Getting nervous about packing

sbhikes

I can't believe I'm leaving for India in 4 days. I think now I have to bring my normal, US-style clothes and not be silly and wear Indian clothes. My bag will be so heavy! But I think that's all I need, right? Just my clothes and toiletries and a camera. I don't eat granola bars at home so why would I bring them to India?

What about this whole laundry business? Will they really break all your buttons? Will they try to iron something that would melt if you ironed it?

If I do buy some clothes in India will they shrink in the wash?

Sama

why would wearing Indian clothes be silly? that's all I wore in India!

I suggest that you lay out all your clothes that you think you're going to take, and then divide by half. I did that and still did not wear half of what I brought with me....besides, you need room to bring stuff back, so clear out that suitcase!

but haven't you been before?? I thought you were in Nepal?

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Darmabum

. . . wear Indian clothes . . . it might be sillier not to. You can get great clothes made there. Realize too that anything you need to wear in India, can be found there. And yogagal is right, when in doubt - leave it out; you'll need room to bring things back.

Sounds like you're over-thinking it right now . . . with three days to go. I had shirts washed and ironed in India; never melted a button.

After spending three months in Rajasthan I went up to Dharamsala for a month, had a nice warm jacket made; when I left I gave it to a Tibetan nun I taught English to . . . the smile on her face more than made up for the price of it.

And yeah, leave the granola bars at home.

Have a great trip.

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Darmabum

About those clothes you can get made in India . . . mine are always a hit at Brophy's on a warm Santa Ana evening . . .

sbhikes

Since for the first two weeks I'll be working in the Mumbai office of the company I work for I think my regular clothes will be fine. I think they might even consider me strange to dress in Indian clothes at the office! But if I wear regular clothes then I have to bring more than one item.

On our days off, Indian clothes will be more fun to wear so by then I hope to buy some.

And I think I, too, would probably feel more comfortable wearing a salwar kameez at Brophy's in Santa Barbara than at the office in Mumbai!

Yes, I went to Nepal but I wore the same clothes every day: my hiking clothes. I never washed them, either, for the entire 3 weeks time. I really got sick of the smell. Only on rest days did I wear something other than my hiking clothes - a skirt so I could wash myself underneath at the communal water spigot. Somehow I think Mumbai is a bit more civilized than all that.

cyberhippie

Noticed quite a few office workers of the female Gender in Delhi are favouring the slacks and blouse approach, though I confess I don't know how wide spread this is!!

Anyway worry is all part of the ride, enjoy it if you can!!

Sama

THAT explains the concern!

as for ironing, I never had a problem with anything coming back burnt or melted or buttons missing.....

jenk

[quote=sbhikes] I think they might even consider me strange to dress in Indian clothes at the office!

Depends on what you mean by "Indian Clothes" - a sari or a full salwar kameez might seeme a bit odd on a westerner starting out but there are all manner of kurtis and tunic tops available to wear with pants or skirts that are very attractive and appropriate in a western or business setting.

My daughter came home from her time in Kolkata with scads of cheap and attractive tops - Id relax and enjoy the opportunity to find some nice things that you will be able to take home with you - if you leave enuf room in your bag.

examples - http://www.fabindia.com/womenwear.asp

Nick-H

Salwar kameez doesn't look odd on anyone anywhere! Just think trouser suit...

You can cut the formality a bit by wearing jeans under a shortish top.

Your younger colleagues may think it the trendy thing to do to wear jeans and a tee-shirt, but they shouldn't make you feel wrong for wearing a salwar.

Our ironing lady never breaks buttons or melts anything (although most of our stuff is cotton, I think one or two of my tops are pollycotton). Bear in mind what a delicate material silk is: the ironing people are well used to that.

The people who I find to ruin clothes here in Chennai are the dry cleaners: stuff often comes back dirtier than it started and they use an ironing machine that puts things out of shape. Very bad.

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sbhikes

I wasn't thinking about silk. I was thinking about polyester or nylon. Anyway, I'm just really looking forward to the whole thing. Half my wardrobe is all stuff from India (or India-ish) anyway.

I just remember when I went to Mexico City they wanted to take us out to dinner and I didn't have anything appropriate to wear at all. So they took me shopping and I'm sorry but stuff is cheaper in the US! I don't want to bring not enough like Mexico, or too much like Nepal!

Anyway, I packed my suitcase and it's half empty even with too much stuff. I think it'll be fine!

Nick-H

I was thinking silk-more-sensitive-than-poly.

I can't help thinking of an Ex who, when invited to any function would intone those famous words, "But I haven't got anything to wear!"