TO SIGN UP FOR THE COURSE

Here is the course application:
Religion in India application

Entry into the program is with the consent of the Program Director, Dr. Capper. The first step in signing up for the course is to speak to him. You can reach him at:

Dr. Daniel Capper, Director
Religion in India Program
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5015
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: (601) 266-4522
E-mail: u312788@usm.edu

Or drop by Dr. Capper's office at LAB 338A

Once you have Dr. Capper's approval, to sign up for the course, pay your money, etc., you want to talk to the office of International Education:

The University of Southern Mississippi
International Programs
118 College Drive #10047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601.266.4344
Fax: 601.266.5699
E-mail: studyabroad@usm.edu

TEXTBOOK
The following book is required for the course. You should buy it beforehand and bring it with you since you likely won't find it in India. The USM bookstore will not carry it automatically and you will need to order it yourself at any bookstore (including the USM bookstore), Amazon.com, etc. Because of delays from shipping, you should order your book by April 1.

Religion in India: A Historical Introduction by Fred W. Clothey. London: Routledge, 2006. ISBN 978-0-415-94024-5. Paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Religion-India-Introduction-Fred-
Clothey/dp/0415940249/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&
qid=1232307216&sr=1-2

You will read all of this book. Please notice that, since you know the reading beforehand, you can make more free time for yourself in India by getting the reading done before we leave.

Meditation on the Qur'an at a Sufi shrine

LANGUAGE
The course itself is taught entirely in English. It is not a study abroad language course.

The two official languages of India are Hindi and English and the Indian Constitution recognizes 21 other languages. Being a former British colony, many people in India speak English. There are many English-language newspapers and books available. However, many Indians do not speak English. Students in this course will encounter mostly Hindi but also will hear other languages such as Bengali and Urdu.

Because of this students are encouraged to bring a language phrasebook with them. Students might consider one of these choices:

Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali Phrasebook. Lonely Planet, 2005. ISBN 1-74059-149-6.
http://www.amazon.com/Hindi-Urdu-Bengali
-Lonely-Phrasebook/dp/1740591496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=
books&qid=1232307330&sr=1-1

The Rough Guide to Hindi & Urdu Dictionary Phrasebook. Rough Guides, 2006. ISBN: 978-1843536468.
http://www.amazon.com/Rough-Guide-Dictionary-Phrasebook-
Phrasebooks/dp/1843536463/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&
qid=1232307365&sr=1-1

Hindi-English/English-Hindi Dictionary and Phrasebook by Todd Scudiere. Hippocrene Books, 2003. ISBN: 978-0781809832.
http://www.amazon.com/Hindi-English-English-Hindi-Dictionary-Phrasebook-
Scudiere/dp/0781809835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=
1232307392&sr=1-1

VISA APPLICATION
Fees for your visa are included in the program fees.

You begin the visa process by filling out the form at the following Web site:
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/requirements/gather?apply=bymail

Complete the form online, print it out, and make sure to sign it. You can find help for filling out the form here.

Along with this form you will need two identical passport photos and and a photocopy of your driver's license as proof of your address.

Once you have a passport, completed and signed application, 2 passport photos, and proof of your address, forward these documents to Dr. Capper by March 9 and he will get your visa.

Passport photos can be obtained from USM Photo Services, the post office, Kinko's, and other places.

If you are confused then ask Dr. Capper for help.

Group members cleanse their sins in the Ganges River

Dress, weather, etc.:

We will be in India during the hot and dry season. Temperatures will be in the 90's and 100's. Bring your hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for protection against the sun. Sunburn can occur. Also, you might want to use creams to keep the skin of the face and hands moisturized. Nights in the mountains will be cooler.

Casual dress is good and there will be few instances where you might need dressier clothes. Make sure, however, that even casual clothes are respectful and modest for temple visits. Please know that Indian women typically dress in a way that reveals little skin beyond hands and face. And almost no one in India wears shorts, regardless of the heat, unless they are tourists. Therefore, except for "hotel-only" clothes, your clothes should have short sleeves (nothing sleeveless) as well as leg coverage. You will not be allowed to go on field trips to sacred sites without the proper attire.

Vaccinations:

You want to get these:
Typhoid
Hepatitis A

Consider getting these:
Malaria pills
Hepatitis B (sexually transmitted)
Measles/Mumps/Rubella [MMR] (if you haven't had a shot since early childhood)
Diptheria and tetanus (if you haven't had a shot in the last 10 years)
Polio (if you haven't had a shot in the last 10 years)
Varicella (if you haven't had chickenpox)

See your doctor at least 6-8 weeks in advance of our trip (around spring break time) because some vaccinations require multiple visits and some take a few weeks to kick in.

Medications to definitely bring:

Ciprofloxacin (for curing stomach problems)
Diamox (for altitude sickness)

You can get your shots and medications at the USM clinic or at:
Forrest County Health Department
5008 Hwy 42
Hattiesburg, MS 39401-2976
(601) 583-0291

To provide you with health insurance while in India you need to get an International Student Identification card. You can get and submit your application at the International Programs office at USM..

What to bring:
Whatever you do, pack light! You will have to be able to carry all of your bags by yourself. Also you will want plenty of room left in your luggage to bring souvenirs back home. India is full of fabulous and ridiculously inexpensive things to buy.

Be sure to bring your textbooks (see above), notebook, and writing instruments for the class.

Before bringing anything electronic, please remember that India has 220 volt, 50 Hz. current (compare the USA's 120 volts 60 Hz. current) - you will need a transformer as well as a plug converter in India to run many electronic devices. If you can live without an electronic device you may wish to do so. Some battery chargers, etc., can take both 120 and 220 volts - check your appliance.

You likely will need:
- sturdy and comfortable shoes for lots of walking
- tons of film or memory for your camera (and batteries for your digital camera) - India is photogenic
- backup glasses and eyedrops if you wear contact lenses - the dry, dusty air makes life with contacts more difficult
- hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

You may want:
- a small flashlight for dealing with power outages
- bug spray
- skin moisturizer
- some will want portable tissues for toilets which lack toilet paper, etc.
- basic pocket calculator for bargaining in the market

Medications to consider bringing:
- anything you take by prescription. Do not plan to refill your prescription in India
- ibuprofen, aspirin, or the like
- antibiotic for skin (e.g.. Neosporin)
- internal antibiotic such as Cipro for the common occurence of "Delhi belly " - Cipro can cut your misery-and-recovery time from days to hours
- antihistamine, cold, flu, or cough medicine
- aloe vera for sunburn
- antidiarrhoeal (e.g.. Immodium)
- vitamins
- motion sickness pills
- water purification tablets or filter
- rehydration crystals (e.g.. Naturalyte, Gastrolyte)
- antacid
- antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams
- 1% hydrocortisone cream
- epinephrine auto-injector (e.g., EpiPen), especially if history of severe allergic reaction

Dr. Capper will bring a kit of medical supplies with him. He cannot, however, provide you with prescriptions such as internal antibiotics (such as Cipro) or altitude sickness medicine (such as Diamox)

To the right is the Pushp Villa hotel in Agra. It has a restaurant, small internet center, and a free breakfast buffet for guests. It is representative of the kind of Indian hotel in which we will stay.

Click here for a sample hotel restaurant menu

Your room might look something like this. Hot water runs 24 hours. There is a full bath, TV, and a tea maker. A non-plug alarm clock might be handy as American electric clocks will not adjust to the 50 Hz cycle frequency and thus will always run slow.

The downsides

In India you will be forced out of your normal comfort zone. You will have to learn new things or new ways for old things. Some of this adaptation likely will be pleasant. But, because of India's poverty, some of it likely will not. There are some things you may wish to mentally prepare for in advance.

What you might find unpleasant:
* LONG plane rides
* very dry and sometimes dusty air that induces cotton mouth, dry eyes and uncomfortable contact lenses, and dry skin
* "Delhi belly" stomach upset
* filthy bathrooms with squat toilets, trash rotting in streets, dirty restaurants, and other symptoms of different sanitation conditions
* bumpy rides on dirt or unmaintenanced roads
* sleeping in very simple guest houses with only outhouses

If you insist on luxury travel then you should find another study abroad trip.

Shiva, with tamed cobras for his divine hair, rules the city of Varanasi

A Delhi street mini-shrine for the goddess Kali and god Shiva

Home | About the course | What to know if you are going | Course photo journals | USM study abroad