Job Discussion Forums

[voodikon]

i moved about a month ago and packed only half of the maximum luggage allotment is--going light is the way to go since you really can buy most everything you need here, and it'll be cheap. i bought all the initial apartment stuff (cleaning supplies, sheets, dishes, lamp, etc. for about 400 RMB).

what i brought, all of which i've found useful:
-novels
-journal
-CDs (in a book; skip the jewel cases)
-clothes
-address book (so i could send everybody back home postcards)
-shoes, including slippers for around the house and (definitely) in the shower
-toiletries, including plenty of dental floss and deodorant as well as tampons (if it applies--they tend to only have the applicatorless ob brand, if you can even find them), a basic first-aid kit, mosquito repellent, spare eyeglasses and contraceptives.
-photos from home (good for yourself and for your students, especially if you have some that aren't too personal and show people/places back home)
-a big bath towel (if you like to wrap yourself completely in a towel, bring one from home because the ones here are small)
-a warm blanket (this is handy, but more of a comfort item as you can certainly buy one here)
-a pack of cheap ballpoint pens (the ones here stink; they're cheaper than cheap)
-a small handheld calculator (handy if you're a little slow at doing the RMB-dollar conversion in your head and also GREAT for when you're "negotiating" prices with shopkeepers)
-cameras and plenty of batteries and black-and-white film (color can be purchased cheaply and easily here)--just make sure if you bring film you put it in your carry-on as the x-ray for the checked luggage will damage it

what i wish i'd used that extra 35 pounds of space for:
-good anti-itch medication (they have some in the stores here but it doesn't seem to work quite as well)
-lots of index cards (i like them for class but haven't been able to find any in china)
-magazines from home (again, both for yourself and your students)
-high quality scotch tape or other adhesive (the ones here just aren't working for me)
-a few bottles of jack daniels (it costs an arm and a leg here)
-more shoes, especially for wet weather (i'm having trouble finding any shoes to fit my u.s. women's size 9 feet)
-more (especially warm) clothes (again, it's a bit tough finding clothes big enough for my averaged-sized-in-the-u.s. self), and it's about to get cold
-certain food products, like olive oil, perhaps some dried spices and/or seeds to grow my own, and utensils like a potato masher. ovens are not standard here, so if you cook, think about what you might prepare with a stovetop, rice cooker and microwave.
-if you're going to have a bike, a GOOD bike lock. i recommend an all-metal u-lock (not the krypotonites that can be opened with a bic pen). the lock will probably cost you more than the bike over here does, but if you don't have your bike stolen while here, consider it a good investment.

everything else, from toiletries including soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, razors, etc. to food to housewares to electronics can be purchased here. in regard to your query about digital cameras, there are a ton: sony, canon, nikon, minolta, etc., as well as chinese brands. they aren't ridiculously cheaper than in north america, but, for example, i bought a canon that ordinarily goes for around US$320 for about $280.

everybody has different perspectives but one thing i've found is that being in china has really helped me lose attachment to "stuff"--something i always thought was a good in theory but was never really able to do in the u.s. so, again, i think taking only what you'll really really need is a good idea.

[kev7161]

This is a bit off-topic, but I'm already starting to think about what I will leave behind here in China once I move back to the states. I've managed to accumulate too much crap already and I know I won't need to haul it all back with me. Also, I brought a whole bunch of books and other teaching supplies and those will stay here as well. If you are in Hangzhou next summertime, drop me a line if you are looking for stuff (ps: I'll have a satellite system for sale for CHEAP!)

[Janice50]

I am heading to China in 3 weeks. The information posted here has been most helpful! Thanks! Can anyone in China tell me if my laptop will work there ok and do I need a special electrical adaptor? Also for hair dryers etc.?

[Sinobear]

Laptops should be preconfigured for various voltages and current. Look in your owner's manual or the sticker by the plug (usually on the bottom of the laptop).
Hair dryers and other appliances can be purchased here.

[voodikon]

in china, the electrical outlets output 220V, twice that of outlets in the u.s. (don't know about other countries), so you do need to purchase an adapter to change the voltage input as well as (most likely) an adapter so that your plug will fit into the adapter, both of which you can purchase here. this should work for larger electric devices like your laptop, but it seems not even worth it for smaller devices like alarm clocks, hair dryers, etc., considering the adapter to change the voltage costs about 30 RMB and many of these small appliances can be had for less--besides, you minimize the risk of burning out your appliances from home and don't have to deal with the bulk of two adapters in each outlet.

[oprah]

I wish I had brought a potato masher. I brought mosquito repellent but have not used it as I found the Chinese have a better one. It is like Green peppermint liquid. I wish I had brought more ankle nylons the ones here are very short on material. I can buy olive oil here. I brought nylon mesh so I can make sprouts from the many beans, lentils and peas here,

[yamahuh]

WOW!!
Awesome information, thanks so much. I'm currently sitting in my almost empty computer room in Guelph, Ontario. The weather has been gorgeous lately, about 18C during the day and cool at night with lots of sunshine for the past three weeks. I'm having a hard job getting my head around the fact that in just over a week I'll be in China (Guigang in Guangxi province to be exact). I'm having an even harder job believing that my Tesol course has prepared me to teach English. I feel so underqualified and unprepared, even though I have a Tesl Canada recognised course and a B.A. I'm really hoping that I'm just being hard on myself and that the teaching won't be as difficult as I currently expect it to be.
All of the information posted about teaching aids has been great. I just told Cathy to stop throwing out all the flyers for the next few days before the house sale closes.

[yamahuh]

ooops, I forgot to ask this one...
Did anybody bring malaria medication? Cathy is getting all paranoid because we are going to SW China. It's sub tropical so she's worried about the mosquitoes. We each have a months supply of malaria tablets in case we go travelling to rural areas, but as far as I know and from what I have read, there isn't too much cause for concern in urban environments.
To buy a years supply of malaria tablets for us both would have cost $3600 and my budget isn't that flexible

[Sinobear]

Malaria medicine. No need. Once you've had your first drink of baijiu, you will be immune to most exotic diseases.

Make sure that you have had all necessary shots (it's hard to find decent boosters at affordable rates in the outskirts).

If you're flying TO - Vancouver - China...be prepared for the heart-wrencher of seeing the Rockies disappear from view.

All will be well. Good luck! Don't forget to make your presence in China known to us all once you get a chance.

(As a personal note, don't forget the JPS!)

[voodikon]

[Sinobear]

Voodikion et al:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

http://www.gdargaud.net/Photo/Xray.html

Back to your regularly scheduled post

[J9]

Hey,

This one is more for you wife and any other ladies planning on heading out here soon.

If your in a big city you can find almost anything you will ever want or need, it may take a little time finding it, but you will. I was amazed when I first got here.
Anyway the major problems can be hair and beauty products and clothing.
If you have dyed or curly hair bring the products you will need with you, the market here caters for long straight Asian hair. Also make up, the Chinses favour white skin and the majority of the products are skin whitening, which is pretty freaky for westerners.
3 other must brings are tampons, deoderant and hair removal creams or wax. The Chinese versions are either shit or simply don't exist.

I know clothing has been mentioned but if you are big or have large feet bring enough with you because you will find it extremely difficult to buy them here. And when I say big I'm not talking about what we in the west consider big. For example I am a UK size 10ish euro 38-40 (sorry don't know the Canadian sizing system) and I have to buy large or extra large size clothes. I also have largeish feet and if I need shoes I have to buy them from the men's department, if you wifes shoe size is bigger than a 38 39 then bring as many pairs as you can or she too will have to suffer the shame of buying mens shoes while ten sales assistants look on in horror at the unbelieveable size of your feet. All very embarrassing and confidence-dinting considering the fact I thought I was actually slim.

Hope you arrive safely and enjoy your time here, it's a weird but wonderful little country.

J9

Oh! for you and others thinking about bringing lots of reading material, if you are in a large city, don't.
I have just discovered the greatest ever thing, the city library. The one here in Guangzhou has thousands of western books including all the latest novels and some academic stuff as well. Amazon.com see ya later.

[jaredhall]

This post was so helpful I had to bump it up.

I'll be leaving for China on August 24th to start a year-long teaching commitment in Kunming on September 1st. Right now I'm trying to figure out what to bring and what to leave behind.

This thread was indispensible.

[Sinobear]

And some of us are still here

I don't know about Kunming, but here in Guangzhou, deoderant (mens' and ladies') is available. Stationery is readily available - don't bring any type of scissors or cutting tools - you can get them here and you don't want to be rummaging through your luggage trying to get them back out at airport security.
I mentioned soup mixes way back when, they're available here, too. Knorr brand and various Chinese labels are quite good.
I like voodikon's suggestion of a small first aid kit. You can get almost any type of medication here - although I've yet to see Bayer Aspirin or Extra-Strength Tylenol.
Talkdoc's advice is still valid, but you can obtain foreign brand medications at foreign health centers and pharmacies at the larger hospitals.
The potato masher seems like a strange item, yet it seems to be a regularly-occuring request. I can easily get one in GZ...elsewhere, I don't know.
Earplugs are a good idea, too.
Footwear is still the hardest to acquire item, if you have big feet. I wear size (U.S) 12 or 13, and I can only find comfortable, good looking, shoes once in a blue moon.
One odd item that I can't seem to find anywhere is coin rollers. I get so many coins and I just stash 'em away because there's no decent coin rollers.
Lastly, be sure to bring a lot of little gift items from your hometown...buttons, lapel pins, coins, postcards, etc.

Good luck!

P.S: Yamahuh forgot the JPS

[kev7161]

I love reading my own post from almost two years ago. Like I was 'really' going to go home - - HA! But, yeah, I really want for almost nothing these days. Unfortuneately, some things are still deadly expensive, so I'll still stock up on a few items when I go home this summer.

Here's something to think about: greeting cards. Let's face it, the cards you find in China are dismal and uninspiring (in my opinion). If they do have English, it's generally incorrect. In the US, Hallmark (big Hallmark factory in my hometown of Topeka, Kansas) has cards for EVERY occasion you can think of. Granted, buying Christmas cards during a summer holiday is near impossible, but if you know you'll be going home for a vacation, you might ask someone to pick you up some for NEXT Christmas right after LAST Christmas ends (to get them for half price naturally). My friend purchased a slew of Valentine's cards for kids on Feb. 15th (half price, remember?) so we can use them next year. Today we celebrated yet another birthday in my class and I thought how nice it would be if I could give the kid a nifty little birthday card. Well, the light bulb went off in my head and I know what I'll be picking up for NEXT year when I go home in August.

What a way to win over students and fellow teachers. A nice birthday or Christmas card with a piece of chocolate or something attached. You'll have friends and eager students (yeah, right) for life!