Last minute lists
I'm out of India in 10 days. People keep calling to wish me or meet me once before I go. My departure keeps coming up in every conversation. But strangely, I don't feel I'm going anywhere at all. I definitely don't feel I'm going "back to school" because right now I'm just going on a 2-week holiday. This inertia is something I've never felt before and I'm sure it's not going to help me get acclimatized to school quickly. I keep telling myself this is because I don't know what to expect in the next few months and I'm just a little reluctant to let go of all the familiarity. But I'm not really convinced with my own excuses.
Moving on to less uncertain things... Now I think I know what are the things I need to pack and what are the other miscellaneous things I need to wrap up before I go. I will put down the list here for people who might find some use for it over the next 2 months or so...
Packing List:
I'm listing out just the categories of items. The specific things in each catergory varies from person to person and may be very different depending on where you are traveling from. A little googling can find you many really extensive packing lists.
Things to wrap up before leaving:
Moving on to less uncertain things... Now I think I know what are the things I need to pack and what are the other miscellaneous things I need to wrap up before I go. I will put down the list here for people who might find some use for it over the next 2 months or so...
Packing List:
I'm listing out just the categories of items. The specific things in each catergory varies from person to person and may be very different depending on where you are traveling from. A little googling can find you many really extensive packing lists.
- Documents (Education, B-school related, work related, medical prescriptions and health history, travel related, financial documents, insurance, driving license with international permit. Ensure that documents needed during travel are easily accessible )
- Photographs (in standard sizes and the negative/soft copy for later use)
- Money (Cash, Travelers' checks, credit cards)
- Important phone numbers and addresses
- Medicines (with prescription)
- Clothes
- Prescription Spectacles/contact lenses (carry a spare)
- Toiletry (just for a month till you know your way around the new place)
- Footwear
- Accessories (bags, watches, belts, jewelery, goggles etc.)
- Books
- CDs, DVDs (that you absolutely must carry)
- Gifts (if any)
- Food items (this is specific to Indians)
- Utensils (mainly cooker and tawa, this again is specific to Indians)
- Backpacks/briefcases etc.
Things to wrap up before leaving:
- Change of address wherever applicable
- Car driving license with international permit
- Eye, dental and general health check up, immunization shots
- Closing of back accounts/credit cards/other subscriptions
- Leave signed checks, signed empty sheets of paper etc. at home for emergencies (this might be specific to Indians)
- Leave copies of all documents at home
- Buy travel insurance if needed
- Change money
- Reconfirm flight(s)/seats/on-board meal selection
- Weigh luggage to ensure you are within the limit or make plans to pay for additional baggage
- If someone is receiving you call the person and reconfirm flight timing. If not make plans for transit from airport to apartment/hotel/wherever
