Calling Pinays: what to bring?

[DandC 13]

Hi Everyone (specifically in the Philippine Forum).

With barely 8 days until my flight time, could you let me know what "essentials" should I be bringing apart from that sealed packet? We still have not found a Filipino store in Columbus -- closest being the World Market and one Chinese store we went to so I am a bit in a panic since I will be moving there this time, not just visiting... I am on luggage #3 and so tempted to go on luggage #4 as I feel I am still missing on a lot of stuff to bring...

For those ladies who are already in the US, what do you wish you have brought with you?

I feel like I need to bring pancit canton (Lucky Me!), sinigang mix, OTC meds and Kantinko... Ugh *panic mode*.

Thanks!

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Hi Everyone (specifically in the Philippine Forum).

With barely 8 days until my flight time, could you let me know what "essentials" should I be bringing apart from that sealed packet? We still have not found a Filipino store in Columbus -- closest being the World Market and one Chinese store we went to so I am a bit in a panic since I will be moving there this time, not just visiting... I am on luggage #3 and so tempted to go on luggage #4 as I feel I am still missing on a lot of stuff to bring...

For those ladies who are already in the US, what do you wish you have brought with you?

I feel like I need to bring pancit canton (Lucky Me!), sinigang mix, OTC meds and Kantinko... Ugh *panic mode*.

Thanks!

Too bad you guys are not coming to Maui. We have all the things a Filipina loves. Sinigang mix, majic sarap, pancit, all varieties.

Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine once you are with your significant other.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

[vazpayne19 24]

Mabuhay! Have a safe trip on your flight. i brought tons of Sinigang Mix and Knorr Cubes, Nissing Yakisoba (our favorite, even though there are lots of fil store here on the island, they dont sell it here) I also packed some Medicines like Biogesic, Kremil-S, and Loperomide for LBM. TigerBalm/Katinko is also a life saver.

Happy Holidays!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[danrb 5]

First off you'll find lots of filipinos and filipino stores are hard to find everywhere(even here in DC), they don't seem to advertise well, but they are there. Once you meet a few of your countryman, you'll know where everything is. Bet there is even a local festival. lol

Weather is the biggest adjustment you'll have. Be sure and learn to drive if you don't already know. Families in America are not as close, so you may feel lonely at times. Seafood is gonna be a challenge in Columbus. It won't be fresh and the fish here doesn't taste as good.

As for the previous poster about Maui. You won't find good Mangos here, you have to go to Hawaii. lol.

Good luck!

[David & Diana R 1,005]

First off you'll find lots of filipinos and filipino stores are hard to find everywhere(even here in DC), they don't seem to advertise well, but they are there. Once you meet a few of your countryman, you'll know where everything is. Bet there is even a local festival. lol

Weather is the biggest adjustment you'll have. Be sure and learn to drive if you don't already know. Families in America are not as close, so you may feel lonely at times. Seafood is gonna be a challenge in Columbus. It won't be fresh and the fish here doesn't taste as good.

As for the previous poster about Maui. You won't find good Mangos here, you have to go to Hawaii. lol.

Good luck!

That's true we also have beautiful mangos. And speaking of festivals. Even here on the Island of Maui we have a Barrio Fiesta and a Philippines Heritage Celebration. My wife, from Cebu, won the balot eating contest at the Heritage Festival a few months ago. She won dinner for two at a very fancy restaurant. She took me out to dinner. It was great! And oh yeah, it doesn't snow here.

God Bless everyone this Christmas Season.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Knorr cubes are common here. Magic Sarap is EXPENSIVE here, I'd recommend bringing some. You can find Sinigang mix in local Korean stores sometimes, if no Filipino stores around. Also, if you can show the owner/manager a pic, often they will import what you want (at least mine did). A plastic tabo. Can be hard to locate here it seems. Our local Wal mart sometimes has the little packets of Pancit with chilimansi and regular flavor. Also, if you have a friend who is military, they can get some Filipino foods in the commissary (though I don't think there are any close by in Ohio).

[Bill & Ivy 6]

I cant speak for the Columbus area, I am kinda close to Washington DC. In this area there are quite a few Filipino stores, but like danrb said, they dont seem to advertise. I was just driving along in a town near me one day, and happened to look to the left and saw a store called the Pinay market. I had driven that way hundreds of times, but had never seen it. so I figured it was new. I stopped to check it out, and found out they had been there for over 5 years, ever since they had built the shopping center. I talked to one of the owners, who was very nice and very friendly, and found all kinds of places in the area that I never knew of, and all kinds of Filipino gatherings that happen, they do Balikbayan boxes from a number of different shipping companies. So once you just find a Filipino in your area, you may be amazed at how many other Pinays are close to you. Even if you cant find a nearby source for foods that you might want to bring, you will be able to find almost anything you could possibly want and order it off the internet from someplace here in the states. I would bring clothes especially, and not worry too much about food and drugs, you can find almost anything here if you look hard enough. You will be needing winter clothes though, and the time you will be getting here will be perfect for sales, especially if you wait til about Feb. or so.

Enjoy your trip, and hope you will learn to like snow, and cold.

[DandC 13]

Thanks y'all for the responses. As a Pinay through and through, I don't think I will ever get used to the snow and cold weather. I didn't know the definition of cold until I experienced 12 inches of snow last year so I am more prepared this time, thick clothes, coats and all! HA!

To my fellow Pinays, hope this thread would help you too. Despite the excitement of having a new life with our loved ones in the US, it is always comforting if we also have the things we are used to having, even the ones we are taking for granted like tabo, pancit canton and sinigang mix. And balot!

And thanks again for the help! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

[hoogly 0]

Happy Holidays!

[irishc30 4]

I will definitely bring one suitcase of Likas Papaya Soap haha! I seriously can't live without it

[JoBri 548]

Hi Everyone (specifically in the Philippine Forum).

With barely 8 days until my flight time, could you let me know what "essentials" should I be bringing apart from that sealed packet? We still have not found a Filipino store in Columbus -- closest being the World Market and one Chinese store we went to so I am a bit in a panic since I will be moving there this time, not just visiting... I am on luggage #3 and so tempted to go on luggage #4 as I feel I am still missing on a lot of stuff to bring...

For those ladies who are already in the US, what do you wish you have brought with you?

I feel like I need to bring pancit canton (Lucky Me!), sinigang mix, OTC meds and Kantinko... Ugh *panic mode*.

Thanks!

My wife brought a lot of OTC meds. Just recently threw most of them away since they were past expiration date and never used. Plenty of that stuff here.

Pancit Canton? Even here in the mountains of Tennessee you can get that, at asian markets for sure, and asian section at most grocery stores. But I prefer making it from scratch (I am the American husband, but I do all the cooking). But we get the instant stuff at a local asian market, and sometimes add veggies and what not to it when in a hurry. But I learned to cook Asian foods for her and our son. I make Pancit Canton, Sesame chicken, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, teryaki chicken, honey chicken, bourbon chicken... and German foods (MY heritage) from scratch.

My wife brought some cold weather clothing, but she didnt need to, obviously. I wish she had brought a good rice cooker instead, although you can get that here too, no problem. I use a 3 cup rice cooker she was given by a filipina friend here, which is alright for us, although we really could use a bigger one.

Mostly just bring yourself, and some clothes. That is plenty. Bring your favorite recipes.

[Michael and Milahjean 0]

Hi Everyone (specifically in the Philippine Forum).

With barely 8 days until my flight time, could you let me know what "essentials" should I be bringing apart from that sealed packet? We still have not found a Filipino store in Columbus -- closest being the World Market and one Chinese store we went to so I am a bit in a panic since I will be moving there this time, not just visiting... I am on luggage #3 and so tempted to go on luggage #4 as I feel I am still missing on a lot of stuff to bring...

For those ladies who are already in the US, what do you wish you have brought with you?

I feel like I need to bring pancit canton (Lucky Me!), sinigang mix, OTC meds and Kantinko... Ugh *panic mode*.

Thanks!

DandC,

Just saw this post, hope not too late. Not to worry, we are just west of Columbus north of Dayton and be assured there are plenty of Asian markets in the Coumbus/Dayton/Cincy region that are well stocked with many familiar items from Philippines. My asawa has been in US for over 6 years now and continues to be amazed as many items not accessible in Leyte province are readily available to her here. We just returned from Phils in April and did grab a few items that tend to be way overpriced here - many packets of Magic Sarap, PhCare, Knorr's Sauce in big bottle (like liter size). You'll find most of what you need locally, just search around a bit.

There are two Fil-Am groups based in Columbus - PASCO and I can't recall the other, and another in Dayton. We've many pals in the Columbus area, and have attended and hosted many, many giant gatherings, not so much though in the past year since the asawa is a working girl now. It's quite blustery (nasty cold, snowy, icky, winter, blah!!) now in the area, but spring and warmer weather will arrive soon. Be sure to visit the Asian Festival in Columbus over Memorial day weekend (end of May).

Good luck on your trip and welcome to Ohio!!

M&M

[Hank_ 9,174]

I will definitely bring one suitcase of Likas Papaya Soap haha! I seriously can't live without it

You can buy that in the USA

[Niblet 22]

Bring a Tabo!!!!!