Artistic Traditions of Amdo, Summer 2007

First, in terms of general principles, I agree with Galen that packing less is more convenient – one of the most relaxing ways to deal with the comparative lack of material conveniences is to pare down one’s needs so one can focus on what is important – the experience of being there and relating directly to the people and culture around you. Also, don’t bring anything you would mind losing, like heirloom jewelry or expensive electronics (with the exception of a camera) because it may get lost, stolen or damaged. We and our host families will do our best to ensure the security of your belongings, but there are no guarantees. Hotel rooms and village homes alike are subject to an uncontrollable flow of guests, and one minute’s inattention invites theft. Be prepared to carry the essentials – passport, camera, a bit of cash – on your person at all times. As for clothing, again I agree with Galen that we want to be respectful. For Tibetans, arms are not an issue, but legs and cleavage are. I actually think tank tops and leggings are useful, but only as a layer under a button-down shirt or skirt. I tend to wear more long-sleeved shirts, to keep covered from the sun – speaking of the sun, maybe its just me with my Irish skin, but hats with wide brims, long sleeves, sunscreen and sunglasses are important! Skirts really should be long, ideally to the ankle but definitely below the calf. This is a major gender distinction in Tibet: women’s robes go to the floor, men’s to the knee, and you don’t want to be mistaken for the wrong gender! (I actually have some good stories about that!)

Second, a few specific suggestions.
FLASHLIGHT – essential for night trips to the outhouse. Much better than an ordinary flashlight is something that cannot fall down the hole of the outhouse, like a headlamp (basically a square flashlight with an elastic band to go around your head), or something tiny you can clip to your wrist or wear around your neck.
DENTAL FLOSS - if you eat any meat, it will likely include gristle, which will get stuck between your teeth.
GIFT - for your host family. Gift giving is a strong and important tradition in Tibetan culture, and giving a small, inexpensive but thoughtful gift, especially one that communicates something of your personality or place of origin, will be much appreciated by your host families. Also, bringing photos of your families, your hometown, samples of your favorite foods, etc., to share with them would be nice.
BACKPACK COVER OR SACK – consider putting the backpack you will be checking in at the airport in a large, lightweight duffle bag or laundry sack. This will protect the straps from getting caught in the airplane or luggage handling machinery, and the resulting damage. I eventually lost a hip strap that way. Unlikely to happen, but a bummer when it does.
POSTER TUBE - If you think you’ll want to purchase any thangkas or posters, having something to transport them safely in is important. When I last looked for a poster tube locally, it was very hard to find one. So I sometimes bring one of those black plastic poster tubes that bike messengers carry, and then put that inside my big backpack.

If you have any questions or just want to say ‘hi’ before we leave, drop my a line at suecoslo@bu.edu.

Very excited to meet all of you soon!!

Susan Costello