What to bring with you

[pbgirl 1]

With so many people getting great approvals from India, I thought it might be neat to make a list of some things that people should bring them when coming from India. Either things that are hard to get in the US or are very expensive in comparsion.

Here's a quick list:

1. Don't underestimate good masalas (including haldi!!) that you can get in India. Don't forget a box of chana masala too.

2. For the women...stock up on your favorite face packs! Himalaya Herbals is a safe bet.

3. Medicines....its a lot harder to get prescriptions filled in the US. Go to your chemist in and get your cold, cough, headache medicines. (Including eye drops, I noticed they are a lot cheaper there).

4. Costume jewelry. Bindhis, tikkas and the like.

5. Packets of your favorite namkeen. Pay 50cents in India or nearly $3 here....

Anyone else?

[calijatt 0]

good thread keep adding more into list. Also keep in mind your luggage limit. It would be nice if you also include things like not bringing pointing objects so Dont get into any sort of trouble specially at LAX airport. thanks

[pbgirl 1]

That reminds me, a lot of people get duped at the airport by the "Saran wrap" people (at least at New Delhi). They try to convince you that you need to tightly encase your suitcase in plastic wrap so that it won't get damaged. Don't fall for it, it is totally unnecessary.

[MrsAyilliath 0]

Okay, I know I'm not Indian but having lived there and having gone back and forth every other month for a year and half defintely made India feel like my second home.

I wholeheartedly agree about the masala mixes. I am soooo low on my last package that I brought from the last trip that I'm literally pinching off the last little bit. LOL. Hubby and I are thinking about taking a "buying" trip there later this year. Everything just costs less there

I'd also like to add to bring your favorite Hindi music. We've found it hard to find here.

Great post Pbgirl!

[calijatt 0]

Two places i know only cost less Mexico and India

[Imua 0]

Two places i know only cost less Mexico and India

Glass bangles are very hard to find, even in the 'little India' section of Queens that I call home - I think it is because they are so cheap and fragile.

Also a good point on medicines - I stocked up on an antihistamine which I take almost daily - it cost 5 rupees per pill there, while the generic version I buy at Walgreens is several times that.

Edited August 7, 2007 by Pattu Rani

[doc_cute 0]

this is an amazing post

thanks to pbgirl

please also let us know about other necessarythings ?

thanks ..

[Nikita2Charles 32]

I should say to talk to your hubby/wife that's already in the US to find out if they have indian stores around.

Here in the sillicon valley, it's like little India, there are so many indian grocery stores, restaurant, if you feel like having veg, non veg, halal food, north indian cuisine, south indian cuisine, you name it there's a restaurant or store within driving Distance. With that in mind there are a few things i can add

Bring all the love you have in your heart and don't look back. Spend as much time as you can with your family as it maybe awhile before you see them again, maybe a year or so, it all depend on the situation. Spend the last few days with your family, friends, share happy thought, reassure them you'll be fine, easy said than done. Once you get here, you will fee homesick at time, nostalgic, but with school, volunteer, something that keep your mind busy, It will help you to go through those 1st few months, those are the toughest specially for folks whose very closed to their parents, siblings.

Your financial statements, Let say you have DMAT account and stuff like that, try to set up online banking in India before you come, any DD, or outstanding transaction that need to be completed, make sure it's all done, When the bank needs your money, they make it so easy, but when it's time to cash out or do other transactions beside bringing them money, they want you to sign this paper, that paper.

Bring stuff that is sentimental to you, if there's not an indian store in the locality you'll be moving then bring plenty of masala.

IF you have allergy or if you are taking any medication, please bring at least a couple of months supply as it will take a few weeks before you can be set up on your hubby's account, longer for folks doing K1.

Indian wear can be pricey here, so bring your Shawl, Dupata, not sure if you'll have too many functions to attend so just bring your best sarees. no need for Western wear as you'll find that here.

Pressure Cooker( check with your partner maybe they already have one, you can also buy it here)

Grinder ( If you like to cook and make chapati, or other dishes where you have to use a grinder)

[Imua 0]

If you are in a town with no Indian grocery stores, Patel Brothers is a good resource:

http://www.patelbrothersusa.com/about_us.asp

I am lucky to live right up the street but they do mail order and have a lot of things like spices and masala mixes that are hard to find elsewhere.

For puja items, cosmetics, Indian books, calendars, etc. you can find them at Butala Emporium:

http://www.indousplaza.com/index.asp

I usually visit this shop about once a week and chat with a Nepali lady who works there.

[calijatt 0]

patelbrothers website reminds me of commoder days when screens where green and all u can see on computer screen is text using Mozilla or newsgroups lol NO pictures at all other site you gave is much better one.

[Imua 0]

patelbrothers website reminds me of commoder days when screens where green and all u can see on computer screen is text using Mozilla or newsgroups lol NO pictures at all other site you gave is much better one.

You're right - the store is awesome but the site could use some work...

[pbgirl 1]

Absolutely, if you are lucky enough, you'll have Indian stores around you. I just find the quality at some of them (although Patel Brothers is the biggest and best by far) is not as good as what you can get in India. Especially when it comes to homemade masala you can get in India, or the kind you can buy here.

You'll find things like Ambala oil, Fair and Lovely creme etc here too. But as I said, be prepared to pay the price. My husband laughs when he sees some of the stuff and the price (even taking into account markups for the export/import).

Other things to bring/remember

- one of those roti-warmers. Either the cloth baskets with flaps, or if you have the luggage allownce, try to get the plastic ones with the twist top

- get any clothes that need alteration done while in India. Another huge expense here...

- a tawa (to make rotis). I found some great ones by Hawkins while in India. The ones here just didn't work for me.

[calijatt 0]

Since we are talking about what you can bring with you from india. I think someone should also post or create thread about employment. That when people come here how they can gain right skills to get suitable employment as per their previous experience and qualification. What are dos and donts. If my case get approved I will be posting more I just dont feel like it doing right now :-( waiting waiting....... thanks pbgirl, pattu rani, nikita everyone

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Since we are talking about what you can bring with you from india. I think someone should also post or create thread about employment. That when people come here how they can gain right skills to get suitable employment as per their previous experience and qualification. What are dos and donts. If my case get approved I will be posting more I just dont feel like it doing right now :-( waiting waiting....... thanks pbgirl, pattu rani, nikita everyone

Bring with you your certificate, Master and all. Check with your current employer if you can use them as reference, specially if you are in the IT field, with VOIP, Email, so don't be surprise if they call up your references in India.

That said, Be prepare to be at home for a couple of months, for folks that are very active, and always working, it's a whole different mindset being at home, away from friends, specially when your hubby goes to work, so try to find something to keep your mind occupied while your hubby is at work.

Get a library Card

My hubby taught me how to drive, started with stick shift, struggle with it too much, then hubby got me an automatic, so within a couple of months I had my driver's license. So slowly you start gaining your independence, feeling free, even if it's just driving to do grocery shopping.

My hubby mentioned it would have been easier for me if I was in NY, on the east coast, my software background in Bangalore was with Financing, my hubby is out here in the sillicon valley, it's a whole different software architecture that I was used to, They are more into coding, deeper into the technical software, applications. So I had to go back to school while waiting for my EAD, to update my skillset, Check your Local Adult education Program, they have some Adult classes, and also Took some online IT courses, Go to different interviews, studied the Job Market, so it was almost a year before I landed my 1st Job in the US as a contractor.

No more 8 pages CV, along with providing personal details about yourself on your resume. So it's basically a major task to shrink down 5-10 pages CV into a 2 pages Max resume to fit the US job market format.

Tips

Don't be afraid to go to Temp agency or work as contractor, mostly what to look after is the experience, the networking, even if the pay is not what you expect as long as it's somewhere you can learn, and your skill can be useful, Another factor Contractor work most of the time out here Pays more than regular, but since you are married, you'll be on your hubby/spouse medical insurance, so don't worry much about the coverage. Sooner or later you might be converted into a Permanent/ Regular employee.

If not, once you learn as much as you can from that company, and by now you pretty much start to get a good understanding of the job market, what are the requirement, the skill set they are looking for.

REVAMP YOUR RESUME, and God after the job that suit your background, experience. IT's my 3rd company now, 2 contractor now a regular employee for a financing company on campus of the major search engine on the net.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Nikita2Charles