Tribal Health Initiative, Sittilingi PO, Dharmapuri Dist, Tamil Nadu, India.   Ph: +91-4346-258611/299025

Greeting people does not usually involve shaking hands, especially between women and men, unless you are with western-educated people.  People may simply smile at each other, nod sideways or put both hands together in front of the chest and say "wanakkum".

If you are meeting someone you know but have not seen for a little while you might say "Nalla-rking-la?" (Are you well?) If you have said that when you first meet somebody in the morning you may confuse and embarrass them by saying it again later the same day.

 

Generally speaking people do not sit with the soles of their feet pointing at somebody else, and women do not sit with their legs apart.

 

Shoes are removed outside the door of any room, or if you are in a village, at the edge of the canopy in front of the house.  Normally everybody wears flipflops (known as chappals, slippers) that are easy to remove and clean.

 

There is no Western Style food provided on the campus; no bread, no pizza, no cheese, no snacks (or biscuits, sweets, snack bars, chocolate).

 

Alternative foods or meals are not provided, although you can serve yourself from any of the dishes on offer.  Usually this will be idlis or rice for breakfast with some vegetable sambar (gravy); rice, sambar and a separate vegetable for lunch, with rassam (spicy thin sauce usually eaten as a second course with rice and yoghourt).  At the evening meal there may be dosas, (rice pancakes), puri (deep fried chapattis) or plain chapatti with sauce or chutney. Chutney is a mixture of coconut or peanuts, spices and dal.

 

At THI we eat with the hand only (right hand;  see above).  If you feel you would like a spoon or fork please bring one with you.

 

Water: Drinking water is not a worry in Sittilingi THI campus.  It is one of the rare places in India where it is safe to drink from the tap.  There is no need for bottled water on the campus, but if you would feel happier, do bring your own. 

 

We look forward to your visit to Sittilingi.

We hope you enjoy your stay with us, and that you will find it interesting and good fun sharing our lives for a few weeks.

 

Women's clothing:  In the Sittilingi forest area people still dress traditionally and will find normal western clothing either offensive or provocative, and at best embarrassing.  If you are female you might like to invest in some "shalwar kameez" outfits (also known as "churidhar") in a large centre such as Madras (try Fabindia in Adyar or any big store in T Nagar).  These should not be too tight or see-through, and should have sleeves at least half way to the elbow.  A full length nightie would also be useful.  This is usually worn over a saree underskirt if you are wandering about the campus in your nightie in the evenings (which is what most do!) 

If you do wear jeans on campus please wear a shirt or tee shirt long enough to cover the top of the legs.  Cut-off jeans or long Bermudas or any trousers short enough to show the ankles are not acceptable for women.  Shorts are not advised at any time, and bikinis are out of the question.  If you go in water while out trekking women keep all their clothes on! (they soon dry).

 

 

Male clothing.  For males longish shorts are acceptable in the residential part of the campus but it is normal to wear full length trousers when exposed to the public - eg travelling to town or going on field visits, working in OP or doing ward rounds.  Polo-style tee shirts or short sleeved shirts are convenient - sleeveless vests are only normally worn without a shirt on top if you are labouring in the fields…

 

Indian Khadi (home-woven) shirts or kurtas are available in government khadi shops - these are loose with Gandhi collars and mixed colours - usually cotton or polycotton. They come in various lengths and are cool to wear and easy to wash and dry.  Don't buy the ones made from 100% polyester - sweaty.