Preparing for your Indian visit

Ready to come visit us? You will need some time to prepare.

Get a passport or renew your old one (it will need to be valid for 6 months beyond your planned travel date) at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Get an Indian visa; visit this site to apply, https://www.indian-visa.com/select-application Read the instructions for all details, but I'm pretty sure you will need to send two passport photos. You can get them at CVS or Walgreens these days.

This is the site of the India consulate if you need more info:  http://chicago.indianconsulate.com/6IndianVisa/IndianVisa.html

Here is a page on vaccinations you should get: 
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/india.aspx

And here is an exercise so you can start practicing brushing your teeth with bottled water (probably familiar to you campers):

•  Half fill a small glass with bottled water, take a swig but don't swallow.
• Turn on the tap and run your toothbrush under the water.
• Realize you just ran the bristles under tap water, throw away the toothbrush, dry your hands, walk around and look for a new toothbrush.
• Take another swig of water, don't swallow.
• Brush.
• Spit.
• Take a swig of water from the glass, spit.
• Use tap water to rinse your lips but do not open your lips.
• Stir bristles in the glass of water to rinse them
• Pour the water from the glass over the handle to rinse it off.
• Put toothbrush in a safe place (not the counter that has tap water all over it).

Don't worry, we have extra toothbrushes for you.

Also, prepare to react like Elaine did on Seinfeld when she and Jerry visited his parents in Florida. After several uncomfortable days she broke down and begged, "Mrs. Seinfeld, for the love of God, please turn on the air conditioning."  And Mrs. Seinfeld (us) said, "What, are you warm?"