Hi! I'm MDG.
I am an American woman in love with an Indian man. I moved to Bangalore, India July 25th, 2010, and am happy to be sharing my experiences with you!
Please don't hesitate to comment or contact me directly. I love both! 
I’m Only Going to Pack a Little Bit…
Yeah right! My packing has grown enormously and I have to blame it on India. 
At first I thought I would only pack a few Western outfits and would buy the rest of my clothing in India to “fit in”. But after seeing videos of the city life and talking to Indians, the recommendation is that I will feel more comfortable in my western clothing. (can I not escape the west anywhere?!) So now I feel like I’m packing for a trip to Florida. My whole closet is strewn out on the bed and I’m deciding what to pack and what will stay. It’s hard to do when there’s that little voice in every girl’s head whispering “you may need that, better bring it just in case…”
I shouldn’t even be blogging right now. The clock is ticking for me and there is so much to do! Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes, although I have NO idea how you figured it out. As far as I know I never mentioned it was going to be my birthday! Please fill me in…maybe in my old age of 28 I’ve just forgotten that I posted it. 
Also, I will respond to many of you soon. It has been just a tad bit crazy here working, shopping, packing, celebrating a birthday, and seeing all my friends and family for goodbyes. I’m already missing everyone and the comforts of home, and I haven’t left yet!
In your about me you wrote that you were leaving 5 days after your 28th birthday! Remember to leave all your pretty heals and party dresses at home, you won’t need them (from one over packer to another)
Happy Birthday! And good luck with the packing! As a notorious over-packer I won’t be able to give you any advice. But as I’m planning my own trip to India next year I hope you keep us updated with your travel preparations and the outcomes.
lol, bring less!!!!!! fashions and favorites are different in india – and it’s a great way to get to the mall and get something new!!!! you can always buy more/or get your clothes sent to you if needed!
Ahhh..I guess I will face the same problem when I start packing mine…hehehe…I wish you luck while packing…ahhh..and just like K said…please keep us updated it will for sure helps us a lot while getting ready for our trip too…
OH MY GAWD….I hope I’m not too late! I saw this blog come in and wanted to let you know a few things real quick.
Ok, bring jeans and light weight cotton shirts, but it’s Monsoon in most of India so it is a bit chilly so a light weight rain jacket won’t be amiss and perhaps a hat. Socks too for cold nights. One warm pair of jammies and one cool. We wash clothes all the time here and people generally was that days clothes that night or next day. Also, clothes here are cheap so you can add to whatever you didn’t bring relatively easily.
I will say this though….I feel more comfortable walking around in somewhat India wear. Like jeans and a kurta. That might help save you some space. Light weight shoes too, no heavy leathers other than tennis shoes…they will get ruined in the rain and mud otherwise. Sandals are your best bet and not the sparkly kind. The roughin’ it kind, like birkenstocks.
What you MUST bring: YOUR DEODORANT and lots of it. I find they only have the sprays here and generally they are not the anti-perspiration. It sucks. I begged another blogger to bring some back for me from the states. Pepto Bismol in tablet form and liquid if you can keep it safe from bursting in your luggage, they don’t have it here. Any and all other forms of medicines that we use everyday and don’t think much about. Like Tyelonol for Cold and Sinuses. Yep, not having it here. Same for Nyquil. No such thing. The medicines here work, but it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to them and can cause some serious side effect issues (aka: I went 8 days without going ‘push’ as my baby brother used to say when we were kids because of an anti-runny push medicine). Vitamins they have here and it’s the same. Same with feminine products. I know, I know, TMI but dude, some of this stuff no body told me about and I brought too much of the wrong things and not enough of the right ones.
Any favorite western spices, like cinnamon for toast, it’s hard to find here, not impossible but hard.
Leave your fancy/favorite jewelry behind…it attracts too much attention on a westerner.
If you use horsehair brush or something like it, bring it….also hard to find here. Also, you might have issues with hair fall, do not panic. Let me know and I’ll tell you what to do when and if. Generally, it’s the hard water here so if you want to bring those tablets that wouldn’t be amiss.
Gosh, there is so much more but this is the really important stuff that will help you make it through the first few months. After that, you will acclimatize more and it will be not so bad if you don’t have some stuff.
If I miss you, save journey and travels….keep us up to date and informed!
Let me know if your coming down Pune way, there are a few of us that live here.
Take care! Gori R
PS: I forgot
HAPPY BIRHTDAY GIRLY!!! MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!!!
lol so I did mention my birthday!! See, I said in my old age I must have forgotten
. Thanks for all the b-day wishes!
@Gori, thank you for your advice! But yes, a little too late, the packing is all done and I’ve already left home! I’m in Houston for a couple days before heading to India (with a two day stop in Dubai as well). I didn’t pack ONE sock! How about that? lol. I have jeans (skinny and non) and lots of light weight cotton shirts. I also packed capris in all different colors and a few cotton skirts even just to wear them around the home. Did NOT pack a warm pair of PJ’s! oops! But yes, I should probably be able to get these things there in India or here in Houston if we make a malll stop.
Shoes were a big problem for me. I tried a few different pairs here and there and nothing quite fit the bill. I wanted comfort plus cuteness plus easily washable! So I know I don’t have the right shoes, but I’ll go on the hunt one more time here. Whenever I showed MIM a Teva sandal he said I would get funny looks if I wore them around India! He didn’t like the style of them at all and said they weren’t girlie enough.
Hey MDG,
Wish you a very “Happy B’day”….. wishing you all the happiness in your tour of India and of-course in your life ahead.:)
Amit
Hey, have you reached safely? Let me know.
Well happy belated birthday! I just got cought up on your blog posts. I’m sure by now you are in India I hope that the traveling went well not lost luggage or nothing like that! I can’t wait to hear how your first week in Inida has went or how ever you are going to post. I’m sorry to hear that you got sick from all the shots that you got I’m sure that India is worth all of it.