Namaskar

As you will know, there will be a limit in how much you can carry with you, so taking care of the weight by prioritizing your needs is very important.

  1. Clothing
  2. Food stuff
  3. Utensils

Clothing:
Note: Don’t get jackets, jerkins for Winter, you need to get them here, since the ones you get from India will not stand for this weather. 

  • This place is really cold (some times below -20).
  • You wash your clothes once a month or every 15 days
  • You will need Traditional Indian dresses for the various cultural festivals
  • In Summer it gets hot, but not as hot as it gets in India
  • Clothes are costly than what we have in India
  • You will definitely buy some pairs by the end of fall when some sale goes on
  • Swimming trunks are costly here

So for the above conditions, make your decisions, below is a suggestion.

 

  • Good no of Jeans, Casuals, t-shirts, UG’s (most important).
  • 1-2 pairs of traditional dresses.
  • 1 formal attire for interviews.
  • 1 black pant (if employed in catering).
  • 2-pairs of thermals.
  • And any other clothing
  • Good shoes
    • 1-snow.
    • 1-regular.
    • 1-black shoes (if employed in catering).
    • 1-slippers.
  • Socks, hand kerchiefs.

 
Utensils:

Don’t get a lot of them. Get some useful stuff,you can get electric rice cooker in Wal-Mart here. You can get frying pans small and large in Wal-Mart. You won’t get any traditional stuff here.Pressure cooker.Some spoons and plates,If u can make idlis and dosas then get the idly cooker and dosa pan.

 

 Food stuff:

We have 2 Indian grocery stores ay Binghamton, every thing is available here, but you can’t compare them with Indian prices. Rice bags are available here. don’t get a lot of them and in huge quantities. Get them so as to suffice you in the starting weeks(2-3).

Indian Spices according to your needs.

TOILETRIES
  • Chapstick
  • Tooth paste
  • Tooth brush
  • Tongue cleaner (if you use),
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Talcum powder
  • Nail cutter
  • Shaving kit
  • Comb/hair brush.
  • Body lotions
  • Face pack/face wash
  • Rubber bands
  • Pins
  • Deodorant
  • Cold cream
  • Perfume
  • Small Scissors


TOOLS

  • Screwdriver
  • Pair of scissors
  • Safety pins
  • Sewing threads (white, black, gray)
  • Needles
  • Buttons for shirts and pants
  • Pencil cells (for camera, alarm clock)
  • Camera/rolls
  • Alarm clock
  • Coat hangers (optional)
  • Shoe brush
  • Shoe polish
  • Hangers


BED LINENS

  • Blanket
  • Bedspreads
  • Bed Sheets (double bed size- 2 nos.)
  • Pillow covers (big (largest size available) - 2 nos.)


STUDY MATERIALS

  • Books that you feel you should have (Try to carry Indian editions as US editions are expensive)
  • Bag Pack
  • Calculator
  • Pencils
  • Refills for the same
  • Good pens
  • Eraser
  • Stapler and staples
  • Drawing accessories if required
  • Cello tape

Documents

Your certificates and transcripts. Laminate them in thin plastic if possible.Your application material, in case you wish to reactivate your applications at another place for the following quarter/year. Lots of passport size photos ($13-14 per pair here).

Fun Stuffs

  • Music cassettes, family photos, umbrella (optional; most people use winter coat/wind-cheater), an up-to-date address book of people you know in US/Canada.
  • Easy-to-carry sports/music stuff you might use here, like (Optional)
    • Table tennis paddles
    • Musical instruments
  • Your native calendar if u need one
  • A watch and an alarm clock of course
  • A torch (optional)