Do some research on the local weather of the location of the University. It’s important to understand the weather all round the year so that you pack just the right clothes. Surfing on websites such as www.weather.co.uk , speaking to the
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy clothes and accessories abroad than to take them from here. After all you have huge luggage restrictions to be considered.
Pack clothing that requires little care (wrinkle free, cotton knit, etc.). You can roll items that do not wrinkle. Put dresses, shirts, suits in plastic bags to cut down on wrinkling.
Wrap toiletries and breakable items in Ziplok type bags or use leak-proof plastic containers.
Pack heavy items such as the pressure cooker and shoes at the bottom of your case. You can roll your T-shirts and underclothes or pack the masalas you’re carrying inside the vessel to conserve space. Put your shoes in bags to prevent soiling to other items.
Pack small breakable items between your soft clothing and away from the outside of the case.
Luggage: Buy Right, Pack Right! After getting the admission letter from the University, securing a visa and managing to get your air ticket comes another tough part – Making sure that you buy the right bags and suitcases and pack everything in the right manner for the frequent traveling you may be doing for the duration you are staying abroad.
Here is a ready-reckoner to avoid any unforeseen packing nightmares
First make a list of all clothes, accessories, household products, kitchen accessories and food items that you would require during the course of your stay abroad.
The Packing Checklist
Essentials: passport / visa, foreign currency, emergency phone no’s, airline tickets, reservation information, travelers checks / cash, credit cards, phone cards, medication, chest X ray for self and spouse, valid Medical Fitness Certificate (for applying for Notice of Eligibility), wallet / purse, car rental information, travel itinerary, copies of important documents including the admit letter, parallel rulers, drafters, compass, real estate agent's telephone number.
Miscellaneous: electricity convertor / adaptor, cameras / extra batteries, sunglasses, travel maps, CD player / CD’ s, alarm clock, snacks / food products and ingredients, writing instruments / notebooks, sewing kit, first aid kit, general medicines, copy of address book / tel. book / diary, cookbook.
Odds and Ends: a pressure cooker with spare gaskets and spare safety valves, a Teflon pan, regular cooking and eating vessels, a blanket, bedspread, pillow covers, towels, etc.
Buying the Right Luggage
It is a good idea to check beforehand the dimensions and weight of luggage your airline will allow you to carry. It is eminently advisable to go for hard-top bags from a reputed company even if it means paying a little extra. Even if you go for a soft bag, do ensure that it is from a good brand. Luggage companies have even come out with bags specially designed keeping the requirements of students traveling abroad. VIP’s cargo is one such product. It offers huge packing capacity to accommodate all of your stuff like books, clothing, shoes and even bottles of pickle. It is made up of tough poly-propylene shells so that all of your belongings survive the rough handling by airport staff. And the prices are so attractive that you get a hard-top bag for the cost of a soft bag.
Security Tips:
Always use common sense while traveling. Listen to your instincts.
Dress conservatively. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or clothing.
Do not put your home address on your luggage tags on the outside of your case, rather use luggage tags that conceal your personal information.
Never leave your bags or belongings unattended. A few seconds is all a thief needs.
Always keep valuables with you at all times (cash, passport, traveler checks, etc.)
Use a money belt / pouch hidden under your clothing to deter pick pockets.
When making purchases use a credit card. The credit card company can work on your behalf should a problem arise later.
Use traveler’s checks and credit cards as much as possible. Avoid carrying large sums of money.
Don’t put anything in checked luggage that you would truly hate to lose (valuables, film, photos, etc.)
When going through security checkpoints at airports be sure to keep one eye upon your bags. It is easy to get distracted at this time.
Carry a copy of your itinerary in your luggage as well for identification. This increases the likelihood of your bag coming back to you if it is lost.
Always carry a photocopy of your passport including any visa pages. This makes the re-issue process much easier.