THE ONLY THING CONSISTENT ABOUT SOUTH ASIA IS THAT EVERYTHING IS INCONSISTENT
Things change all the time. You will develop a plan for the day and it’s not uncommon for it to change at least three times. It might be because of the weather, how long it takes people to make food at a restaurant, traffic, due to shops being randomly closed, or a festival you didn’t know about.
GREET WITH NAMASTE / NAMASKAR
The greeting NAMASTE is said formally with the hands folded in front of the chest, meaning “hello or goodbye.” The word NAMASKAR is used to greet older people or for giving respect.
TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES
Please take off your shoes when you go into ANY house, foreigner or local. If you live in South Asia, it’s just what you do. On the street you will discover poop, dirt, trash, and dead animals among other things. Taking off your shoes keeps everything more sanitary.
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER
Start engraining this into your head right now because it’s easy to slip up, take a sip of tap water, and regret the “accident” a few hours later. No matter how nice the house it, never drink straight tap water. Even if you are given water in a village, you do not need to drink unfiltered water. At restaurants, you can ask if the water is “RO water,” meaning it has been filtered through a Reverse Osmosis system. If the answer is “yes” then you can drink the water from the pitcher or glass. When you are out and about, only drink water from sealed water bottles that you purchase (check the seal first) or RO water. PS: Chai is not a problem to drink as far as water goes because the water is boiled, thus its sanitary.
SET UP UBER APP IN AMERICAN
If you plan to use Uber, which you should (its easy and cheap), download the app in the States and put in your debit card info. It will save you from having to carry the right about of rupees with you all the time.
BE FLEXIBLE
Ninety percent of the time, plans with change. It might be waiting on the side of the road for 1.5 hours due to a protest or not eating at a certain restaurant because the owner decided to close it for a day. Remember to be as go-with-the-flow as possible. Plan on the plans changing at least three times before the end of the day, and you shouldn’t be too thrown off.
BE PREPARED FOR DIFFERENT CLEANLINESS STANDARDS
Whether a restaurant, a hotel, or a small shop, the standard of cleanliness will probably be different than what you are used to. Sewage smells are often prevalent, bedsheets or towels might be stained, and foods are not always washed or prepared like you would probably clean them.
BE AWARE OF DOGS… LIKE A ZILLION
Even people who live in other countries overseas have been shocked at the amount of dogs in South Asia. They are everywhere. During the day, they often curl up on the side of the road and sleep but during night, their job is to bark. Do not pet them. Many have mites which carry the disease mange, also known as scabies on humans.
USE YOUR RIGHT HAND (for all things public)
The left hand is used by many people only for the “washroom” (aka: toilet), which means the right hand is used for all other things. When you pay, hand money to someone using your right hand. When you eat, eat with your right hand …
SPICINESS CAN BE LESSENED WITH DAIRY
You might be served spicy food in a home, which means you will need to eat it. If “curd” or yogurt is available, combine this with the rice and beans (daal) or eat it separately. Sometimes a yogurt drink is served, which can also help to lessen the impact of the heat. Usually the yogurt is plain or sour, not sweet.
TRAFFIC + DRIVING is ENTERTAINING (to say the least)
Don’t be surprised if you can stick your arm out the window and touch the car next to you. All lanes of traffic are used and others are invented. Cars do not stay in nice lines or lanes. Honking is a way of life and it is done to let other drivers know you are there. Cows live on the road, just like cars do and they could be sleeping, eating, or simply basking in their freedom in the middle of the road at any given hour of the day. Don’t worry, this is completely normal. On a positive note, it is nearly impossible to fall asleep while driving in South Asia or even get bored as a passenger.
CROSSING THE STREET IS LIKE FROGGER
Crossing the street is an art form. Stay alert. Do not be on your phone. Be smart about when you cross and how fast the vehicles are going. Put your hand out in front of you, facing the traffic, and quickly walk across the road.
PEOPLE WILL ASK FOR SELFIES
I have not figured out the phenomenon of foreigners in this culture yet. I think South Asians are absolutely beautiful but lighter skin is considered to be beautiful in this culture. As a foreigner in general or if you have light skin, you might get asked for a photo or selfie from a complete stranger. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SAY “YES.” Although the person might be forceful, you do have a choice. You can say “no” and keep saying “no” if the person says “only one photo” or you can take a picture with them. Up to you.
IT IS NOT CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOR A MAN TO TAKE PHOTOS OF A WOMAN OR VISA VERSA
“If you are a women or have a daughter, it is never appropriate for a guy to take a photo of you or with you, especially a stranger. If people are doing this and taking photos when they think you are not looking, tell them no and to delete the photo.
CARRY TOILET PAPER (or a tissue pack) WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES
Unless you would like to use the western washroom way, carry a little tissue pack or TP with you at all times. In rural places or when using almost all squatty potties, do not through the TP down. I know it is super gross but it often doesn’t flush and will clog the toilet. Figure out a way to burry it or carry it out until you can throw it.
STARING IS NOT CONSIDERED RUDE
You will be stared at. It usually is not a creepy thing. People are just curious and starting is not rude at all in this culture. Women can cover their head or face with a scarf if they are being stared at a lot. Staring back does not help –the South Asian WILL win the staring contest.
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS AT TRAIN, BUS, & METRO STATIONS
This month we were scammed. Hopefully it will be our 1st and our last one. People might tell you that the hotel you are staying at has closed down or there is a massive protest on that street so you can’t go there. Make sure you have the phone numbers of travel agencies who you booked through or the hotels you are staying at.
At a metro or train station, someone might tell you that the train had a problem and it was cancelled. They could send you on a wild goose chase to exchange your tickets and then tell you there are no trains or buses available so you will need to take an insanely expensive taxi. If you go through with it, they will get a cut of the taxi price and make bank that day.
DRESS CONSERVATIVELY
Most men wear pants 95% of the time. Pretty much all women (unless in a megacity mall) wear pants to their ankles and a long shirt called a kurta (ker-ta). If you are visiting a religious site, women (and sometimes men) need to cover their head so you’ll need to bring a scarf along or buy one once you arrive.
A good rule of thumb is if you are wearing leggings, your shirt/dress should come to your knees. If you are wearing looser pants, your shirt should cover your butt. Capris are not a thing here and in my opinion, it is usually best to just wear longer pants or leggings instead.