What to pack for migration?

Rhonda SG

Sooner or later, I'll have to start packing for my big move to Aussieland!! Mr. Green

I'm a forward-planner, so I just wanna get some opinions and suggestions from those of you who have moved overseas, either for work or studies. Wink

What did you wish you had packed in your luggage for the move? What did you regret not bringing along? What's available here that we take for granted, but is not available at all, or hard to find overseas?

Thanks in advance for your help! Very Happy

Rhonda SG

Did anyone pack stuff like 'hong yew' (medicated oil) or boh chai yun (those little brown pills packed in little plastic tubes for diarrhoea and indigestion)? :

Laughing

sbst275 SG

Yes I did when I was studying...

Fatum SG

don't pack too much Rhonda .... especially clothes .... you can get everything there anyways .... Razz

I managed to dump everything i need into an 85litre backpack .... Very Happy

Fatum SG

you might want to open this thread over at Singaporeans overseas too ... Laughing

(shameless plugging for my forum... Embarassed )

Rhonda SG

That will be called spamming. Razz

charlize SG

*Gasp*

Sbst studied in Australia? Laughing

Rhonda SG

Man, I'm somewhat a pack rat. It's going to be hard for me to dump or give away lotsa lotsa stuff. Crying or Very sad But somehow, I think that's going to be inevitable.

sbst275 SG

Rolling Eyes

Rhonda SG

I'm actually thinking of renting a small personal storage space. Razz

^spidee^ SG

Yea me too! My Mum had all sorts of medication packed for me but I never got to use most of them. Mr. Green

What I regret not bringing

More pictures of families and friends.

What I regret bringing

Winter wear. They are actually cheaper in Australia than they are in Singapore.

My CD collection. They are just collecting dust now and way too heavy to bring back.

Excessive amount of clothes.

Rhonda SG

Wondering too... what's the cheapest way to send stuff over to Australia?

Fatum SG

book a container ? ... Very Happy

no i'm serious ... i know lots of expats who have to relocate back home or wherever simply book a whole shipping container and empty everything including the kitchen sink in ....... Razz

Rhonda SG

Originally posted by ^spidee^:

Yea me too! My Mum had all sorts of medication packed for me but I never got to use most of them.

[b]What I regret not bringing

More pictures of families and friends.

What I regret bringing

Winter wear. They are actually cheaper in Australia than they are in Singapore.

My CD collection. They are just collecting dust now and way too heavy to bring back.

Excessive amount of clothes.

[/b]

Hmm... actually, stuff like hong yew and boh chai yun, are they readily available in Australia?

I'm going to take more photos of my friends and family now that you mentioned it. Wink I usually put the photos up online for easy access.

Noted about the winterwear. I've only got a couple of thermal underwear still in their original packaging because at one stage, I thought I'd be in the US in winter. Guess I'll purchase my winterwear in Australia now! Thanks! Wink BTW, are they cheaper only during the off-season sales?

Clothes... hmm... will try to shave down the wardrobe. Razz It shall be a good thing though - chu2 jiu4 bu4 xing1! (Clear the old, make way for the new!) Got excuse to shop!! Mr. Green

spidee, thanks for the info! Wink

Rhonda SG

Well, they're well-off or the container's a perk paid for by their employer, part of their relocation package.

Me, I'm stand-alone. Razz Darnit... should've tried for the US where a few agencies DO provide relocation benefits of some sort. Neutral

I heard that containers are like upwards of $3K! Razz Besides, I don't think I wanna start a new life there with THAT much old 'baggage', excuse the pun! Laughing

Well, if I had the $$$, I would gladly book a container.

Wink

Rhonda SG

Hmm... I think containers are only necessary if you have furniture and household stuff, right?

Otherwise, I think a crate would do. You pack your stuff up in boxes, and the shipping folks will crate it up for you. Very Happy All your belongings in a crate! Laughing

Rhonda SG

Oh man!!! Surprised Shocked Shocked

It just hit me... NO MORE monthly local mags!! No more 'Eat!' or 'Singapore Women's Weekly'!! No more Malaysian cooking mags and cookbooks!!

Rolling Eyes

Crying or Very sad

^spidee^ SG

I believe you can get them in Chinatown or any asian grocery.

As for winterwear, yes, they should be cheaper during off-season. I'm not so sure cos I stupidly bought mine in S'pore. Laughing

Glad to be of help. I'm sure Lingos will have more to offer. Wink

tare SG

as a missy u should noe wat kinda medicine to pack rite? Razz

a good laptop [u need to online once u touch down leh]!!
tons of money!!! this will settle watever u "forgot" to bring.... Laughing

Rhonda SG

Well, I wouldn't know what meds to pack because I wouldn't know what's readily available over there wor! Razz I wouldn't know what's available OTC at the pharmacies there because what's OTC here, may not be OTC there.

Besides, so far, what I mentioned are all chinese meds. Razz

I think I won't be able to get online for quite a while after landing, because there would be more pressing stuff to settle first, like accommodation, setting up home, etc.

Heard from SL that Dell PC's are cheap there and also, their service is pretty good and reliable.

Tons of money? Cheh... if I have that in the first place, I wouldn't even put up this thread because I can rent an entire container to ship everything, and once I touch down, can just go on a grand shopping spree to buy whatever else is needed! Twisted Evil