Start your packing well in advance.
Check in luggage
Buy two good suitcases (we recommend soft canvas ones). Whichever bags you get should be able to withstand a lot of mishandling. They should be as large as possible within the size limitations (however most airlines are not very strict about baggage size). Put identification marks and labels both inside & outside the boxes (apart from these the airlines will also provide you with adhesive labels). Suitcases with independent top & bottom are preferable.
For people shopping in Bombay: Suggested place of purchase is Lower Chawl, you cannot get bags cheaper than that anywhere else in Bombay. For leather goods the best deals would be at Dharavi.
Box specifications: As an example the Air India economy class baggage specifications to the USA/Canada are given below. Note the specs. may be different for other countries/airlines.
2 pieces of baggage with total linear dimension (l+b+h) not exceeding 270cm (106").
Moreover the total linear dimension of each piece should not be over 158cm (62"). The weight of each bag should not exceed 32kg (70lb)
They are not particular about this, for students a few Kgs here and there is acceptable. No, before you ask, you cant carry your pet elephant along. You can probably sneak in a few extra kilos with doggy looks at the beautiful ticketing agents. Do remember that you have to carry/drag these bags when you get to the other end.
Carry on hand baggage
In addition you can carry a bag with linear dimension not exceeding 115cm (45") onboard (should fit beneath the seat). For most other airlines the baggage specs are similar (confirm). If you are taking a break outside USA/Canada contact your travel agent or airlines for details.
Things to be kept in the suitcases
There should be no legal hassles bringing Xerox copies of book chapters , but don't flaunt them to customs officers/Profs, they don't approve. You can be sued for doing it here.
Do Not bring pirated software/music CDs. ( You cannot install any unlicenced stuff on university machines )
Copy of address book/telephone book/diary (keep the phone numbers of a few members of ISA). This is important. If you have any emergency in any intermediate airport, call anyone collect. Collect calls mean that you simply go to a phone booth, call the operator by dialing 0 (or 1 800 CALL ATT) and ask him to connect the number. The called party pays for the call. Do this ONLY if you dont have any money on you and in case of an emergency. The person you call will have to pay a very high rate.
Some stationery and related items suggested
(Medical history files (this is extremely important if you have any major illness).
Gifts (suggested: roll able pictures, handicrafts, etc).
Non-technical or recreational reading (fiction/religious). Second-hand fiction/non-fiction books are fairly cheap in Canada, so bring only what you must bring.
1 pair leather chappals, 2 hawai chappals (+ extra straps)
soap (bath), toothbrushes
Cassettes
Lots of Indian sweets for the members of the ISA. (VERY IMPORTANT) ;-)
Clothes
Clothes are usually machine washed once a week (laundromat) - hence one weeks supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed. If you buy clothes, buy one size larger as clothes may shrink in the machine wash. Also, most people gain some weight within a few months of getting here.
14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs.
5 sets of good shirts, pants (at least a couple of pairs of jeans), and ladies, if you dont wear jeans, its probably a good time to think about it.
At least one pair of good swimming trunk/bikinis + a few pairs of shorts for the summer.
A couple of ties + 1-2 belts (formal clothes for girls are not strictly necessary, though you should get them if you wear formal clothes).
3-6 ordinary towels (so can throw them in the washing machine when they start stinking. You cant dry them in the open).
A good set of bedsheets.
lungies/dhotis/pajamas/shorts/nothing (whatever you wear at night).
Thermal underwear (2-4). Buy good fleece or wool thermal underwear. The term frozen ass takes on a literal meaning if youre out for more than 15 minutes in mid-winter without them on. Also, remember that mid-winter lasts a good 3 to 4 months here.
Extra woolen sweaters and a good spring jacket. Woolen sweaters by themselves are useless, but work as layers inside a jacket. Get thin sweaters.
Shoes: Canadian weather conditions may be too harsh on Indian leather shoes (they may crack). As a popular TV commercial goes: Canadian winters are not fit for man or beast.
Don't worry if you can't bring some of the stuff listed above everything being available here at reasonable prices (thank God for China and the Far East). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a month or two (assuming you have financial aid), you will be in a position to get anything you want. OK, maybe not a BMW M3, but you should be able to afford stuff that you need.
Things to be kept in Hand Baggage
some generic medicines
novel/mags/books for inflight reading
sweater
originals of important documents (passport, visa docs, tickets ...)
enough money (about 100 dollars Canadian, travelers' checks)
address book/phone book (Indian & US)
copies of your photo (passport size)
a list of what to do in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc)
things needed to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (two sets of clean clothes, valuables , addresses etc)
Things to be kept on person
Short list of contact addresses/phone numbers, especially those of people coming to pick you up (again, keep a few ISA member addresses and phone numbers).
Travelers checks along with the receipts (in case you lose the TCs). Always keep your receipt of the TCs in a different place than your TCs, so in case you lose them you can at least claim them from whoever sold them to you.
It is best to purchase TCs in Canadian dollars from the bank/financial agency. Most banks do not issue Canadian dollars so shop around. Also, do not purchase USD and then convert them to CAD after coming here as you lose a substantial amount of money in this process. Some agencies that sell TCs are:
Thomas Cook
Tata finance
SBI
There is no fixed amount that most students bring from India, but it would be advisable to bring at least $1500 in some form for settling expenses.
Reminder: Its not safe enough to keep 1500 dollars in your back pocket.
Things to be left at home
List of addresses/phone numbers at which info about you can be obtained.
A copy of your complete flight itinerary.
One copy of all your important documents.
A copy of all relevant parts of your Medical History files.
Arrange to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
Arrange for someone to apply for/collect/mail transcripts/degrees you havent received yet.
Your tailoring measurements.
A few blank signed papers - so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf (also blank signed stamp papers). It would be preferable to convert your bank account to a joint account with your parents. (It facilitates transactions when you are not around to sign stuff.)
Things to be done in the last week before the flight
Call up & find if there is any delay or change of schedule of the plane (inform the people coming to pick you up of any such change, use the ISA arrival form on the website or call/email the ISA).
Rest well so that you are ready to face the long journey. The journey usually takes about 24 to 48 hours (while your watch will tell you that youve been flying only 6 8 hours).
Bid goodbye to all concerned.
