CheckList

Things to do and things to bring.

Things to do:

1. Learn driving, get an International drivers permit. This is valid for one year after you come to US. After that you can get a US drivers license.
2. Get a complete medical checkup done. Medicines, doctors etc. are very expensive here. Don’t forget to go to the dentist!
3. Get prescriptions from your doctors for medicines you know you might need.

Things to bring:

Documents: 

• All your degree certificates
• A few attested copies of your engineering/ undergraduate degree marksheets
• All the awards you ever won
• Recommendation letters from people you worked for
• Anything that can help you get a job here. 

Health care: 

• Medicines and any kind of health care is expensive, even with school insurance. Get all the common medicines you might be used to , like for fever, common cold, digestive, etc.
• If you use contacts / spectacles, bring an extra pair, as you wont be able to buy them here.
• If you have any recurring ailments, bring medicines stock, and also prescriptions from your Doctor if necessary.
• Get dental care done. Here its extremely expensive, and people actually go back to India to get teeth fixed. So get all your cavities fixed. 
  

Clothes: 

• The general tendency is to put on weight after coming here, so be sure to get comfortable clothes. UHCL students dress quite casually. Jeans and T-shirts are the most common type of clothing here. 
• You should get formal clothes stitched for yourself, as its expensive here, and you will be going for interviews in a year’s time. So get 2-3 pairs of formals. 
• It gets cold here in winter, but jackets and sweaters you get in India are hardly enough. So you will buy your winter clothes here itself. Don’t bother to get heavy sweaters as they are of no use here. 
• Footwear: Get formal shoes, sneakers and slippers. 

Food items: 

• Learn cooking! You will not be able to afford eating out, so if you can’t cook, learn it at once. 
• Do not bring rice, dals etc as they only add to your luggage weight and are unnecessary. There are Indian Grocery stores which will provide you with rice and daal.
• Bring plenty of masalas and pickles etc as you will use them the most, and you don't have to buy them here. Get spices (typically turmeric, Masala/sambar powders, coriander powder, mustard seeds, jeera, chilly powder) pickles, tamarind etc 
• Pack everything leak proof and smell proof - you dont want your clothes to be smelling of masala when you get here. 
  
  Recommended: 
  A pressure cooker with a couple of extra valves, tongs. 
  Non stick pans are cheaper here.

Random items :

Bag / Satchel / School bag 
Umbrella / Windcheater
Glares / Cap - Houston summers are tough
Alarm Clock 
Religious stuff
Photos 
Linen
Stationery < Do not bring files - US filing system is different - three holes instead of two >
Hindi Music tapes/ CDs - you can use the CDs in the school labs as well, with earphones if you don't have a CD player
Indian stuff like jewellery / traditional wear /gifts / display - the ISA has many occasions in which you will use these, like Diwali celebrations. 
Recreation: Swimwear, musical instruments etc 
Toiletries: If you are used to some particular kind , get them from India as they are cheaper. 
No electronic items as they wont work here. The electric supply here is 110V, 60Hz.

Things to Bring PDF Here!...

Be sure to spend plenty of time with your family and friends as that's the one thing you miss most after coming to the US!!

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Note : If you are not satisfied with any of the answers provided here, you can post in your question on the Discussion Board of ISAUHCL for further clarification. All the ISA members are willing to help you on the discussion board.Also check the previous questions asked, so that you wont repeat the same question. For suggestions mail webmaster (AT) isauhcl.org