[Zip]

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of women in India DO NOT cover their faces with veils. The only ones who do this are the Orthodox Muslim women, who are a minority. Because you are going in the summer, it will be awfully hot, humid, sultry and sticky. So take a lot of cool cotton clothing to make yourself comfortable. In most major cities, especially nowadays, young women are dressed like their Western counterparts (shorts, sleeveless, minis, etc.); in some cases trendier than in the United States! For your safety, always travel in a group or with your boyfriend. As long you go to bars frequented by a student or youthful crowd, you should be fine drinking there.

But let me be blunt: New Delhi is a city full of jerks and sleazeballs. Yes, even the ones dressed in suits. So dress down so as not to invite unwanted attention. The farther south you go, the more polite it gets. Bombay, Bangalore and Chennai are cosmopolitan and women move freely without fear of harassment or being hassled. These places also have pretty cool discos/nightclubs, and the party scene is quite good. As long as you are with company, you should be safe here.

‘Meet the Parents’: Your safest bet is to dress conservatively – Indian style – but knowing that you are from the United States, they are bound to cut you some slack. I don’t know what ethnic background your boyfriend is from (Hindu, Muslim, Christian/Catholic, Sikh, Parsi, Jain), but he should fill you in on what traditional dress to wear, as his parents would love to see you in one. You may be outspoken in a youthful crowd, but show reverence and respect for elders by giving them the right-of-way in every situation … even if you know they are wrong. Just play it quietly, as most young men will also do so in such a situation. Respect for elders is a MUST. Immediate and extended family are extremely important in Indian society, so expect to meet all of them while you are there. Avoid drinking in front of the elders unless your boyfriend thinks it’s OK.

What to expect: Cities are crowded and polluted, but suburbs are fine; Too many beggars on the street may hound you for cash, so watch your bag; Slow service in most cases; Chicken and goat meat are popular, beef is very hard to get.

Don’t: Give or take anything with your left hand, or be too assertive with the elders.

DOo: remove footwear while walking into anyone’s house or place of worship.

All in all, I am sure you will enjoy your trip. Have fun!

User Detail :  

Name : Zip, Gender : M, Race : Asian, Religion : Hindu, Age : 30, City : Birmingham, State : AL, Country : United States, Occupation : Pharmacist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

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