Job Discussion Forums

[dearbarbie]

So, I leave for Tianjin in 5 weeks. I have lived abroad before but it was only in Paris so I flew home and brought extra stuff when I needed it or got friends to bring more of my things over.

Obviously, China's a little bit more far out so that's not going to be essentially possible (I'm in the UK at the moment). Especially with a rubbish 20kg baggage limit.

So,

1. What items did any of you pack, that you really wished you'd have left at home?

2. What did you leave behind, that you wished you had packed?

Finally, 3., What would you recommend as an essential item?

And do you think I'll need my laptop?!
Thanks!

[badtyndale]

Hello again... (please don't confuse me for a stalker).

My thoughts....

1. Stationery, clothes that assumed I wouldn't put on weight.

2. Marmite, HP sauce, proper tea, gravy granules and custard powder.

3. Truth serum.

As for the laptop it depends what type of dance clubs you'll be visiting.

[Ariadne]

Take your laptop for sure. It is good for staying connected to friends and family and you can use it in a zillion ways for your work.

If you have a picture file, bring it or some magazines so you can make one. You'll also need a good grammar book, a dictionary, and I would recommend that you bring a small atlas. It would also be nice to have a big world map and a big map of China in English.

Reading material can be hard to come by. Bring enough to hold you over til you can resupply or work out trades with other teachers.

You probably won't have a dryer, so bring clothes that won't need to be ironed after hang drying.

It's nice to have a favorite pillowcase from home, plus you can use it as a pillow by stuffing in some towels or clothes.

Bring lots of your usual personal care items like deoderant and toothpaste and feminine hygiene products. Also, over the counter stuff for headaches and upset stomach. You might want to ask your doctor for some antibiotics... for things like sinus infections, UT infections, etc.

Bring a warm jacket even if you are going to a 'warm' place. Tuck some gloves and a soft hat into the pockets. (Wish I had!)

Good luck to you.

[shenyanggerry]

Bring cheese. I always bring 4 or 5 lbs of old cheddar. With rationing, I always have some left for a farewell party when I leave five months later.

[anthyp]

Travelling light is always a good idea; remember that practically everything you think you'll need, you can find wherever you're going.

Especially in Tianjin, I don't think finding spices or stationery there will be a problem. I can't say for sure, because I have never been there. I live in this little Chinese city, it's impossible to get butter or cheese here, but it's not like I am kicking myself for not bringing that stuff with me.

It's those special things you can't find anywhere else you'll find yourself missing the most. Keepsakes, photos, things like that. I really wish I had brought more pictures of Chicago, my family, and especially my dogs.

Bringing the laptop is a good idea. But after that, you should be able to find everything you need here. I use a 20 kg. suitcase when I travel, and I don't think you need any more.

If you're going to travel, might as well travel in style, I say.

[ShapeSphere]

Good luck in China, I've been here fifteen months. Remember that if you really needed to, then your family or friends could post you items. So don't worry about forgetting things. I've done that in regard to aspirin and flu remedy sachets.

In answer to your questions:

1. What items did any of you pack, that you really wished you'd have left at home?

I brought too many books. I could have had them sent out later or just done without. But if you have any favourite books which are rather obscure, then you could bring them as the Chinese selection of English literature at Foreign Language Bookstores are usually of the popular & commerical variety.

2. What did you leave behind, that you wished you had packed?

Perhaps a Scrabble set or some other word game that could have been used in teaching. Many schools are woefully short of good materials - books, games, flash cards, videos, cds, maps, pictures, etc.

Finally, 3., What would you recommend as an essential item?

Come with a lot of money saved, don't let yourself get financially caught out. This happens to some teachers and has been documented on this site and I've met quite a few people in person who have become unstuck due to the unsavoury nature of Chinese business practices.

And do you think I'll need my laptop?!

YES.


This was a rather long post by my standards. Extreme levels of sarcasm & brevity will return in the future.

[hamel]

i think traveling light is a great idea. but as to what to bring it depends on what you absolutely cannot do without.

this may be good english books, it may be a certain type of dental floss, it may be deodorant, western comfort food, comfortable shoes, etc.

books and deodorant and comfortable shoes are important to me. i like to read, don't want to stink, and i like walking.

[dajiang]

Travelling light is best.
You can get most stuff you need in Tianjin.

After a while however teaching materials were like gold there. I mean some magazines with pictures in them, or even teaching books from back home. Choices are fairly limited in China, allthough it's improving.
Also, my parents sent me a couple of frisbees, can't get those in the south of China for some reason. I've seen them in Beijing though.

Music, I really missed my own music. Sure, you can get any mainstream music on the streets for a few kuai, but some older, lesser known music is just not available. In Vietnam even really rare CD's were bootlegged though, but not in China, not even in Yangshuo. So if you've got some CD's which you like a lot, and are hard to come by, just take em, or tape em.

Oh, and good tip from Shapesphere, money is the most important thing. You never know when you might need it, and if all goes well you'll never even touch it while youre there, but it's good to have.
Take a creditcard.

Excellent one from Anthyp: take pictures from home. Your family and friends. After a year or so it's really cool to have somethng like that. Great to show students and friends in China, but most importantly it's for yourself to think about those back home.

Laptop, well, I never needed one. There's internet cafe's all over the place, cheap ones, and the school will have computers. Just use a yahoo briefcase to store your documents in, or simply a gmail account, and you wont ever need floppies or harddisk space to store stuff on.

I reckon it's just a liability to have expensive stuff with you. Even a camera shouldn't be too expensive looking, it's just another thing that might get stolen faster. As a layman one can make cool pictures with any old camera.

Have a good trip,
Seeya
Dajiang

[Rachael]

i haven't started my esl travels yet... but i have thought about how i'm possibly going to pack. my biggest question is what do people do for bedding? it takes up so much room in a suitcase, but i'd really not have to buy it when i get there. do most people bring a tiny sleeping bag or just find digs that come with a comfoter?

[Guy Courchesne]

Where are you going to teach? I didn't think it would be in the sticks...if you are in an urban setting, you'll have access to bedding, provided in a homestay or furnished rental, or you can buy it. Don't bother with the cumbersome weight.