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| The road not taken... |
With the admission done, student visa in hand and all the other formalities over, an international student going abroad for studies is possibly the most confused, now!
How cold will it be there? What utensils to take along? How much will I cook? How many notebooks? HOW MUCH WEIGHT IS ALLOWED??!
According to my daughter's friend who went to UK a year before her, "This country has 3 seasons, cold, colder and coldest, so when you land in September end, its going to be cold and from there on it just gets colder"!!
And so we went ahead and bought all possible warm clothes and sweaters that we could find in the hot and humid september in Delhi! In fact we bought a lot of stuff which, after she reached Leeds realized:
(a) all of it wasn't as much of use (b) added to the weight (c) costed the same and (d) somethings were actually lesser!
So here's a list of things an Indian student should look into while you are packing. Use it a as a guide or a checklist to customise a list matching your individual needs.
CLOTHES:
1. Warm inners (1 pair, leggings and upper) - The buildings are heated, so layering is a better idea than wearing warm inners which cannot be removed if you're hot. However you would require it if you're planning a day out in the thick of the winters.
2. Sweaters/Cardigans - 2/3 for home-wear, 4/5 for wearing 'out' (Sweaters are sold at 'Primark' for low cost and a huge variety, should you require more after reaching).
3. Jackets - 1 thick, heavy. 2 light (Easier for layering). 1 hoodie (buy one from the University store with the logo and wear it proudly!)
4. Jeans - 2/3 pairs of jeans, different colours/shades (so that it doesn't look as if you are wearing the same for months!)
5. T-shirts/tops - At least one for each day of the week (easier for laundering, once a week).
6. A couple of fancy party wear, especially for the girls. Though my daughter says "at least 4 dresses"!
6. Shoes - Slippers/close toed slip ons for the room. 1 pair of comfortable walking (sports/lifestyle) shoes. Plus 1 pair formal/party wear. Again girls, more if you have the space.
7. Socks - 6 pairs cotton, 2/3 pairs woollen.
8. Clothes hangers - 8 to 10. Depending on your kind of clothes and space available.
9. A formal set of clothing - keep it separate (cleaned and ironed) for special days like attending job interviews, etc.
10. Towels. 2 full sized, 2 hand towels. Whites are difficult to maintain. The thinner cotton ones are quicker to dry. Plus a bathrobe, especially if you are sharing a bathroom. This too, I would suggest not to go in for the thick lush kind. Keeping space and drying time in mind.
11. Scarves/stoles -2/3, 1 pair - woollen gloves
STATIONERY:
1. Pens, highlighters, markers, pencils, erasers, scale, sketch pens.
2. Notebooks - one for each of your subject (more or less and thickness, you know the best). These tend to be the heaviest so keep the net suitcase weight in mind.
5. Binders, folders and loose punched sheets.
6. Board pins, post its, cello tape, double sided tapes, pair of scissors.
7. A pouch to hold your daily stationery.
8. A bag (entirely your style) for taking to the University everyday.
KITCHEN:
Here the important factor to consider would be the kind of accommodation you're getting, catered or non-catered. If you're pampered, have no idea of cooking and can spare the extra cost, go in for catered (especially for the 1st year, after which you might find your bearings!). If otherwise, choose self catered accommodation.
2. 1 small 2/3 litre pressure cooker. 'Prestige' has brought out a new model which can be used both with gas stove with flame and induction cooking. Some kitchens might have only induction method.
3. 1 round (10 inch or less circumference) non-stick griddle (tawa), without raised edges. 1 small kadhai. 1 small saucepan.
4. 1 lid to cover any of the above. Choose the lid to cover your biggest sized utensil, it can be used for the smaller ones too.
5. 1 wooden spatula, 1 ladle. 1 all purpose knife, 1 potato peeler, 1 tea strainer
6. Dining set - 2 full plates, 2 quarter plates, 2 tea cups/mugs, 2 glasses, 4 teaspoons, 2 tablespoons, 2 forks, 2 small/soup bowls. 1 medium sized bowl esp for microwave cooking. (You can buy the light weight, non chipping 'corelle' or go in for melamine). These sets meant for students are available at popular stores in UK itself and are pretty cheap. So you needn't bother if you don't have the space.
7. 4 kitchen towels
8. Buy a liquid dish washing soap after you reach. Avoid messy spills as far as possible.
9. 1 soap case and 2 dish washing scrubs.
10. Spices - the bottled 'shaker' kinds are easier to take and use. Available in any of the modern food stores.
11. Take pickles only if you cant live without them! Try to get double seals. Avoid messy spills. There is a story on the net about an Indian student bound for US and the pickle packet leaked. He had a big suitcase full of everything dipped in oil inside! So be careful.
12. 2 - water bottles, 1 - tiffin box13. 3/4 - plastic boxes of different sizes to store things in the fridge/cupboard.
14. Zip - lock plastic pouches - 1 medium pack (having about 8 -10 pouches) for easy organization.
15. 1 - small chopping board
16. Can/Tin opener, bottle opener.
17. Rice and wheat flour (1 kilo each or less depending on your requirement, to begin with).
18. A few packets of 'Maggi'. Rest you can buy as required.
19. Packets of ready to cook kinds. 5 to 7 of your favourites, again to begin with.
There is 'Poundland' and '99p' stores where you'll find a lot of things for less like ketchup, spreads, cornflakes, muesli, juices, etc. Go there and find out gradually.
20. Don't buy electrical items like kettle, toasters or grinders. Most of the times you will find these in the kitchens or students leaving universities would be selling these.
IN THE ROOM:
1. A bedding pack is usually available in the accommodation. Find out and apply before hand.
2. 1 - single bedsheets plus pillow cover.
3. Shower caddy (a small plastic basket to hold your toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, shower gel, loofah). Which you can take in to the bathroom and bring back with you to your room if sharing a bathroom. Fill in with small size of each. Buy there itself when you run out.
4. Smallest pack of washing powder for the washing machine to take you through your first washes.
5. Bathroom scrub and rubber gloves.
6. Feather duster/duster cloth
7. Dust bin (Check if it isn't already there in the room).
8. Small Laundry hamper (collapsible, for easy packing). Available in 'Hometown'. Check the circumference with your biggest size suitcase.
9. Hairdryer/straightener
10. Universal electrical adapters - 2
11. One small table lamp
12. Mobiles - Keep 2. Or a dual sim mobile. Take the one you are using and buy a sim from a local store there itself. The second, buy a cheap mobile in India and use a 'Lyca/Lebarra' sim (most of the stores in UK sell it for free). You may also find them at 'British Council' exhibitions or the Visa office. The cost of calling India is very cheap with a 'Lyca' sim. If you use an i-phone, you can 'facetime' for free!
13. Iron (check availability in accommodation before buying)
14. 2 - Extension cords
15. USB sticks
16. Emergency sewing kit (sewing needles and 3 different coloured threads)
17. Spare glasses and contact lenses if you wear.(Take in bulk, depending on your usage, these will be expensive).
VERY IMPORTANT:
First aid box - Basic medicine for cold, cough, fever, aches and pains, ointments for sores, burns and a packet of bandaid. Of course you know best which medicine you use more often. Put all of these in a see through plastic pouch or plastic box.Family pictures - Do take some happy pictures of your loved ones and pets to be pinned to your board to tide you over homesickness.
RELAX and enjoy the journey of one of the most exciting phases of your life!
