Source: External
KITCHEN ITEMS
Utensils:
Nonstick pan (1/2) and nonstick tava
1 large fry pan, kadai for deep frying (optional)
2-3 pateelas that fit into each other and preferably have handles
Utensil holders (tongs)
Cutting Board (wooden or hard plastic)
Coconut Scraper
Knives
1 Peeler
Idli plates
Dosa & Chapati tawa
Rolling pin
Holder to move vessels (Ikkala in Kannada)
Big Pressure Pan with safety handle
Coffee Patre (in Kannada) - Container or Tea Patre – small ones but 4
Tea Strainer
5 Small polythene bottles with measuring spoons (for spices, salt etc.)
Steel glasses for water
Steel plates for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Steel spoons
Haape (Kannada) - Ladles , Kai (Rice-spoon), Forks
Rice Cooker (this is usually available cheap in the US)
Prestige pressure cooker about 5 lts in size (get spare gaskets, whistles
and safety valves !!)
Cook-books (You can get recipes on the web)
Nonstick cookware is cheap in US
Foodstuffs:
Tea/coffee if you are a regular drinker
Couple of bags of haldi, red chilly powder, garam masala, dhania powder,
pickle bottles (preferably get sealed ones). Condiments and spices (small
quantities of standard masaalas, saambar and curry powders), pickles,
PACK EVERYTHING TO BE LEAKPROOF.
1-2.5 kg packets of "sambar podi"
1 packet of "Rasam podi"
0.5 box of "Masala podi"
1 box of "Paruppu podi","upama podi","Vatha-kozambu podi","tamarind
rice podi"
Appalam/Vadam/pickles
mustard packet
tamarind paste
different dals in small quantity for initial phase
asafoetida powder
Elaichi, clove, cinnamon
Many of these items are available in Indian stores or Indian
sections of big stores. You need to carry them for first few days.
take all dry foodstuff in plastic packets
Don't become loaded with foodstuff
CLOTHING (sorry for the bias here,
this list is more apt for males !!)
Formals:
One suit, ties (1/2) - If you are
planning to seek a job after your MS,
you probably need to wear a suit for the interviews.
shirts and trousers (number of your choice). (2-3 trousers, not more)
Full sleeve => for formal wear. You don't wear full-sleeve shirts
as casuals.
Casuals:
Jeans (number of your choice, but at
least 4 is recommended),
T-shirts/sweats + half-sleeve shirts (6+)
flannel shirts (2+),
shorts (for outdoor, indoor, sports use)(number of your choice).
track-suit (for sports enthusiasts)
kurta-pyjamas (if you are fond of wearing them - don't forget extra
naala(string) though :-))
Footwear:
Sneakers, (Blue POWER joggers 'ok',
don't waste cash on pseud ones)
formal shoes, (good leather ones)
leather chappals/sandals/loafers/kolhapuris,
bathroom slippers (supposedly supposedly shrink in winter!)
Misc:
Undergarments, about 15 sets of
undergarments (you get to wash only once in
two weeks - thatz the way it works here, so, dont be surprised !!! :-))
Socks (6 pairs), preferably cotton, not nylon.
Towel (2 turkish) & napkins (2)
leather belts (2+) (one formal leather belt and others as you please)
A good jacket (pref. leather),
handkerchieves (6+),
Traditional Indian dress (1+).
Good leather wallet, preferrably one which can hold lots of cards,
like the ones they show in films. You will definitely have 10
different cards in your wallet at all times.
In america, you are not a proper person until you have all the
required cards ;-)
Sweaters (medium quality, at most 2),muffler/scarf, woolen cap)
Bedsheets (doublebed size, 2), 1 pillow (optional), pillow covers (big,
2),shawl/light blanket
Things you better buy in US:
Winter jacket, winter gloves,
caps,wind-sheeters, track-suits, good
sweaters (they're cheap), comforter, thermals (if required).
MISCELLANEOUS
Toiletries:
Though you'll soon want to try the 'phirang'
stuff, your home kit is good to carry around in travel !!
Toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue-cleaners
(if reqd), soap, deodorant/perfume, a
complete shaving kit (all in a toiletry bag), shampoo, talcum powder, any
cosmetics,
comb/brush, face powder, small mirror, small scissors, safety pin bunch,
mini-sewing kit
with some buttons, after shave lotion, shaving blades (get a good stock,
they are costly here)
hairoil, nailcutter, couple of hangers. get what you require from day 1;
other things can be bought here
(fairly cheap).
Medicines:
Medicines (WITH PRESCRIPTIONS) for
standard minor ailments
like fever, cold, cough, stomach-ache, head-ache, bruises (vicks,
iodex, crocin, burnol, vitamin tablets, band-aid and others that you use)
1-2 spare eyeglasses/contact lenses (about 20-50 per pair) if you
wear glasses
Ointments for Burns, cuts etc
Precriptions from ur doctor
Moisturizer cream (winter skin-care)
Vicks, iodex, ,vitamin tablets, Crocin, Disprin, Nebasulf
powder, Crepe bandage (1" and 2" size), band-aid assorted box. Antiseptic
cream, relaxyl
etc.
GET A COMPLETE MEDICAL CHECKUP DONE WELL BEFORE LEAVING.
Study Materials & Stationary:
Calculator, (you might want to but the
fancy US ones though)
Dictionary, backpack (school bag types) (a good one, you'll use it almost
all the time), all textbooks of courses that u've decided to take
already.
Money:
The one-time expenses that you will
incur probably even before you get
your first stipend include apartment deposit + first month's rent
(about 350-400 in all per person), health insurance (314 if for 6 months,
628 annual; however you can pay 142 initially and have the rest payroll
deducted), telephone deposit (100 shared among housemates), initial
expenditure on house (furnishing), bus pass (189) and/or buying cycle
(100-300). There are a lot of smaller expenses which add up faster than
2 and 2 add to 4. If you get your first stipend quite late, you must also
include your living costs (see below). About 1200-1500 should suffice,
2000 should be comfortable.
Documents:
Ur certificates and transcripts.
Laminate them in thin plastic if possible.
Your application material in case you wish to reactivate your
applications
at another place for the following quarter/year. Lots of passport size
photos (13-14 per pair here!).
Fun Stuffs:
Music cassettes, family photos, umbrella
(optional; most people use winter
coat/wind-cheater), an up-to-date address book of people you know in
US/Canada.
(Optional) Easy-to-carry sports/music stuff you might use here, e.g
table tennis bats, musical instruments etc. Your native calendar if u
need one.
A watch and an alarm clock ofcourse !! A torch (optional)
Toolkit:
small screwdriver, can opener, spanner,
scissors, cellotape, sewing kit, safety pins,
pens, pencils, ruler, a good leather purse or wallet with sections for
the bunch of
credit cards/ key cards/id s etc you'll accumulate in no time here.
For the religious at heart: carry some small idols, photos etc.
Things NOT to get along
Electrical appliances, unless you are
sure it works here. The electric
supply here is 110V, 60Hz.
Things to do before coming here
Learn cooking. Learn driving and get an
International Driving Permit - My personal feeling is that this is not
required coz itz horribly expensive in India. Further, the law is
different
in different states in the US, so, itz better to get it done in the US
itself !!
Also please get a good haircut just before leaving (the ladies could
ignore this
sentence !! :-))
TEXT-BOOKS
Get whatever textbooks you can even for
future courses you plan to take.
Get in touch with guys in your dept and ask what books you will be using.
Apart
from those get along :
1. Kreyszig ($78 here !!)
2. a good dictionary
3. your calculator
4. all you fundamental course texts and notes
5. standard mathematical table and formulae handbook
Journey tips
Plan to arrive at your university about
4-5 days earlier than your reporting
date. This will give you time to settle down, and complete various
formalities like setting
up a bank account, pairing up and hunting for an apartment etc. Have a set
of copies of visa,
passport and I-20 in each piece of luggage.
Carry sufficient cash for the airport tax in your country (ask your travel
agent).
If you are getting a camera have it endorsed on your passport.
Keep passport, visa and i-20 and other
admission documents in the
handbag you'll carry on your shoulders all the time, or in a belt pouch.
confirm your ticket a couple of days prior to the flight directly
through
the airlines you are flying no matter how reputed your travel agent is
You will complete your customs formalities
at your first port of
entry. Ensure that you have sufficient time (at least 2 hours, considering
the queue) between your flights at the airport.
Carry a few quarters (25c coins), in case you have to call anyone
from the airport.
Common questions
Things to be kept in hand-luggage
some medicines (including for air
sickness)
novel/mags/books for inflight reading
sweaters (if reqd)
Original important documents (Passport, I-20, VISA, tickets...)
Enough money (little cash, travellers' checks)
Address book/phone book (Indian and US)
Copies of your photo (passport size)
Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (two sets
of clothes, valuables like calci, addresses etc.)
Things to be kept on person
Shorter extract of contact
addresses-especially of people coming to
pick you up
Receipt of travellers' cheques in case you lose them
Things to be left at home
List of addresses/phone numbers at which
info. about you can be obtained
One copy of all your important documents
A copy of all relevant parts of medical history files
Arrange to get extra copies of your grade transcripts
Your tailoring measurements
A few blank signed papers-so that your parents can be authorized to
look after anything on your behalf
Things to be done in the last week
before flight
Call up the airline to confirm the
ticket and date (inform people
coming to pick you up if there is any change)
Rest well- ready to face long journey
Bid bye to all concerned
On the day of the flight and later
Wear something comfortable. Wear your
shoes in flight
Be at the airport 3-4 hours before the flight
Collect some foreign exchange at the airport
Relax during flight. Sleep as much as possible - reduce ur jetlag as much
as possible
Vegetarians have to be careful. Don't hesitate to ask questions. You
get very good fruit juices
NOTE:-
In deciding if something is expensive, please do not convert at
the exchange rate ! (Unless of course you convert your stipend at the
exchange rate too, and compare.)
