Curriculum Supplements #1: Video Clips

Crew!

In addition to the Construction Curriculum that we're sending you, there will be periodic "supplements" that you will want to see or be aware of before leaving. We will post those supplements here as it will keep us from having to send enless CD's, and everyone will be able to access everything as a "self feeder" rather than waiting on us all the time.

As a result, there are a few things here for your initial consideration:

1) Bricks! One of the interesting things we encountered in Ipiturai was a full tow-truck with a load of bricks that got stuck in the soft stand before it could be unloaded. We had to manually unload half of the truck by hand, push it, pull it, dig around it, insert shims under its tires and eventually "tug o' war" it out. This video shows the last few seconds of that tug o' war, and just illustrates how things "often do not go as planned". :-) Click here .

2) Sling! Shiff! Splink! The process of plastering the outside and inside of a house in India is a real art. You can't just sling the mortar on the side of the house, and the consistency of the mortar has to be "just right". This is most often a task left best to the brick masons, but if you want to see how they do it, here are three quick shorts to give you a clue. Oh, and by the way, unfortunately, you'll have to turn your head 90 degrees to watch these... i thought we'd be able to "flip them" when we got home, but no luck doing so, alas.

* Part 1: "Slinging". Trowels full of mortar are slung with the wrist onto the wall of the house. Click here .

* Part 2: "Shiffing". A straight board is used to "shif" the mortar smooth. Click here .

* Part 3: "Splinking". A tool that Randy probably knows the name of is used to smooth the mortar to its final and eventual evenness. Click here .

Actually, none of those are the "correct" terms for any of those actions, but they sure sound cool!

Let Me Introduce You to Your New Best Friend!

Crew!

The concept of "good reconnaissance" being critical for the success of any operation is as old as Sun Tsu and the Art of War. Your preparation to go to India is no different. As a result, Mr. Randy Haycock has done an exemplary job creating for you a tutorial which will walk you through every single step of the construction/reconstruction process for March and beyond. We will be sending you this tutorial via "snail mail", but for those of you who are super eager and want to get started right away, you can download it from this blog by right-clicking here and saving to your desktop (by clicking either "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Firefox). Then open from your desktop.

However you view it (i.e. via the CD on its way to you or from the web here), please make sure you have spent some significant time with it (you should go through it a minimum of 3 times, start to finish) before our next meeting on Feb 7th so that our discussion can be as profitable as possible.

Notes:
* This file is about 20 meg, so if you are on dial-up, it will take quite a while to load and you may want to consider either using a different Internet source, or just waiting for the CD to arrive.
* This file is in PDF format, so you will need Adobe Reader to read/open the file.

Recommendations of what to bring

Suitcase size recommendation: 21 Inch
Backpack size recommendation: "Fanny Pack, Daypack or Backpack

Travel:
The rule for travel is as follows:
- Comfort: Wear loose clothing that will provide you with the maximum comfort for sitting (still) for long periods. Avoid things with belts or constrictions as your lmbs will expand and contract with long periods of sitting, atmospheric changes, etc
- Warmth: Airplanes and airports are notoriously cold. India, however, is notoriously hot. So plan to have at least one layer of clothing that is easy to put on and/or remove to adjust with the variation.
- Clean: Wear something that won't look dirty easily....even when it is. It's hard to travel for 36 hours on planes, trains and automobiles without spilling things on yourself, sweating, sitting or walking through things, or in general just having things be gross by the time you arrive. Wearing crispy whie clothing that broadcasts spills easily, therefore, or anything that falls in that same category, is not recommended.
- Bring plenty of books, magazines and other distractions, and bring enough for both legs of the journey. Hard cre people who "only bring their Bible" are usually on the brink of insanity by the time they get back home:-)

Worksite for Women:
- "Disposible" T-shirts - no V neck, scoop neck, off the shoulder or tank tops
- Punjab
- Kakhis/Dockers
- Jeans
- Construction Apron
- No Shorts

Worksite for Men:
- "Disposible" T-shirts - no V neck or tank-tops
- Kakhis/Dockers
- Jeans
- Shorts

Work Site Items:
- Work gloves

General:
- Breatheable, comfortable socks. Athletic socks (such as Thorlo) are great if you have them.
- Don't skimp on underwear unless you're a masochist

Evening Wear:
- Punjab (purchase in country for about $5/outfit)
- Kakhis/Dockers
- Nice shirt (men: with collar, preferably long-sleeved, button-down)
- Skirt/Sari/Punjab for Women
- 1 set of nice clothing (i.e. for women: one long skirt and blouse, for me: one time for "just in case" that will go with your "nice shirt" mentioned above.)

Shoes:
- Tennis Shoes (for travel or evening)
- Workboots or Trailboots (for worksite)
Note: Make sure all shoes are easy to get in and out of

Bathroom Items:
- Toliet Paper (Charmin "travel rolls" are great!)
- Kleenex (travel size)
- Soap/Shampoo (travel size)
- Wet wipes (anti-bacterial are best)
- Anti-bacterial gel (several small containers are better than one giant one)
- Hairbrush/Comb
- If you wear glasses, make sure you have a spare pair
- If you wear contacts, make sure you bring a spare pair, plus lots of supplies (saline, etc)
- Deoderant - Gel or White
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Items for Women
- 1 small/med sized towel

Food Item:
- Beef Jerky
- Peanuts
- Trail Mix
- Water
- Granola
- Gaterade Powder
- Salt Tablets/Electrolytes/Table salt
- Multi-Vitamin (Flintstones are fine)

Other Items:
- Wide brim hat
- Sunglasses - but don't bring your Oakleys....bring something that can get smashed, scratched, smeared and sat upon
- Bandana
- Bible/Pen/Paper
- Trashbags - or "Martins" bags
- Ziploc bags - the larger the better
- Fanny Pack or "day pack" backpack
- Ear plugs
- Digital or other camera along with spare film, cards, batteries, or whatever you need to operate it
- 2 prong power adapter for India
- Power converter
- Scrub brush
- Laundry bar soap
- Batter operated alarm clock
- A small travel journal to record thoughts, ideas and impressions

Money:
- You'll probably want between $100-200 of personal spending money. The exchange rate is about $1=40 Rupees. Prices vary radically depeding on what you're buying and where, but most people find that $100-200 is ample for what one person can bring home.
- Most people recommend a "money belt"of some sort that you can keep on your person. The canvas "under the shirt pouch" style is popular.
- Whatever you do, try to keep your money from being all in the same place. Spread it out....just don't forget where you put it:-)

Medical Items:
- Anti-malarial medication
- Advil/IB Profin/Tylenol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Q-tips (travel size)
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment
- Bandaids
- Anti-gas (Gas-X)
- Anti-nausea (Pepto)
- Anti-diarhea (Immodium AD)
- Activated Charoal (you don't HAVE to bring this.....just a suggestion)
- "No Jet Lat" tablets (Optional). You can find them at drugstore.com
- Sunblock (highest SPF you can find, and MAKE SURE IT'S WATERPROOF OR "SPORT" VARIANT)
- Aloe or sunburn treatment gel
- Cortaid topical steriodal/anti-itch cream (this is particularly important if you have sensitivity to bug bites)
- Benadryl (tablets are best)
- Sleep aid (such as Dramamine or Tylenol PM)
- Prescription Allergy medications (if you take them regularly here in the US)
- Mosquito and Insect Repellant

**This is not a definitive....pack for YOU...and stay tuned as we will probably continue to add things along the way.

OVER AND OVER AND OVER

DVD's for how to build an Indian house will be sent out soon. Please view and read over the DVD a minimum of three times and please have questions ready for the next meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2006.

Shots! Eeek! Shots!

SHOTS NEEDED

Please let Skip know what shots you will be needing as soon as you know.

Twinrix - $50 - Hep A and B

Tetnus - $8 - Only need if you have not had a booster in the last 5 years

Polio - $37 - Unless have had a booster since turned 18

Typhoid - $58 - every two years

Malaria - Doxycyline and Melarone - Do not take Lariam or Metholoquim - Please see your Physician for this.

Doxycyline
Upside - intestinal antibiotic as well
Downside - if your skin is sensitive to the sun you will sunburn more easily. Around $20.00
Doxycyline operates well against Malaria, but also doubles as an intestinal deterrent against parasites while in India. No one who has traveled with GCC and has been taking Doxy has contracted Malaria (though that's not, of course, to say that it's not possible) so far, and the side effects of Doxy are significantly less than the potential side effects of other meds such as Larium or other commonly prescribed anti-Malarials. You will need to have your physician prescribe Doxy for you as the Health Dept will not be able to do so.

Melarone
Upside - Skin won't be sensitive to the sun
Downside - More expensive and isn't an intestinal antibacterial

Welcome to the healthy traveler page.
The following information will help you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy while traveling in India. Remember, there is more information available then can be discussed at this site. Please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm for complete information, or contact the St Joseph County Health Department at 245-6656.

When traveling, we often think about the exciting new experiences we may have in a foreign country. At the same time, we have to remember that there will be some health risks that we do not face in our normal daily lives. Becoming knowledgeable about these risks give us a better chance of avoiding them.

Points to Ponder:

• Begin preparing for travel far in advance of when you actually leave. Two to three months is a general estimate to give you ample time to receive vaccines and necessary medications.
• Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes, along with unpasteurized dairy products.
• Expanding on the above point, it is a good idea to bring an over the counter antidiarrheal in case of stomach illness (i.e. Imodium).
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
• Take with you enough of the medications you take daily to last throughout the entire trip. These should be in their original bottles, and you should bring a letter from your physician stating which medications are prescribed to you.
• Be cautious with ground transportation. Motor vehicle accidents constitute the greatest threat to traveler’s health. Travel only when necessary, and try to avoid travel at night when a greater number of drivers are impaired. Walk and drive defensively and always use seat belts.
• Protect yourself from insect bites.
• Don’t swim in fresh water. Salt water is usually safer
• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases.

Team Training #2

What: March 2006 India Team Training #2
When: Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Where: Heir Force Room - Granger Community Church
Time: 6:02pm

BE THERE!