Hmmm... When I moved *to* NZ I brought (the first time over) two duffel bags plus a back pack and a small (like tiny) laptop bag. The second trip over I brought a duffel, backpack, and my golf clubs.
I think most carriers now charge for the second checked bag, unless you have status or are flying first class. Might be wrong though.
So what I brought. I used to have it in a spreadsheet, but I've dumped files several times since then. I can remember most of it.
I brought my laptop (tiny), a moleskin notebook from previous travels. A cool silk skirt. Some jewelery. A spool of blank CD's. About four pair of shoes. Underwear. A picture of my sister. A cat5 cable. phone numbers. $300 in cash, US. 4 or 5 pair of jeans (only because I have a heck of a time finding jeans that fit, and the average kiwi is shorter than I am...), a book to read on the plane. My passport with visa. Credit cards that knew I would be overseas. A couple ATM/ debit cards, and some US checkbooks. (one account with my mother on it so she could do banking for me that needed to be done in person) Advil, benadryl, a couple of pens, a water bottle. A kick butt knee length black jacket. some unoffensive shirts. Some offensive shirts. a pair of boxers. the paperwork the school sent. Socks. my favorite hair comb and hair toys. A small box of random stuff. My little black travel bag of "important" items. A wallet. a couple books I really liked that got packed in the middle of stuff, surrounded by clothes.
There might have been something else, but I don't remember what.
When I came back (again moving overseas) I was going to ship a couple boxes of crap back, but ran out of time (like an ill prepared goof) and left a bunch of that stuff behind, including the kick butt silk skirt. And some really cool clothes I picked up when I took a vacation to NYC.
When I came back I actually brought mostly comfy clothes, the knee length black jacket, laptop, golf clubs, a bike, two bottles of wine, and the very minimum amount of work acceptable clothes. Oh, and about 4 cloth shopping bags I used to protect the cogs and whatnot on my bike. Oh, yeah, and the single coolest pair of heels ever.
What I'd bring if I did it again? If I were still a milk/ cheese type of girl, I'd bring packets of ranch dressing mix, because it's hard as hell to find in other countries. I'd bring the cheese packs from some kraft mac and cheese. If there's something that you love that's totally american (and yes, in most places decent peanut butter goes here), I'd bring it. York peppermint patties, swedish fish, sweet-tarts, poprocks. If there's something that you like, that you use when you're sick, that you really really like, and that makes you feel like you're at home and happy, bring that. even if it's a stuffed bear.
re: computer- Most carriers will let you ship one box as a checked "bag". If you have a micro tower you might even be able to carry it on. If you have a full sized tower you might have problems.
back to if I had it to do again. (well, I do, sort of, but re: overseas... yeah) I'd still bring jeans- I'm still freakishly tall. I'd still bring my laptop, they are still very spendy over there, and I have rather outlandish tastes in computers. But I'd also bring a couple tins of tony chachere cajun seasoning. And extra chapstick. and my calculator. And a spare cheap one. And a camera. And much more than $300. I'd bring my golf clubs right off the bat, and a huge bag of pixie stix. I'd bring a dog, if I could. I'd bring the two or three notebooks and cookbooks who's recipes I actually use. I'd bring advil- the pills in NZ can be had with codine in them, but they are all huge horse pills. I'd bring information for contacts, so I wasn't totally alone at first. I'd bring something that reminded me of home, even if it was just something goofy like ticket stubs from a theater, or takeout menus from local places, or some tacky tourist poster even.
What I'd leave behind-
Um... I took total advantage of the "loud, brash american" stereotype. I do mean total, so I'd ditch that first off. I'd leave behind dressy clothes. there are opportunities to wear them there, but part of living overseas, or travel at all really, is the shopping for stuff you can't get at home. plus, with the exchange rate, even crazy spendy designer stuff isn't too bad. I'd not bring any expectation that because it's an english speaking country it's like home. The culture shock hits harder, I think, and later, and sneaks up when you're least expecting it. I'd leave behind defensiveness about the US- people will question you about policy and voting and things going on in DC, and you have to just let it go. Any expectation of being able to spell anything at all, since it's all wonky over there. Anything that costs less to replace than it would to ship- bicycle being a prime example.
I'm sure there's more. I'm also sure no one wants to read about it.
-j.
