Moving halfway around the world for half a year- tips?

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Moving halfway around the world for half a year- tips?

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Started 11 months ago by Poorva
Latest reply from lucy1965
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Poorva
Member

So I recently found out I'm going to be spending seven months in France this year. Which is great… except now that the time has come to start prepping/packing, I have no idea where to begin, and my mother is certainly no help, given that she wants me to pack salt because the kind we use at home might not be available over there.

Everything I've been able to find is either about vacations (which is no help) or summer internships (even less so.) I'm going to be in France Oct-April, working as a teaching assistant for 8-11 year olds, and doing some traveling on the side. So that's two different wardrobes right there. Plus I'll be doing my own cooking, which means bringing a couple utensils from my home country. Not to mention teaching supplies. Because of budgetary issues, I can't buy much stuff in France, so I have to be very careful what I pack.

So I guess this is really several questions in one- what did y'all wish y'all had taken on trips abroad? What did y'all wish y'all had left behind? And most important, how did y'all manage to fit everything in one suitcase?

Posted 11 months ago #
herisff
Member

I would strongly suggest looking at expat (expatriate) sites - there are several out there, but I don't know what's a good one for France. I've heard that what you should bring varies widely by country. I have heard that a lot of people wish they had brought their own cookware (in your case 1 pot, 1 pan). Find an expat site that has a lot of contributors from France and see what they say.

Definitely pare down, and then pare down again. Bring the minimum you can (ie only what will fill 1 or 2 suitcases). Make your wardrobe as flexible as possible (e.g. 2 pairs of shoes, 1 coat, etc). Layer your clothing as much as possible. Black, good quality clothing is always good in France, spiffed up with an accessory (less is more in France).

Why would you need to bring teaching supplies? Shouldn't that be there already? If you feel you really need to, email the teacher there, and see what holes you want to fill.

In France most people shop daily from the local store, so bring your reusable string bag/tote. You'll be walking a fair amount so bring your comfortable shoes. Can't think of anything else offhand. It sounds like a great venture, I hope you have a blast!

Posted 11 months ago #
susanintexas
Member

If possible, you might want to arrange with your mother to send you an emergency "care package" about a month or so into your stay, so that if you do terribly miss things like a special salt she can ship them to you. She could send them at the cheapest/slowest rate so that it wouldn't be too expensive -- probably less than paying the airline for an extra suitcase. And it would be something to look forward to.

It sounds like an exciting opportunity -- I'm jealous!

Posted 11 months ago #
luxcat
Member

Rule #1 of all international travel- even for extended trips- do not pack more than you can carry yourself for a couple city blocks (or up a couple flights of stairs) without too much effort.

If need be you can ship a box or two ahead of you, or have your mom send it on later.

If you have a couple months before leaving, which it sounds like you do, I would devise some method of tagging the items you use at home for 30 days... either with a photo, or on a list, or put a sticker on them (that might not work with clothes, toothbrush) etc. This will give you an idea of what you really need and use for 30 days. Then review that list and don't bring anything you can buy there (such as shampoo, toothpaste). DO bring a small supply of things you really love that you are not sure you can get there, like makeup or face cream etc. I wouldn't extend that to food, part of the fun of an extended stay in another country is that you learn how to enjoy new foods you might have never tried at home. Go in open minded.

I really doubt that you will need to bring cookware, sheets, etc for a 7 month stay. You can probably pick up a few used or inexpensive bits of cookware there and buy one set of sheets and a duvet which you can wash as needed. A good microfiber full size "travel" towel might be a good investment to bring with you, as they dry very fast and are easy to wash, so you might be able to get away with only one or two towels for the time period. If you like using washcloths you might want to bring a couple small microfiber versions of those too. They are not used much in most of Europe and can be hard to find in shops in my experience.

Do keep in mind that in Europe washing machines are easy to come by (they are often installed in the kitchen) but dryers are not. Many people hang everything out to dry, even in urban areas. Laundromats are also not as commonly found as they are here in the USA, but they do exist in larger cities if you search hard enough.

Books are heavy. If it's feasible I suggest investing in some sort of electronic book reader that is compatible for use overseas. I know Kindle has one, Nook might also. I use an iPad which works ok for short trips but I would not want to use it for my primary reader. If you are in Paris you will be able to buy English language books pretty easily, I don't know about the smaller towns in France.

Best of luck on your adventure, I'm quite jealous :)

Posted 11 months ago #
luxcat
Member

Postscript: Carefully weigh the cost of checking an extra bag or an overweight bag and/or the cost of shipping items internationally before you rule out the possibility of being able to afford a few items there like cookware, etc. You might find out it's cheaper to buy it there than to bring it with you (and then pay again to bring it back).

Posted 11 months ago #
candy
Member

In my experience, it is quite easy to find a laundromat with dryer in France.

Where in France are you going to? I've lived there for several years, mainly in Caen but I am quite familiar with some other places as well.

Posted 11 months ago #
fileboxx
Member

Leave the salt at home, France is the cuisine capital of the world, they will have good salt. Don't worry about packing lots of clothes, the standard work outfit is black pants or skirt, and neutral dress shirt with tasteful accessories such as a scarf or necklace, think classic style for work and travel in Europe. People re-wear clothes through the week, your clothes just need to be clean. If your apartment doesn't have a washer (sometimes it will be in the kitchen), you could bring your clothes to a laundrette http://www.francetravelplanner.com/go/paris/shop/laundry.html Other than a laptop/ipad/netbook, leave the other electronics at home because the voltages are different and the converters don't work well over a long time. Also leave your cell phone at home and plan to get one in France because the mobile systems are different in Europe. Bring a large towel (the towels are smaller in size), if you wear glasses bring a spare pair, if you take special medicine bring extra (gives you time to find a doctor for prescription renewals), get dental work and teeth cleaning done before you leave, bring extra underwear and bras (the cut and sizing of lingerie is less generous), bring shoes that are comfortable to walk around on cobble streets (high heels get caught between the stones), leave your dishes at home and buy some at a flea market or Ikea France when you arrive http://www.ikea.com/fr/ , bring pictures of friends and family on your computer or in a small photo album because you will miss them, bring important papers in a folder that has a closure such as your travel health insurance, passport, birth certificate, and remember to get your international driving license before you leave even if you don't think you will be driving because it is a lot easier to just have one than trying to get a driver's license in a foreign country. In regard to toiletries, most major makeup, shampoo, soap, etc brands are sold in Europe at pharmacies http://goparis.about.com/od/gettingaround/a/Paris_Pharmacy.htm so just pack what you need unless it is specific specialty item. For food, enjoy the french cooking, they know how to do it right, get your Mom to send you the brand name sweets or packaged foods that you are missing in a care package. For school supplies, it may be cheaper to have them shipped from an online retailer http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?event=HPT&N=1000640+5401&Ne=1000000&Nso=1&Nu=product%2Eendeca_rollup&category=Education&Ns=product%2Enumber_sold rather than bringing them on the plane and having to pay extra baggage costs. Have a great time in France!

Posted 11 months ago #
smallLife
Member

fileboxx, I would tend to disagree about bringing extra bras simply because of European sizing. If anything, take advantage of European brands to get a high quality one while you're there (this is if you currently don't have enough and are thinking about supplementing before you go). Otherwise, less is more for clothing - no one will notice. I second the comfy shoes and French cooking!

Posted 11 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

It's my understanding that your cell phone provider can "unlock" your US cell phone so it will work in Europe. Worth asking.

Posted 11 months ago #
RebeccaL
Member

If you'll be using recipes from home, bring some (maybe 2 each) measuring cups/spoons, since France uses the metric system. A micro fiber towel is perfect for travel. Bring clothes that are easy to hand wash in a sink- when I traveled, I brought 2 plastic hangers, and plastic hooks to hang delicates. Ditto what luxcat said: If you can't carry it on your back, don't bring it. Bring maximum two weeks clothes- 10 days is better, if you can (instead of the big, bulky sweater, 2 layers in better)

Posted 11 months ago #
Shortbird
Member

This chef's in Paris (but he covers other parts of the country) so can acclimatise you to the unique nature of French bureacracy and cooking in tiny tiny kitchens.
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/

Oh, don't forget some US ingredients may be hellishly expensive in France so the care package is a great idea! But there is always the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do..."

Posted 11 months ago #
lottielot
Member

Pack light, it's the food and fashion capital of the world! I would take a Kindle though, as books are heavy and English ones not always that easy to get hold of outside Paris plus would be expensive. If you don't have a book reader could it be a nice farewell present from parents or friends? Also, power adaptors for any electricals like a laptop etc. You can buy them in big supermarkets there but it's a hassle, particularly for US connections. Also, the French have a different keyboard to the qwertyuiop one. I found this out when I tried to send an email from an Internet cafe once. Writing in my own blood would have been faster :) If you are going to need to use French computers regularly at work you will either have to invest in learning to type from scratch or maybe take a roll-up keyboard? Worth a thought, I found it sooo frustrating! Could you take teaching materials on a memory stick perhaps? Wear your winter coat and heaviest shoes onto the plane and pack lots of layers, but in 7 months you would probably buy a few clothes at home wouldn't you? So you could fill in any gaps once you're there. Pack what you think you wear most often at home, plus maybe a few smarter things for work if you think they will require it. A couple of microfibre towels is an excellent idea too.

Posted 11 months ago #
djk
Member

Poorva, have a great time in France!

Your needs and experiences will be quite different if you are in Paris or another city, or say, in Haute-Provence. There is a lot of good advice above.

However, re: the bras. If you are a very small A/B or perhaps C cup with a narrow back, then you can get bras everywhere. They are not, however, better quality than anything you could get at any shop in the US or Canada. If your size is outside of, say, a 32-34A/B, well, forget it. Bring them from home. Same with shoes. If you are a hard fit, then bring your favourites, remembering of course that in Europe sport shoes are for sports, not for social events or work.

French sizing is amongst the smallest in Europe in my experience.
Of course you would eventually be able to find something in a pinch, but it will certainly be much more expensive, and who wants to NEED to find basic things when away?

Also, the bigger supermarkets have inexpensive homewares, and there are Euro shops (like dollar stores). There are also flea markets with fun and sometimes even useful stuff;)

But don't stress about it too much. It is a fun adventure, you won't die if you forget something at home, and even--especially?--on a budget travel is mind-broadening and interesting.

Posted 11 months ago #
Ella
Member

Good suggestion to wear your heaviest shoes and thickest clothes on the plane rather than bulking up your suitcase with that stuff. When my boyfriend came from Europe to live with me for a year, he shipped his books and CDs ahead. As for what clothes to take, here's an excellent list from a young woman who lived a few months in Italy, where the same principles would apply to you. She writes one of my very favorite simplicity blogs - Small Notebook:

http://smallnotebook.org/2011/04/07/add-classic-style-to-the-small-wardrobe/

Posted 11 months ago #
Larousse
Member

I live near Paris so if you have any specific questions just ask! As djk said, it makes a lot of difference whereabouts you'll be based.

Some friends of mine did Oct-April a year ago as teaching assistants, but they are both from UK so it was easier to get things brought over. The last 2 years have been very long cold winters with lots of snow! Got cold in November and didn't warm up until end of April.

Posted 11 months ago #
ninakk
Member

Could someone borrow you the cooking gear? That's really the last I'd be bringing with me when going on my own semesterly stays abroad.

If you're staying that long it might also be worth looking into seasonal wardrobes; one brought with you, the other one waiting to be mailed from home, and possibly send the first one back home when second has arrived. It could be smart to take photos of the contents of the one staying at home, so you could still change your mind about it (if your memory is of the type that wouldn't be interested in remembering such details of course).

What about bed gear? It can be very heavy and take a lot of space too, so you might not want to bring that with you at all.

My preference is a furnished room with access to bathroom (with washing machine) and kitchen. Works for my needs.

Posted 11 months ago #
Joless
Member

@Pklmain - re mobiles, I think that many US phones work on different network technology from European ones so unless you have a tri-band phone, that might be impossible. Always worth checking though as info could be out of date with the advent of smart phones and so on. Consider buying a PAYG Sim and/or phone though, at least for local calls as it saves paying international rates. Also, (assuming it's the same as UK) you'll pay to RECEIVE calls if you use your international mobile. Not good.

Posted 11 months ago #
susanintexas
Member

We took our phone, which has international calling, to Ireland with us a few years ago and it worked fine. However, it was about a dollar a minute for both incoming and outgoing calls from and to anywhere. Now, with my smart phone, using any of the web features would be subject to an international roaming fee if I were to use those features overseas. Fine in an emergency on a short vacation, but if I was going for a longer period I certainly get an indigenous phone.

You might also want to set up Skype with significant people (like parents) and, especially if they are not especially technologically adept, practice using it before you go. And an international calling card for the parents back in the US would also be useful -- much, much cheaper than calling directly from a phone. We get our from the Middle Eastern grocery store down the street. Again, if they are nervous about new things, a practice session could be useful.

Posted 11 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

The problem with calling cards is that a) it costs more to use them from a pay phone and (b) there are hardly and pay phones to be found in the US anymore - but perhaps this is not the case in Europe? Calling from a land line the card is a good idea, likewise the local cell/mobile. Joless - i think that most US cell usere pay minutes for incoming and outgoing calls. I certainly do and i have only a plain jane phone.

Posted 11 months ago #
Mimi
Member

i´d recommend to check the manual of the phone to find out if it works in france. if it does, you can unlock it (if it is locked) and use it with prepaid cards from france. or- if you need just a phone, i could send you my one that i store for "just in case" -> a good reason to unclutter it ;)

and i´d second the skype option, it´s so cheap to call with skype.

but trust in europe, we don´t live in burrows over here and once you know some people they will help you to find out proper solutions to your needs.

Posted 11 months ago #

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