All set to leave to the US ??
Well, you need a list of stuff that would help you get settled during your initial months of searching for an apartment. It is not easy to just go into the supermarket and buy what you want. I mean, you do get everything here. But you will not know its equivalent name. Also, being an Indian, our spices are so important to us. We have lived with that particular taste on our tongue for as long as we can remember. Our clothes, shoes and accessories came from our favorite stores. Our family doctors knew our medical history. Now, leaving everything behind and starting off all over again may be a bit overwhelming. So, here you would find a list of things that you need to carry with you and also few pointers on what not to carry....
1) Medicines - This is the most important of the list. Carry all your medicines with a prescription for each. Take along with you tablets/syrups even for the common cold and balms/sprays for headache/sprains. Medical facilities are highly overpriced here and they do not give over the counter medicines here without a prescription.
2) Prescription eye-glasses/ Spectacles - Carry atleast two pairs of optical wear (specs / lenses) with your latest eye-test readings.
2) Pressure cooker - Carry atleast 1 pressure cooker with you. The ones you get here are not as good. You may or may not find a cooker here in all the stores. Also, purchase an extra gasket and a whistle, in case, the ones you have might wear out.
3) Chapathi rolling pin and board - It is tough to find it here in any store, so carry one of each.
4) Spices - You may not find the brand that you used in India, but you will get most of the spices at the Indian store in your area. So if you want,carry a few packets of spices from home. All packets must be tightly sealed. Loose and opened packets may not be allowed in the US Customs Dept.
5) Mixer/ Grinder - There is no point in carrying electrical devices as the output power supply has a different voltage/frequency compared to India. If you really want to, you can buy a mixer/ grinder which is compliant with the US power supply i.e. in terms of voltage/frequency and the pin style. The Preethi Mixer Grinder range has one which is compatible for use in the US.
6) Iron - Do not purchase from India, you get good ones here for quite reasonable rates.
7) If you are carrying any electronic chargeable devices like laptop/camera/cellphone, it is advisable to carry a 3pin to 2pin US style converter.
8) Kitchen utensils / dinner ware / cutlery - Carry the basic minimum. You can purchase more from here later.
9) Rice - Rice is not allowed by the US Customs people. Many people carry rice and increase the weight of their luggage for no reason. You get good quality rice here in the Indian stores.
10) Pickles / Pickle bottles - Not allowed by the US Customs Dept. They will ask you to open the jar / packet and look inside it. So not worth the trouble.
11) Soaps/ toothpaste/ shampoo - Carry only one of each in a sealed box/ packet, you get a variety of these here. Seal the shampoo bottles with tape.
12) Detergent - Washing machines require liquid detergents to be used which can be bought from the stores here.
13) Clothes - Few women wear salwar/ kameez and saris here. But then, if you don't want to stand out, you can carry western wear with you along with a few Indian wear for a get-together or any Indian functions. As it gets very cold here, carry jackets,sweaters, winter caps, scarves, mufflers from India, . You might have to still purchase a few from here when the winters are unbearable.
14) Bucket and a mug - This might sound weird, but they do not sell buckets and mugs here in the stores. You might find a few at the Dollar stores (not always in stock), so carry one of each with you.
15) Seeds - Any type of seeds are not permitted in the US Customs.
All liquid items (sealed) /spices (sealed) must be put in the check-in luggage.
Please check with your airlines about what you can carry with you in the cabin and what you can check-in.
