I have been invited to India but am nervous!!!

The farthest I have traveled on my own was to the East Coast (I live in Seattle). I have a friend who has invited me to India but after reading and researching, I am extremely nervous at venturing out.

How do I get past this? Any advise would be truly appreciated. Thanks

Welcome to IndiaMike, theteachingsea!

Traveling to India will mean getting out of your comfort zone, and that can make you nervous.

You'll be meeting a friend there, so you'll be around someone who knows India and who can help you have a great time.

Look around the forum, learn about traveling in India, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

first you need a passport. second a sense of adventure. I really cannot relate to you as the desire to wander is genetically inside me. I think you have it or you don't! Go explore, have some fun, get diarhea, laugh at the things you see, laugh at yourself.... your life will definitely change, especially the moment you start planning your next trip... maybe Thailand??? gogogogogogogogogogo

I went 5 times and every time I was nervous before I left. Once I awoke with a with a startled yell when the alarm went off the morning of my flight. I don't in any way think I'm the only one who feels nervous before before the journey begins. You'll be just fine a you have a friend there to help get your feet on the ground. This forum is an excellent place to address any specific concerns before you go. Welcome to IM and please don't let something as natural as a case of the nerves stop you from doing something as wonderful as going to India can be.

If you have been invited, then those doing the inviting will undoubtly cushion the cultural blow.

Indians are super hospitable in my experience and will go the extra mile to make your time there comfortable and enlightening.

India has a huge spectrum of scenarios and experiences. Ensconced in a good middle class area you would scarcely feel any culture shock at all, with families living very much like we do in the west.

You know TV, Pcs nice cars lovely houses. Though even here you would come across some differences (household staff for instance)

Stepping out of this world can be a bit tougher, as you confront the grime and vaste swathes of people frenetically leading their lives a cauldren of raw humanity.

Personal space is deemed less necessary, and you have to deal with that.
Often there is chaos, especially in city centers, where even crossing the road can be a challange.
Poverty will rear it's head on a almost daily basis and you have to come to terms with that too somehow.

But after many many years spent wandering this wonderful country my overriding memories will be that of the colours, kindness and smiles. And a feeling of being at the cusp of life.
India will challenge you at many junctures but if you pack patience and a sense of humour and try to steer away from instantly judging things you see around you it's a very rewarding experience..

India is an awesome country to visit...its practically a world of its own...but here is a few points you might want to be mindful of...(from the angle of a traveler who frequents india)

but as a first time traveler there you have to make sure you are ready for it...otherwise you can come away from the experience with a bitter taste in your mouth....

1) Be ready to sacrifice many creature comforts you are used to...that is travelling 101...be ready to accept and adapt to the culture and environments you are travelling to...more often than not in India it can be a bit depressing...washroom facilities etc...

2) Indians are very friendly and nice...but trust them only sparingly...for among the angels there are quite a few black sheep...there is an industry underway in India that preys on an unprepared travelers...especially if you are a white caucasian...but with a friend by your side guiding you you should be ok....

3) Don't forget to enjoy your trip....good luck...

Warm welcome to Indiamike! No need to be nervous, everyone is the first time, it is so easy to love the place and especially the wonderful people...you have been given a real gift with an invitation to India, read up a bit on cultural shock) books on Amazon on this) and you will be fine.

Welcome to Indiamike theteachingsea and a warm welcome to India.

There is no reason for you to be nervous as you are invited by your friends. We (Indians) are known for hospitality and we do go overboard to make guests comfortable.

So, relax and forget the nervous part and come to India. You will have a memorable trip.

go for it. traveling is always an adventure. What are you worried about.. your safety? Or just the fact you are so far from home? At any rate I just took my first trip this past March and have been to Kenya 5 times (people also were hesitant to go there) but trips are always fun. India was great.

Reading and researching can be a part of knowing a country but more than that interact with more people who belong to the country.Also you would find many Americans on IndiaMike who have been to India many times and whose experiences/advise would be a great help to newbies.There is a BIG culture difference between US and India which you may be knowing already.You should spend a lot of time on IndiaMike which is a encyclopedia on Indian travel.

Good luck and you can ask questions but make sure because a lot are already answered on different threads.