You all sound like a bunch of cloistered nuns telling thirdhand stories.
Go and have fun. Open your mind, and be respectful of their culture.
Come home with a greater appreciation of your own.
Thing is, everyone has been pretty spot-on so far.
For the past five years I've gone to India on average twice a year for business. So far I've avoided getting sick, but I follow a pretty strict regimen that a few others have mentioned.
- Get all your shots before going the first time. If you'll be outside at all make sure you've taken youe Malaria meds.
- Drink ONLY bottles water that you can break the seal on yourself. Most hotels, airports, etc, have bottled water in abundance so it shouldn't be an issue getting it. Don't drink anything else. If you drink coffee make sure you use bottled water to make it and make sure that you clean/boil the shit out of any cups or pots you use. Don't ever touch anything associated with any local water source.
- Don't touch things. The vast majority of locals don't use toilet paper. They clear the shit off their assholes with their left hand when they take a dump and then "rinse" the left hand. That means that there's particles of shit on everything that's touched by a local.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and bottled water before you consume any food and avoid using utensils (see above).
- If you're in a decent hotel (not sure about the base you're on) you should be able to see the people preparing food. I typically eat one meal a day from the hotel (I can see the gloved chef making my scrambled eggs) when I can see what I'm consuming. Beyond that I eat peanut butter (Jiff makes to-go sizes) and Cliff, PowerBar, or other protein bars as my meal.
- Don't leave your hotel/base. Most people get sick from interacting with locals, touching local stuff, or eating local food. THere's noting "wonderful or cultural" to look at. It's third world people pissing and shitting in the streets.
Good luck.
