Cross-Cultural SolutionsNew Delhi

DEPARTING THOUGHTS

PACKINGClothes

For work site in general:

- For women: A Salwaar Kameez can easily be purchased from any tailor. Otherwise, fairly modest clothing such as khakis, cropped pants, knee-length or longer skirts, and shirts with sleeves and a modest neckline. Nothing tight or revealing!

- For men: Casual clothing is okay, pants/trousers and shirts are fine, as long as their clean and neat.

- Any shoes are acceptable, as long as they are comfortable and practical.

• Remember that New Delhi has very intense seasons. Clothing should be versatile (layers!) and you should prepare for rain.

• After hours: T-shirts, jeans, cropped pants are fine. Do NOT bring shorts or tank tops. New Delhi is a city with both modern and conservative communities, and volunteers should respect that.

• For the latest weather in New Delhi, check here: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/42181.html

PACKINGOther Tips

• I strongly recommend you bring one small backpack or an overnight/weekend bag. This will be great for weekend excursions.

• Ziploc bags are also a handy thing to pack –they are great for storing toiletry items and will prevent leaks from getting on your clothes!

• Note: Electricity in India is 240 volts. You may want to bring an adaptor and/or converter if you plan to need electrical outlets during your program- battery chargers, ipod chargers, etc.

• Things you do not need to pack: The CCS Home-Base will provide you with towels, bed sheets, pillow and pillow case, and blankets.

• Remember – PACK LIGHT. You will be able to buy “all the basics” in New Delhi.

Some of my favorite things I

never travel without include:

• A journal

• Camera (and extra batteries and

memory card)

• A battery operated alarm clock

• A flashlight

•A sturdy water bottle

• Insect Repellant (with DEET)

• Hand sanitizer

• Photos from home

• Sunglasses

• A hat or visor

• And a sarong (makes a great

towel, blanket, and pillow, and it is small

and lightweight for packing).

Arriving in New Delhi

VISA• You should have already applied and received your six-month tourist visa. When

you are in customs at the airport, remember to put down TOURIST on your paperwork.

• If you have not done so already, please send me a copy of your visa and passport.

AIRPORT PICK-UP• If you have not sent me your itinerary, please do so ASAP so that we can arrange

for airport pick-up.

• It is strongly recommended that you bring your CCS t-shirt to put on after customs so that our staff can recognize you. Make sure you also pack your Handbook and staff contact numbers with your carry-on in case you need to call them.

• After exiting customs, meet that staff at the end of the corridor, inside the gates in the Arrival Hall.They will be waiting there with a sign with the CCS logo.

• Saturday:

- Arrival Day

• Sunday:

- Introduction, Orientation Part I

- Lunch

- Shopping for clothes to wear to work

- Tour of Delhi (time permitting)

- Dinner

• Monday:

- To worksite

- Drop-Off exercise

- Dinner at CCS

Orientation Schedule

• You will be rooming with 1-2 other people in your room, each flat with 3 bedrooms.

• Bedrooms have closets or storage bins.

• 2 bathrooms per flat with warm water, flush toilets and showers

• Large open kitchen area/meeting space

• Common room

• Room for outside seating

• Breakfast in your own flats, food provided by CCS. Lunch served at the office, short walk from flats, and dinner served in Flat 5.

Do not drink the tap water – CCS will provide you with unlimited filtered water. Be sure to use this when brushing your teeth!

At the Home-Base

At the Home-Base

• Be respectful and courteous at all times.

Sometimes adjusting to living with 20 strangers is more

difficulty than adjusting to the new culture.

• Be supportive of each other. Each person handles

culture shock and home sickness in a variety of ways.

Be there for each other.

• Be neat and tidy. Keep in mind, you’re sharing a

house with others – you need to pick-up after yourself

otherwise the house can quickly get messy.

• Be quiet in the evenings. Noise can quickly spread,

so be courteous of those that are sleeping.

• Be on time! Be mindful that cultural activities and

departures for placements in the morning involve other

people. Being late holds up the group.

• Outside visitors are not allowed in the Home-Base.

This is for the safety of you and your fellow volunteers.

Some things to keep in mind when living with others:

• Drinking alcohol is not permitted in the Home-Base

• The legal drinking age in India varies from state to state. In the National Capital Territory of Delhi, where you’ll be living, the drinking age is 25. If you are of legal drinking age, please remember to be responsible and respectful of yourself and the community.

• Smoking is allowed in the outside areas of the Home-Base

• For your safety, the curfew during the week is 11pm.

• Missing work is not acceptable for weekend trips. If for some reason you may be missing a day at your placement, you need to schedule this ahead of time with your co-workers at your placement.

• You will get more detailed rules upon your arrival. Be sure to review them and turn to the staff if you have any questions.

Policies

The following policies have been established to ensure the safety,

comfort and respect of all the volunteers in the Home-Base. Please

be mindful and considerate of the following:

Please remember that you are in India to be of service -

don’t let your evening activities get in the way of your work

during the week.

Money & Communications

MONEY

• The currency in India is the Indian Rupee. To view current exchange rates, visit:

http://www.xe.com/

• It is easiest to access money through ATMs. Please make sure your card has a Visa or

MasterCard logo.

• Traveler's checks may be used as a back-up in case of emergency, but it is advised not to use

this as a primary method of accessing money.

COMMUNICATIONS

• PHONES: There is a phone at the Home-Base that you can make/receive international calls.

You can purchase international calling cards at stores close to the flats in New Delhi.

• INTERNET: The flats are within walking distance to a few internet cafes. The connection will

most likely be slower than you are used to, and it’s not uncommon for the electricity to go out, so

please approach the cafes with patience!

• Be proactive and take initiative.

• Be prepared for the language barrier and try not

to get frustrated.

• Learn from others and be supportive of each

other.

• Participate in cultural exchange – the people at

your placement will want to learn just as much

about your culture as you are there to learn

about the Indian culture.

• If you have any frustrations, celebrations, or

want feedback, talk to the CCS staff.

• Don’t let your personal goals get in the way of

being of service.

Placements

Donations Policy

Important Things to Know about the

CCS Donations & Gift-Giving Policy:

- Developed by our in-country staff and Partner Programs

to ensure that the volunteer program is as effective as

possible

- Volunteers are prohibited from giving money, supplies,

materials, or gifts (including candy, toys, pens, etc.) to

Partner Programs, the individuals they serve, and

individuals in the community.

- Supplies and materials are available in the CCS

Resource Center for volunteers to use at their

placement. Volunteers are not expected to bring

supplies from home.

- Volunteers who offer donations or materials to Partner

Program, the individuals they serve, or individuals in the

community (including in-country staff) are subject to

early termination and will be unable to enroll in future

programs.

- The Donations & Gift-Giving Policy applies to CCS

volunteers even after they have completed the program

and returned home.

Why we ask that you do not donate to your placement:

• Sustainability. Cross-Cultural Solutions works with Partner Programs that are independently

sustainable and rely on volunteers as a human resource that will help them achieve their long-term

goals in the community. Donating to these organizations can lead to financial dependency on

volunteers and have a negative impact on their ability to secure funding and support from the local

government and community in the future. In addition, the organization may not have the ability to

replace materials once the supply is exhausted, especially if they are not purchased locally.

• Motivation. If volunteers continually donate to the Partner Programs, it becomes difficult to

determine the effectiveness of the volunteers’ work and the true motivation for requesting volunteers

at that placement site.

• Expectations. Donating materials can set unsustainable expectations for future volunteers who are

unable or choose not to donate. This can compromise the relationship between volunteers and the

communities they serve and can damage partnerships with local organizations.

• Cultural Exchange. By shifting the focus away from giving/receiving donations, there is a greater

emphasis on the learning and cultural exchange.

• Empowerment. Giving money and material donations to our Partner organizations can create a

sense of dependency, taking power away from these organizations. By supporting them

through volunteer work, instead of donations, we are supporting them in their goals and

empowering them in to maintain their independence.

Donations & Gift-Giving Policy

CCS Resource Center

All CCS Home-Bases have a well-stocked

Resource Center with locally purchased

supplies and materials that you can use at your

placement.

If there are other supplies you would like to

use after starting your placement, please

discuss this with the Program Director. If

appropriate, we are happy to purchase them

locally and add them to the Resource Center!

Remember that any supplies and materials

taken for use at the Partner Program must be

returned at the end of the day. If supplies are

left at your placement, it will be considered a

material donation and will be in violation of the

Donations & Gift-Giving Policy.

CCS Resource Center: Basic Supplies

Comprehensive resource materials:

Scissors Recycled resource materials:

Glue Cardboard Boxes

Tape Egg Cartons

Pens in assorted colors

Markers in assorted colors

Empty toilette paper rolls/

paper towel rolls

Pencils in assorted colors Plastic bottles

Crayons in assorted colors Magazines

Paint in assorted colors Plastic cups

Paint brushes assorted sizes Old newspaper

Poster Board/ Cardboard Socks

White Paper Paper bags

Lined Paper Uncooked Beans, Rice

Colored paper Uncooked Pasta

Index Cards Cloth

Erasers Comprehensive sample lesson plans/ ideas/ craft activities:

String and Yarn Placement Guides

Rubber bands Language Dictionaries/Books

Sponges Story Books (children/adult)

Pencil sharpener Books on the country and culture

Paper plates Educational planning books/art and craft books

Sports equipment: Logbooks or folders for each placement site

Assorted balls Materials created by previous volunteers

Jump ropes Ideas for craft activities

Sport equipment local to the culture

…and more!

Photography Policy

Most volunteers document their experience on the program by taking photographs. While we recognize that this is an important element of the experience, the laws, rules, and etiquette of taking photos differ across countries and cultures. It’s important to be cautious about taking photos and adhere to the following guidelines:

At Your Placement

– Not all placement sites allow you to take photos - please adhere to the rules and guidelines that are specific to your placement site.

– It is only appropriate to take your camera to your placement once you have developed relationships, towards the end of your program, and with the permission of the Partner Program and CCS Program Director.

– It may not be appropriate to have expensive camera equipment at the placement.

– When taking photos at your placement, please be respectful and do not to disrupt activities.

On Your Free Time

– Always ask permission and respect people’s wishes before taking any photos.

– Be discreet when carrying your camera – keep in mind that you are traveling through another country and working in communities where expensive photographic equipment can attract undesirable attention. Don’t be conspicuous about your equipment and always play it on the safe side.

– Consider taking an inexpensive disposable camera.

Last Thoughts

BEFORE YOU GO:

• Be sure to leave your Travel Contact Information

with friends and family and set reasonable

expectations regarding your first contact from India

• Pack your Handbook and CCS T-shirt in your carry-

on.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE:

• Keep an open mind and be patient! These are the

best defenses for fighting off frustration and home-

sickness.

• Be proactive and ready for anything!

• Keep those of us back home updated on your trip! If

you keep a blog or email friends and family, please

include me on your list.

We are looking forward to meeting you!

Cross-Cultural Solutions

New Delhi

HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!