List of Items to Pack USA Flight Travel

Jeans T-Shirts Shirt Casual Shirt Formal Suit/Coat Shorts/ 3/4ths Pants Belts Formal Shoe Winter Wear Leather Jacket Sports Shoes + Socks Sandals Wallet Hangers Tooth Brush Shaving Kit After Shave Soap Wash Detergent Combs Hair Oil 1 or 2 50 to 200ml 1 1 Dress/Clothes 3-4 India 10+ India I like Tshirts more than shirts. So, less number of 3-4 India shirts. 2 India Coat and Suit are expensive in U.S. compared to 1 India India 5+ India 2-3 India I dont like to wear pantsJ. I will go with Jeans 2 India Leather is expensive in U.S. 1 Pair India Dont buy winter wear in India. Sweater, Jackets, U.S. are cheap during sale. I usually dont recommend anyone to buy leather jacket. Its expensive in U.S. but you can find good winter jacket for $15 to $75. 1 Pair + Nike, Adidas, Rebook.. are cheap. I got Adidas for U.S. Few $18; Socks are very cheap. Its cheap here, but you will need it when you reach 1 Pair India here. 1 India Get new one before you come Personal Care Dont water your suitcase weight carrying hangers. No U.S. You will get 13 Hangers for $1 form Walmart 2 1 1 1 India India Bring what you are using now India Bring what you are using now, if not buy in US U.S. One soap to use first few days. Please dont carry detergents from India. You are U.S. wasting your space/weight. India India Pack it well, so it doesnt leak. India Pack in Check-In Bag India Pack in Check-In Bag I have never used it nor my friends. If dress is torn, you donate it. USA Get it in USA. Avoid any cosmetics product. Cheap

Nail cutter Small scissors Safety pin bunch. Minisewing kit with some No buttons Shampoo No

Towels

2-3

India India India India India USA India U.S.

Napkin/Hand Kerchiefs 6-10 Perfume Deodrant 1 Tooth Paste Mirror Razor Blades Blanket Pillow Songs CD Back Pack Alarm Clock No 1 Yes Few 1-2

and saves weight. Turkey Towels will be heavy, so get 1 of that and 2 towels light in weight. Depending on your need. You can get it here for cheap after you run out. Get small one. Same Colgate, Close-up is available, but it will taste different. You can carry small mirror Shaving kit is cheap. Get weightless bed spread. You can get Comforter or Plush blankets in U.S. Its will cost around $15 in Walmart. Pillow costs $4 in Walmart

You can download it here, dont waster you weight. Get a get back pack that is definitely needed to cry Yes India book to college. Dont forget to get one. If you are bringing your cell phone, you will not Yes/No need one. Yes

You will get free cell phone with phone plan. iPhone cost $199 + monthly charge around $50 Pen, Pencil, Glue, Cello Get some pen, pencil, highlighter, but you can find Few Tape.. them in plenty here. I got one, but never used it. Depending on your Calculator course of study you might need. Kitchen/Cooking 1 (3 to 7 Dont forget to bring pressure cooker, also get extra Pressure Cooker India liters) weight, valve. Try to get as much as possible. Masala items are Indian Masala/Spices India available, but doesnt give same taste as moms food. Dont carry any rice or other dhal items. Its Rice, Dhal, .. U.S. available here in Indian store. You can get one ore 2 pans that are light in weight. Frying Pans.. Set of pan cost $30. Serrated Knife 2 One small and one large. Spoon, Fork U.S. Spoons, forks are cheap Vegetable Cutting U.S. Its additional weight. Board Cups and Bowls U.S. Get one or 2 small bowls, but not many. Plates will be used in Microwave. You can bring 1 Plates. U.S. plate, but dont bring more than one. Peeler 1 India Instant Food Packets Few India Carry few packets of Instant food items, that will Cell Phone

(Noodles) Elachi, Clove,Cinnamon, Garam Masala Few

come in handy for first few days, till you get settled in the apartment. India Available in Indian Grocery Store in USA

Small India Available in Indian Grocery Store in USA pack Chilli Powder 1-2 kgs India Available in Indian Grocery Store in USA Medical Files/Medicines 20 to 30 Tylenol for Fever cost about $4. You can buy in any Fever/Cold Tablets India Tablets pharmacy or walmart. Eye Glasses are very very expensive here. With Eye Insurance I paid $225 for one eye glass. Same Eye Glass/ Contact Lens 2 Pairs India would have cost Rs4,000 in India. So, if you wearing glasses make sure you get atleast 2 additional pair.
Please dont not pack the following items to USA flight travel. You are wasting your luggage space.

Tamarind Paste Glass (Mirror) Dal and Flours Pencil Box Ink Pen Heavy Winter Jackets Plain Rice Lots of Books

Also I have tried to cover the differences in individual eating habits, because despite having a good hold on cooking, I brought lots of Spices which I rarely use. I should bring it to everyones notice; due to enormous work pressure in US, least time is devoted to cooking. Indian food which takes little longer to cook than soups, pasta, noodles, burgers and sandwiches will soon be out-listed from the weekdays menu. However, in the weekends Indian food remains to be the favorite choice of Indians as well as Americans.

Note : This list is pasted as-is and in coming week, this list will be updated.

Gals readingthis list, if youd like to improve on it, send an email or add a comment.

List of things to Pack to US

Group Stationery Item Quantity Comment 0.5 mm is available in India but try getting 0.7 mm as it is extensively available in US although 0.5 mm is also available I dont like erasers found here. You might like it Stapler pins here are giant sized. I like the cute Indian size.

Mechanical pencil 3-Feb Pencil Eraser Stapler Stapler pins Cello tape with cutter stand 3-Feb 1 1-2 boxes (whole year)

Utensils

Spices and cereals

I brought it without the cutter and always 2-Jan wish to buy the cutter stand. I use cello tape very often. Also to pack sandwiches. Not much writing here. Also stationery items Pens 1 pack (12) are free. No need to bring many pens. Notebooks Nil Buy from here You will still have to buy. Do not bring 2 pin Files and folders 5-Apr files. 3-pin files are used here A4 size paper is not used in US. The US Pages Few letter size paper will be used for submitting assignments. Bring them Markers and if you use Expensive here colored pens them Year planner Highly required Pressure cooker 1 Mandatory Do not avoid bringing it. I know a friend Extra valves, rings who cannot use his pressure cooker as its 4 and whistles valve is not working and it is not found in US. You can avoid bringing it. Its not very Pans and pots 2 expensive in Walmart Its good to bring though not very expensive Spoons 4 here. For yourself for the initial days. Later you Bowls and dishes 1 can manage to get it for free from Student associations Scissors and knives 1 each Would be fine Bring your favorite dals only. No one cooks Dals 250g each what they dont like. Hot red chilli kg MUST powder Green chilli sauce 1 bottle MUST Turmeric pwdr 250g I dont use it much. Depends on your food

habit. (100gms is enough) Nutmeg/Jaifal hing Javitri Dalchini Elaichi (bari and choti) Sukhi lal mirch Black pepper corn Tej pat Dhania pwder and jeera pwdr Methi dana Anice (saunf) Sabut jeera Sambhar powder Salt and sugar Tandoori chicken masala Meat masala Garam masala Biscuits Rice Snacks Pickles Maggi Knorr soups Instant meals Papad Clothes jeans trousers Thermocot suit sweater shawls Caps/scarfs muffler 2 1 small pkt I have not usedit yet I love biriyani and butter chicken. You might 25g be using it often. 50g Very expensive here 50g each 50g 250g 10g Not very expensive here I am a pepper lover Required in cooking almost all Indian meals

100g each I have used it twice since I hanve been here 10g depends 250g 100g NIL 1 pkt 1 pkt 1 pkt 250g Needed very much in the initial days Bring it Makes my dosa batter ferment faster Depends on the way you use it For whole year I dont eat sambhar regularly. Bring more if you love it No need to bring

Eatables

Bring only if you eat them. I have not consumed pickles since I have been here. 4 in one Trust me, will be needed Get all your favorite flavors Few You will realize its importance in US Few types You wont get it here. Laundry is chargeable and will be done once 8 in 15 days. So bring clothes for atleast 15-20 days You will end up buying jeans here as 12 trousers cost the same as jeans in US 2 2 It is the most comfortable when at home or 3 in University. Also adds style because its very expensive here. Starts from $25 here. nil Buy from here 2 Expensive here

Indian wear

Shoes/ sandals

Accesories

Skirts 2 Night dress 4 Winter jacket 1 Leather shoe/boot 1 snickers 1 sandal 1 walker 1 Belt 3 Nail filer 1 Foot scrubber 1 Pumic stone/ body 1 scrubber Nail cutter 1 Hair pins/clips 2 sets Hair bands/clutcher etc Safety pins 2 sets Hanky 12-Jun Socks Stockings Sanitary napkins Washing soap for clothes Washing detergent sachet Moisturizer Shampoo Conditioner Makeup items Lipstick Nail polish and nail base Nail polish remover Lip moisturizer 3 5, 2 woolen 4

Will be required if you are social. Bring one sari and salwar suit. I feel much comfortable in skirts Very expensive here Buy it from U.S. You will still have to buycoz we are ladies

1 leather, 1 cotton and 1 fancy (chain)

Very expensive in US

Bring as many as you can you will still buy. hihihi Safety pins in US are different in size I dont like wearing socks but I have to as I feel cold Indian size is difficult to get. Best ones for winter For 2-3 months Wheel/Rin etc For home washing of clothes Bring according to your availability of space Cheaper in US Cheaper in US Very-very expensive in US Lipsticks are very expensive here. Also you cant try them before buying. You will not find any moisturizing lipstick like ELLE 18 brand here. Indian ones preferable Small pack of acetone. Get it from pharmacy store in India. Nail polish removers in US are alcohol instead of acetone. Acetone is good for nails while alcohol is not. Too expensive in US

3-Feb 2-3 small pkt 1 1 small 1 small 1 each As many

Cosmetics

Bathing soap Coconut oil Mustard oil Jewelery Purse/Bags handbag Backpack with laptop space and trolley CDs/DVDs

3 Large container Small container

For hairs, very expensive here ( Pack it carefully so it wont leak) Glowing hair and split hair treatment Bring matching jewelery as much as you can. Its too expensive here. Nothing less than $5 for artificial ones For flight purpose We ladies hate carrying. Use the same as your carry bag. If you like to listen to Hindi/regional language music. Bring that. If you have one and you want to use it, you can. I am using my Motoming handset from India. It has Us pin point Indian Items with Indian pin point can be used only when converted to US plug point. I got my electronic Tanpura which needed that. But it is always good to have one. You never know you might need it. Most of my Indian friends borrowed it from me. If you are interested to buy a printer. It is more expensive here Cheaper in India Double bed/twin bed (single bed)

1 1

Electronics

Cell phone handset NiL

Pin converter

USB printer port Others

Allopathy Medicines

USB Phone port 1 Bed sheet 2 Towel 2 Shoe brush 1 Shoe polish 1 Pillow cover 1 Vitamin tablet with more than 5mg 2 strip Magnesium Antiseptic cream 1 Antihistamine 1 cream Pain relieving 1 cream Voveran 1 strip Antibiotic tablet 1-2 strip (broad spectrum) Pain-killer 1 strip Bandages 4-Mar Anti-diarrhoeic 1 strip

Large size Will help you feel little less pain. Only for ladies. sofframycin Antiallergy, can use after any bug bite for relief. Eg volini fever 5-6 courses, mainly it should be effective against cold and throat infection

Eg metrogyl

Seven seas (VitE) 1 bottle Homeopathy medicines Kali mur 12 X Glonoine 200 Rhus tox-200 Borax-30 Sepia-30 Arnica-200 Cold treatment (2 weeks or till cold persists) 1 2 3 4 Cramp or Mild fracture treatment 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle

For good glowing skin, very expensive in US Liver Sun stroke, can be taken before going to sun After getting drenched, prevents cold, also after exposed to snow Acne Leucorrhoea and anemia. To be taken in the morning. Antitetanus effect after wound. To be taken within 24 hours after wound.

BelladonaBryonia-200 Hepar Sulph-200 Phytolacca-200 Black board Chalk, turmeric powder and mustard oil

1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle 1 bottle

Once in a day, every night before sleeping 3 times a day Once in a week Once in a day, every morning before eating anything Soak chalk in water till it makes a paste. Add turmeric powder and mustard oil, heat till color changes. Apply warm on affected area. It relieves pain and heals wounds.

Thanks to Anu for taking time to prepare this list. Many would appreciate your effort (especially women). Not every items listed above is must. You pretty much can get everything in U.S. but try to have a priority list and get those items. Again, remember this, you can get all the items listed above in U.S. but for a student it will initially look expensive. Winter clothes, try to buy from here. Winter cloths from India will not be of much help for weather here. If you have additional student travel tips, share it with us.