Saturday, December 13, 2008

15 Days

I fly to New Delhi in two weeks.  When I purchased my tickets this summer India seemed distant, both geographically and temporally.  Now it is surreal to think that a day after opening presents around a Christmas tree with my family I will be navigating the streets of New Delhi.  

Now 15 days out, I am beginning the process of preparation.  The needles have struck and my body is building up its defenses against Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Polio, and influenza.  This evening I will begin training myself to keep my mouth closed during a shower.  I still cannot imagine how this is accomplished.  I suppose it is possible to avoid singing and teeth brushing while under the spigot.  If only I can control the yawning and 'mouth breathing'!

While I feel I have come to terms with most of the health concerns involved in traveling to India, the actual journey still unnerves me.  
  • I am having an inner debate over the bag that will go to India [do I buy a new, larger suitcase? do I do the anthropology thing and use my backpacking backpack?  how do I secure the straps?  won't it suck to have to pull my clothes out of the top?  do I buy a NEW, LARGER, PRETTY suitcase?].  
  • How do I get through customs?  I have never flown across national borders and I am embarrassed to say that am a slightly terrified that I have no idea what to do after I get off the plane in India.
  • How do I keep myself occupied during my 15 hour flight?  If I sleep, I will mess up my ability to sleep after I arrive in India at 10pm.  If I read, I will sleep.  I have a tiny Ipod and an inept computer.  Will I develop carpal tunnel in my thumbs after twiddling them for 10 hours??
  • And, let's not even mention the circulation issues.

What should be clear by now is that I am a worrier.  Fortunately I am also a planner.  And in the next 15 days I will most likely develop ingenious plans to deal with each of these worries.  Depending on how diligent I am about blogging before my trip you may be unfortunate enough to read said plans.  I suggest avoiding this blog until the day of my departure--December 28.

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