Job Discussion Forums

Imagine8 · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:51 am Post subject: Packing and preparing

Hello!

We've got 5 days and counting until the big flight....we just wanted to check with you guys to see if there's anything that we need to bring that we may not have thought of or that may be difficult to get there. Any advice, even just a "you'll be fine" would be very reassuring to us at this point!

Also, my boyfriend would like to bring his guitar, but we don't know how or if he can do this. Has anyone done this? Did you check it? You can't carry it on, I assume. Would it be easier/less risky to leave it here and get another when we get there? Has anyone had one mailed to them? How would I find out how expensive sending it from Chicago to Taiwan might be?

Any last minute advice would be very much appreciated!

Lauren

BigWally · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:11 am Post subject:

You can buy guitars here quite cheaply, so just leave yours at home, and pick one up here.

Things not easily found....deodorant is hard to come by, my gf tells me finding good tampons is hard too, even though it is quite hot in Taiwan, bring a warm jacket, toque & gloves too, cause winter is only a few months away, and if your out driving around on your scooter at night, it actually gets pretty damn cold...hope that helps!

craigzy · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 87 Location: taichung

by 'deodorant,' wally actually means 'anti-perspirant.'

it doesnt exist here.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Tsimplyme · Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Canada

Things I was really glad I brought:

1. Electric blanket.
There's no central heating folks and space heaters just don't cut it for me. This blanket probably saved my butt from developing pneumonia when I got bronchitis 3x in a row.

2 Fluffy towels.
Simply a luxury item, to be used with the big dryers in the laundromat. They have plenty of towels here if you don't mind thinner air-dry versions.

3. Year's supply of tampons.
Enough said

4. High quality fleece jacket.
Lightweight and perfect for padding your guitar. Very handy in winter when they keep all the windows open at your school.

5. Mittens.
For driving my scooter

6. 60 Copies of my passport photo
Passport photos are easily attainable, but it was so convenient to know that I had all the extra copies I would need in my portfolio along with my degree, resume, letters of reference & a couple of personal photos for impromptu presentations.

7. Real Canadian Cheezies - bulk package.
Bring any comfort food that you think will get you through the tough days. It might be something different for you, but a little taste of home is a nice pick-me-up from time to time.

You can get by with less. Yet, sometimes it's the little things that we forget that we miss the most. Like Reese's Pieces.

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

Well they should be in Taiwan now.

Perhaps a note telling us what you forgot:) - of course getting hooked up on the internet, or vsiiting a cafe is the next step.

Hope all is well

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

Don't bring endless amounts of tampons!!!! You can buy them at Watson's and at 7-11!!!!

Women's deoderant can also be found at Watson's.

BigWally · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject:

I've heard that the Watson's & 7/11 ones are not as good. If you are picky about brands that is.

Not that I know what makes one good or bad, but listening to my gf say....thank god i don't have to use those....makes me assume that the quality are not what you'd be used to back home....

I dunno...

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

Watson's and 7-11 sell OB tampons, a major brand back in the US.

Imagine8 · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: Thanks, guys!

Hey guys!

Thanks for all the replies - they've been quite helpful. We've been here for about a month now, so we're just beginning to get the hang of it.

Things we're glad we brought:
-Deodorant/Antiperspirant
-Books in English (we don't live in a major city, so English bookstores are nowhere to be found)
-Camera (it was great to be able to record the first weeks here, even before we figured out how to get to a city to buy a camera)

Things we should have brought:
-Tampons! (OB tampons just don't cut it...I've heard you can find Tampax in Taipei, though...so I'll have to check that out)
-Extra toiletries (makeup, etc.)
-Extra medications (it's taken longer than expected to find a good doctor to get prescriptions)

Overall, though, we've been able to find almost everything we need (save a region-free DVD player...does anyone know if we can get one here?), so we're not complaining!

Thanks again for your help,
Lauren