Each region has its own specialty), cloth (you can get quality at reasonable prices), jewelry (that includes silverwork and gems), handicrafts and leatherwork (each area has its own specialty. The items include bronzes and brass-work, as well as cane-work , pottery, marble and alabaster.)
CHAPTER 4
ITINERARY
----------------
On Saturday, July 10 some of the team members will already be in Chennay, others should arrive in the afternoon of that day. I don’t have everybody’s travel itineraries yet, but I assume that some team members will arrive late in the evening. I ask those who will be in Chennay and those who will arrive during the day to go directly to the Thulashi Park Hotel. There will be a reservation for them. Those who will arrive late in the evening should meet a Habitat representative at the airport who will bring them to the hotel. As soon as I will have received all the travel itineraries, I will ask my coordinator to confirm the reservations to the hotel and I will share the details with you.
The Thulashi Park Hotel is about a 30 minute drive from the Chennay airport. It is in the heart of the city and it is very close to a large shopping mall. Its address is: 21, Periyar Road, Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennay.
The telephone number is: 044-4202-2022.
Some information on this hotel can be found at the following website:
http://www.ixigo.com/hotels/in/thulashi-park--5359.ixi
On Sunday, July 11, after a breakfast, we will depart to Pondicherry. The distance between Chennay and Pondicherry is about 140km, some 87 miles. In Pondicherry we will stay at the Atithi Hotel, whose website is http://atithiatpondi.com/ In the afternoon of July 11 we will have an orientation session organized by the local Habitat. After that we will travel to the village where the build will take place in order to visit the build site.
From Monday, July 12 to Friday, July 16, we will work at the build site. On a typical working day we should have our breakfast at 7:00am, and be at the work site around 8:30am. We will have a break for the lunch between noon and 1:00pm. The work will continue from 1:00pm to 4:30pm. We will clean the site at the end of the work day and should leave the build site around 5:00pm. Back to the hotel, we will take a shower, relax, and have a dinner around 7:00pm. Based on how the work will proceed we should have half a day rest for visiting a school and if possible other places of interest.
Saturday July 17, and Sunday July 18: on those days we will travel to three different locations (one north and other two south of Pondicherry) where we will have a chance to visit some remarkable places. Details of these visits can be found at the “Free Time” section of this chapter.
From Monday, July 19 to Thursday, July 22: we will build according to the same schedule of the prior week. On Thursday we should have a dedication ceremony (the official “delivery” of the house to the homeowners), and a farewell ceremony.
Friday, July 23: we will travel back to Chennay in the morning and will check in at the Thulashi Park Hotel. Some team members will leave for their destination in the afternoon of that day. Others will spend their free time in Chennay and will leave later or they will stay.
PONDICHERRY AND THE BUILD SITE
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The town of Pondicherry is divided into two sections separated by a partially covered canal. The East Side, toward the Ocean, is more “French”, the West Side is more typically Indian. The town grid design makes orienting oneself relatively easy although many streets have one name at one end and another name at the other one, and some are called “Rue” instead of “Street”. Some information on Pondicherry can be found at: http://www.india-travel-agents.com/southindia/pondicherry/index.html and at: http://tourism.pondicherry.gov.in/ another very informative website is the following: http://www.pondicherrytourism.org/
Our Hotel (Atithi) is in the middle of the town, just a 10 minute walk from the beach. Should you want to see on a map where the hotel is located, you could go to:
http://atithiatpondi.com/front/locationmain.php. In the morning we will depart from there for traveling to the village where the build will take place. Speaking of the village, its name has not been communicated yet to me but I am aware that Habitat has build projects in small fishing villages that line the cost and that are located approximately one hour away from Pondicherry. These villages are small (they include from 100 to 150 families) and were damaged or destroyed by the December 2004 Tsunami. Luckily, on that occasion no lives was lost but the damages were substantial. Habitat teams are still involved into the construction of stronger houses located half a mile from the water on land provided by the Indian Government.
There are some simple rules that are rooted in the local culture. We should be aware of them and follow them for living and working in harmony with our hosts. Among those rules, the most common are the following:
-As a sign or respect toward the local people, hats should be removed from the head and backpacks should be removed from the shoulders when entering a village.
-Men shake hands with other men not with women. When meeting a woman, they would rather fold their hands and bow slightly (the “namaste greeting” that I mentioned in Chapter 3). A woman is expected to do the same. Children will love to touch you and to shake hands with you.
-Do not show affection in public. Holding hands or touching people of a different sex-even if they are married- is considered inappropriate.
-Do not go on an unescorted walk with a person of the opposite sex.
-Footwear should be removed before entering a house. Socks can be kept on.
-Never shout, run, or eat food when walking.
-Do not use hand signals to call somebody to you.
-Always ask permission for photographing anyone (It will almost always be granted), and do not indiscriminately stand up and take photos during ceremonies. Ask permission beforehand.
Villagers are very welcoming. Chances are that they will offer water, tea, and buttermilk (diluted yogurt). Since it would be very impolite to refuse what is offered, you could ask for coffee or tea as the water to prepare them will be well boiled. Let me remind here that at the village the only water to drink should be the bottled one that will be provided to the team. Finally: please note that the local people could sometimes see the foreigners as an opportunity to migrate. Be sure to exercise good judgment in your relationships.
CONSTRUCTION
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It is the norm that the build activity starts with a short introduction to the work. The introduction will be carried out at the build site by the local Habitat person in charge of the construction. Once everybody has the basic understanding of what to do and how to do it, we will be separated into small units to which specific tasks will be assigned. The tasks could include digging, mixing and pouring cement, carrying material, laying bricks, etc. Everything will be done by hand since no power tools will be available. We will work shoulder-to-shoulder with at least one skilled mason who will check our work as well as other local people. Do not expect that the local who will work with us to speak much English.
On the other hand language barriers are easy to get through if you are patient, curious, and have a good sense of humor. In any event I suggest that you access the following website: http://tourism.pondicherry.gov.in/tamil.html where you will find a list of words and short sentences translated from English into Tamil.
The house that we will build will be made of red bricks and cement. According to a commonly accepted saying, one picture is worth one thousand words. I am not sure that that is true, but I guess that a couple of pictures could help to better understand and figure something out. That is why I attach here below two pictures that I received from my Habitat coordinator in India. They were taken last summer in a village in the Pondicherry area:
Some technical details of the kind of house that we will build can be found at a Habitat website: http://www.habitatindia.in/habitat_model.html
SAFETY TIPS
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Construction activity has to go hand in hand with safety. Therefore I will discuss some safety tips here. Before doing that, let me say that apart from some very minor incidents that were fixed by way of a band-aid, I do not recollect anything serious that happened to the teams that I led in the past. This does not means that risks do not exist. It means that the team members acted responsibly and that they followed the instructions that they received. Those instructions can be summarized into being constantly alert in spotting and avoiding potentially dangerous situations, and using sound judgment in any circumstances. More specifically, these are some safety tips based on my experience. I ask you to keep them in mind when we will be on the build site:
-We will operate in a tropical area. Fluids will be lost in larger quantity than we are used to at home. To replace the lost liquid we will have to drink frequently, even if we do not feel thirsty.
-Scaffolding: before using them we should ask the construction supervisor or me to make stability and weight-supporting checks. We should use solid material for their construction. A support should be put in the middle when the scaffolding length should necessitate it. Do not climb scaffoldings if you do not feel comfortable working on them. Descend immediately if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
-Ladders: before using one, be sure that it is solid, on a leveled ground, and that it can support your weight and that of the material that you carry. Be sure that it positioned in a way of not presenting an obstacle to other people. Do not make the mistake of extending your body too much out of the ladder frame: move the ladder with your work.
-The area surrounding you: be always attentive to what happens around, above, and below you for being sure of not representing a threat to others, and that the others are not in a spot where they could hurt you. Some examples could clarify my point: those who move material in areas where other people are working could hurt somebody, and those who operate above others could accidentally drop tools.
-Keep the building area clean from unnecessary materials, tools, and scraps.
-Should you feel tired, stop working and take a rest. You should not feel guilty if others continue to work while you rest. We are not “built” the same way. Besides, the time for the “others” to rest will come sooner or later.
-Chances are that we will experience some minor cuts and scratches. In those events we should stop working, wash the cut/scratch with bottled water, and contact the person who has the first aid kit for the necessary intervention.
-Dressing appropriately for working is important. Please do not arrive at the build site wearing sandals or open-toe shoes. Wear comfortable clothes, bring and use working gloves, wear a cap, and keep a bandana handy.
-Last but not least: concentrate on what you are doing. Distraction and overconfidence are the recurrent causes when something goes wrong.
FREE TIME
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There are a number of interesting places along the coast of the Tamila Nadu state. With the help of my local Habitat coordinator I narrowed down on three of them and with his help laid down a visit plan for Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. The name of the town that we will visit on Sunday 17 is Mahabalipuram. It is also known as Mamallapuram.
On Sunday 18 we will visit the town of Chidambaram and the not so far away area of Pichavaram.
Let me start discussing some Mahabalipuram details and the visit plan. First of all I suggest that you go to http://maps.google.com/ and type “Mahabalipuram, India” in the search field. That way you will obtain a map of this 7th century port city and former capital of the Pallava dynasty. Mahabalipuran, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, still has various historic monuments that were built largely between the 7th and the 9th century. The historic monuments include the Shore Temple and the rock-cut architectures called Rathas. On this town there is much information available on the web. I suggest that you access http://www.mahabalipuram.co.in/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabalipuram Before proceeding let me explain, should you not be aware of it, Hindu temples essentially represent the universe.
At their center there is an unadorned space called “garbhagriha” (inner sanctum), which symbolize the “womb” from which the universe is believed to have emerged. The temples provide a residence for the deities to which they are dedicated. After this short introduction, let me discuss the plan for Saturday, July 17:
We will depart from Pondicherry at around 9:00am and should reach Mahabalipuran at 11.15am. I will hire a local guide and we will have a tour of the location until 1:00pm.We will have a lunch at a beach resort from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. That will be followed by a visit of other places in the area and by shopping for those interested in it. At 3:30pm we should be back to our vehicle and start our trip back to Pondicherry.
On Sunday, July 18, our destination will be the town of Chidambaram, south of Pondicherry, and the area of Pichavaram. Chidambaram is famous for a temple complex of Nataraja (the deity Shiva). The complex is one of the greatest examples of Dravinian architecture and one of the five holiest Shiva temples in south India. A lot of information is available on the web on Chidambaram. As was the case with Mahabalipuram, I suggest you look at the location on a map at http://maps.google.com/. You should search for “Chidambaram, India”. You could also access the following websites:
For a location description: http://www.indiaprofile.com/pilgrimage/chidambaram.htm and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chidambaram_Temple
On Sunday, July 18 we should depart from Pondicherry at 9:00am, and should arrive in Chidambaram at about 11.00am. I will hire a local guide. I understand from my coordinator the typical tour lasts 45 minutes. I understand as well that cameras are not allowed inside the temple and that non-Hindu cannot enter the inner sanctum, even if they can have a glimpse of the huge golden roof. Once the temple visit will be over, we will travel some 15 km (9 miles) to Pichavaram. Pichavaram is the name of one of the largest mangrove forest in the world. As far as this location is concerned, you could check the following websites:
http://www.binoygupta.com/travel_india/travel-india-guide-pichavaram-62/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichavaram. Needless to say that other websites are available on this subject. My coordinator suggested that that day we carry our lunch from the hotel, and we will do as he suggests. We will have our lunch near the waterside before starting a one hour boat ride through the overhanging tree branches in the dark channels. We should tentatively be back to our vehicle at 3.30pm for starting our trip to Pondicherry.
CHAPTER 5
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Let me provide here some basic information for those who will want to contact you by phone during your stay in India. When dialing India from outside the country, it is necessary to first dial the international access code (i.e. if calling from the US, the access code would be “011”), followed by 91 (which is India’s country code). It should be followed by the area code, and the eight digit local telephone number. Please note that the area code of Chennai is 44, and that of Pondicherry is 413. Let me make an example: should somebody want to call you in Pondicherry from the US, he/she should dial: 011-91-413 + the local number. A good website on the instructions for making overseas telephone call from any country is the following: http://www.howtocallabroad.com/
Before making a call to India it would be better to check the current time there. This can be accomplished by accessing: http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
Having covered the topics “how and when” to call, let me provide you with the telephone numbers and the emails addresses of the Habitat representatives in India, as well as the addresses and telephone number of the hotel where we will stay:
Finally the person in charge for our team at the US Headquarters of Habitat for Humanity in Americus, GA is: Demetria Kease-Brown, Logistic Coordinator. The Demetria’s telephone number is: 1-(229) 410-7670, her fax number is 1 -229) 410-7129. Her email address: debrown@habitat.org
As part of the contact information here is the information that you should write on your baggage tag
-Your name
-c/o Hotel Thoulashi Park
-21, Periyar Road
-Nagar, Chennai 600016
-Tamilnadu, India
-Tel: (44) 4202-2022
TRIP ABROAD REGISTRATION
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I suggest that those of us who are not US citizens check if their Countries have in place a registration system for those who travel abroad. Should that system exist, I invite them to register themselves. Those who are US citizens should spend a few minutes to fill out the “Travel Registration” fields of the following US Department of State website:
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/index.aspx
One data required when making the registration is an address for possible contacts. In our instance we have to indicate that of the Hotel Atithi in Pondicherry. The information that will be on your baggage tab would suffice.
MISCELLANEOUS
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I decided to add this section for sharing with you some information of general interest.
-Electrical adapters and converters:
The following information should be useful to those who will bring electrical appliances and/or to those who will need to recharge their appliance batteries during our trip.
India’s plugs/sockets are of pin-round variety. A picture of them can be found at: http://www.international-electrical-supplies.com/india-plug-adapters.html
Please note that if your appliances have plugs different from those that are pin-round, you will need a adapter and in some instances a converter. Adapters and converters are not the same thing. The adapter just makes it so that your plug can fit into their sockets. The adapter would be sufficient if your appliance is able to “accept” the 220 voltage of India. If your appliance had not been designated for such a wide range of voltage levels, then you need a converter as well. Converters and adapters can be purchased at travel stores or online. There are also stores in the major airports that sell them. Information on adapters can be found at:
Http://www.international-electrical-supplies.com/voltage-converter.html
-Email:
Communicating with family and friends using internet (email) is a possibility. There are cyber-cafes providing internet facilities generally located near the hotels for the use by public. According to Habitat-India, the charges could vary between 25 to 35 Rupees per hour depending on the locations. (1US$ =approx.45 Rupees). Please note that cyber-cafes are also known as Browsing Centers.
-Postal Service:
India’s mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Post Offices are open from 10.00am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday, and Saturday morning.
-Departure tax:
There is a departure tax in India. It is in the amount of 500 Rupees (some 11 US$).
In most of the cases this tax is included in the price of the airline tickets. You should check with your travel agent to ascertain if the amount you paid for your ticket included this tax.
TEAM MEETINGS
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Unless they are canceled for some reason, we will have evening meetings at the end of each build day. These meetings will take place after dinner. They will offer a chance for everybody to discuss their experiences, plan our work, make suggestions, clear possible problems, and in the process get to know each other better. Once the meetings will be over, it will be time for reading a book, writing, talking and so on. If you want you can bring your favorite games. At the end of the week on the occasion of the last meeting, we will have time to discuss our experience. On that occasion I will collect possible ideas and suggestions for future trips that I will organize. During this last meeting I will provide you with a Global Village web contact that will allow you to inform Habitat of your experience and for possibly providing them with your suggestions.
CONCLUSIONS
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As I always do when I organize a Habitat trip, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that this is OUR project, not just mine. While you should expect that the local Habitat Affiliate and I do our best to ensure the success of this project, I expect that you approach it with an open mind, maturity, flexibility, good sense of humor, and respect for others.
On these conditions your reward should be an amazing experience- hopefully one of the best you’ve ever had.
Thank you.
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