The International Schools Review Forum

To start, I know that this is a thread on the blog site.. but I was hoping for updated information and I'm not looking for "bring things to put on the walls". I'm a single person who has moved all over the United States, but this is my first time moving abroad. So I know what I need to make me feel comfortable in a foreign space... but this time I'm going to a country where I wont be able to get things mailed to me (atleast not easily or cheaply).


So my question is... what things are suggested to bring on the first time abroad? I'll be packing everything as excess luggage... I'm starting a list, and I want as much input in my list as possible. I figure the basics- clothes, medicines, toiletries... but what about those things that you wish you would have brought, but didnt? The things we don't think we use, but actually do?

Also- I'm transferring my dvds to an external hardrive and I have a kindle for my books (travel light!)


Thanks!

PS: Do the VPN's work for downloading from itunes? Should I buy one before I leave the states or wait?

We emailed one of the teachers from our school, who gave us a list of things to bring. Some things are more expensive in certain countries than others. Ask someone who is already at the school.

Aside from some country specific things, we brought spices we like to cook with that weren't going to be available in our new country, teaching resources we couldn't live without, stuff for our hobbies that we like to do in our free time, and we renewed all our credit cards/licenses that were going to expire during the school year.

We bought MagicJack!! It's been a great way to communicate with our non-skype users.

Cold and flu remedy
Allergy medication
Any specialized medication you might take, not necessarily prescription only
Definitely spices and packages of seasonings
Your music
Important papers
Do you need someone at home with a power of attorney?
Set up an account you can either wire transfer or direct deposit into and get the information to do so
Phone number of credit card company just in case they flag your card for being used overseas, and tell them that you are going

Ask for a list from the school, though also ask for confirmation from a current teacher. We took tons of toothpaste to SE Asia because the school said it wasn't available and when we got there the exact same brand was on sale, cheaper than what we had paid for it.

If you are a reader I would find out what the library is like at the school. At our school you wouldn't need to bring books but I have been to other schools where the pickings were pretty slim for an adult. Consider an e-reader, you'll be doing lots of traveling and they can be convenient.

Have fun!

You might tell us which country you're going to, that way we'd be able to help you a bit more. When I went to Korea, it was very difficult to find western products. Things I remember bringing:

Medication
Coffee, grinder, and french press
Deodorant
Bandaids
Spices
Bed Sheets
Bath Towels
Cologne/Perfume
All important documents and copies

Bedding is often not in your apt, therefore bring pillow and sheets that you really love. Definitely towels as you will want to shower right away. Most important for the long term were pics of family and friends to put up on those bare walls and pots and pans if you love cooking. If the place is westernized, most things can be bought if you aren't picky about the name brands. However, some items can be expensive there so check online for prices or talk to a teacher already there

[quote="mathgym"]
We bought MagicJack!! It's been a great way to communicate with our non-skype users.[/quote]

Mathgym- how is the reception on it? I was thinking of doing that to keep in touch with my less technological part of the family...as teaching them to do skype seems to not be working :-)

MagicJack works great 90% of the time. There's free voice mail that comes right to my email too. Once in a while the sound is a little low, but overall we are really pleased with it and glad we have it. I use it to call my friends and family just to say...log on to skype!