The main thing to do is blocking
tickets (this implies no financial commitment). This can be
done via travel agents. Make sure the Travel Agent is good and cheap.
$# - Put pressure on the agencies and get as much
info as possible. Much before the flight call the airlines themselves and
confirm your ticket.
$# - Indicate whether you want Asian Vegetarian
Meal (AVM), nonsmoking section, etc
· Cross-check everything the travel agent
says.
· Some airlines offer Frequent Flier programs
(e.g. Air France, TWA) [i.e. after a certain # of miles of flying with that
airline you get a free ticket]. Enroll in such programs.
Which airlines … Delta, British
Airways or something else?
· Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is
the best. If change of airline can’t be avoided, leave
at least 4-6 hrs gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the
scheduled departure of the connecting flight.
· Baggage is usually safe with a single
airline - change of airline sometimes leads to misplaced luggage. Some airlines
don’t take care of baggage transfer - you may have to personally carry it
(check this while booking)
· Do not trust an Indian Airlines connecting
flight (in case you use IA allow atleast a day)
Much before the flight
· Learn typing
· Learn driving
· Learn to cook
· apply for bank loan (if necessary)
· make your passport valid for 6 months more
than your stay indicated in your I-20
Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months
atleast. All other changes are best made in the
· make outstation purchases (sweater, thermal
underwear, cassettes, etc. - available/cheap in
· get medical checkup done
®
dental
®
Fresh checkup, especially if you have a major
ailment
®
Get prescriptions & medicines for all common
ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/US brand name)
®
Get your eyesight checked - get a new prescription.
Buy atleast one extra pair of glasses.
®
Get tested for TB if possible (chest X-ray) - else
they will do it at the University.
®
Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR)
· Get cassettes recorded which you might like
to take with you
· Write to the ISA giving your flight #, time
& date of arrival; they may pick you up & give temporary accommodation
if necessary · if you are very
interested in any Indian magazine (Telugu, Tamil, Etc.) Subscribe to them - you
can subscribe to them after going to the
· Note your/parent’s bank A/c number.
(Update your email address book)
Packing
· Start your packing well in advance
· Buy 2 good boxes -
they 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 this the airlines will also provide you
with adhesive labels). Boxes with independent top & bottom are preferable.
· Box specifications: æ as an example the Air India economy class
baggage specifications to the
Things to be kept in the boxes
· Copy of all certificates/documents
(originals in hand baggage)
· Important applying materials (SOP, recs etc)
· Necessary books/notebooks (some suggested
books are -
Tables, a good dictionary/thesaurus, a booklet for
units’ conversion) [note: there should be no legal hassles taking Xerox copies
of books - but do not flaunt them to Americans/ Profs]
· Copy of address book/telephone book/diary
· Some stationery and related items suggested
(not absolutely necessary - just for the first few weeks) are
: common items + rubber stamp with house address + airmail covers + few
Indian razor blades for cutting work + screw driver
· Indian postal stamps - for sending letters
through someone coming to
· Medical history files
· Gifts (suggested: roll able pictures,
handicrafts, etc)
· Non-technical
books (fiction/religious). [Note: second-hand storybooks are
cheap in the
· 1 pair leather chappals,
2 hawai chappals (+ extra
straps)
· Soap (bath), toothbrushes (slightly costly
in the
· Cassettes
Clothes
Usually clothes are machine washed once a week
(Laundromat) - hence one-week supplies of clothes (+ one week backup) are
needed. Get all clothes little loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash &
you will probably grow fatter.
· 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks,
handkerchiefs.
· 5 sets of good shirts, pants
· A good swimming trunk + few shorts
· Atleast 2 ties + 3
belts
· 3-6 ordinary towels (Turkish ones start
stinking)
· A bed sheet
· Lungies/Dhotis/Pajamas
· Thermal underwear (2-4)
· Extra woolen sweaters
Note:
· Sleeveless woolen sweaters are enough for warm
places
· Woolen socks not recommended if not going to
a cold place
· Second hand alarm
clocks are cheap in US
· don’t take Indian files (empty) or punching
machines - filing system is different in the
· do not take paper
· do not take raincoats
· don’t buy purse (wallet for carrying cards
can be bought in US)
· wear your shoes to save space in the box. If
needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US). For some
weather conditions, Indian leather shoes may crack.
Do
not worry yourself if you cannot bring any of the stuff listed above Most of
them are available cheap in the
Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a
month or two you will be in a position to get anything you want (unless you are
not on aid)
Food Stuffs
Below are some South Indian foodstuffs that may be taken:
· 1 - 2.5 kg packets of "Sambar Podi"
· 1 packet of "Rasam
podi"
· 0.5 box of "Masala podi"
· 1 box of "PaSuppu
podi", "Upma podi", "Vatha-kozhambu podi", "tamarind rice podi"
· Mustard packet
· Tamarind paste
· Different dals in small quantity for initial
phase
· Asafetida powder
· Indian instant coffee + Indian tea (takes
some time to get used to American stuff)
· Elaichi, clove, cinnamon
Note: most of these items are available in the
Indian stores in the major cities. However, you need to carry them for use in
the first few days.
· Actually, pickles are not
allowed - but you can take them in solder-sealed tins. [Students usually
are not checked for these]
· take all dry foodstuffs in sealed plastic
packets
Most Indian foodstuffs are
available even in small cities. Do not come loaded with foodstuffs as you may
have (small) problems with the customs. Try to get "instant" stuff,
as people generally do not have much time for cooking in the
Vessels
· Big pressure pan (with spare handle, 3
safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets) [note: big pressure cooker
may not be needed as rice cooker can be bought in the US]
· Idly plates
· Dosai turner, charani
(server with holes), rice server & other servers
· Tongs
· Small bowls
· Rolling pin
· Knives
· Kadai
· cook books
Note: no other vessels needed. No tumblers
needed. Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to your Univ.
Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the
Things to be kept in
Hand Baggage
· Some medicines (including for airsickness)
· Novels/magazines/books for in-flight reading
· Sweater
· Original important documents (I-20, visa,
tickets)
· Enough money (little cash, travelers’
checks)
· address book/phone book (Indian & US)
· Copies of your photo (passport size)
· enlisted steps to be followed in case of
emergency (accident, theft, etc)
· Things to survive for a week in case luggage
gets misplaced (two sets of clothes, valuables like calci,
addresses etc)
Things to be kept on person
· Shorter extract of contact addresses -
especially of people coming to pick you up.
· Receipt got along with travelers’ checks -
in case you lose them.
Things to be left at home
· List of addresses/phone numbers at which
info about you can be obtained.
· One copy of all your important documents
· A copy of all relevant parts of Medical
History files
· Arrange to collect/redirect mail from your
room/hostel
· Arrange to apply/collect/mail your
transcripts (about 20 in number preferable)
· Your tailoring measurements
· A few blank signed papers - so that your
parents can be authorized to look after anything on
your behalf
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)
· Rest well - ready to face the long
journey/jet lag
· Bid bye to all concerned
On the day of the flight * in-flight
+ later
· Since it is going
to be a long flight wear something comfortable (cotton
dress + full hand shirt). Wear your shoes - in-flight you can remove them (some
airlines give in-flight shoes - else relax in socks)
· be at the airport 3-4 hours before flight
departure
· collect $20 at the airport (part of it in
$1)
· relax during flight, sleep as much as
possible
· For vegetarians - watch out before you eat -
you may get non-veg even if you had asked for veg. Veg. food is generally bland
- fruits/juice are good choices.
· Once out of
Don’t hesitate
to talk to people to ask questions - usually they will answer all your queries
properly - very different from
Port of entry procedures
1. Sometime before landing the
flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms & immigration
forms as mentioned below. Fill these out on the plane (you will submit them to
the appropriate authorities when you land). Do not hesitate to take the flight
attendant’s help.
$# - You can indicate that you have nothing to
declare & total value of all your things is less than $100 on the customs
form Form I-94 - fill in the plane. After seeing your documents
immigration officer will indicate length of stay, Univ,
etc. This will be attached to your passport.
Important: note the expiry date and D/S (duration
of status).
Form I-20 ID copy - all transactions regarding your
non-immigrant status will be recorded in this form.
This should be retained at all times (not surrendered
when you temporarily leave the
2. Just before you land the correct local time will be announced set your watch [dual time watch will come
in handy here]
3. Once you are out of the plane go straight to the
immigration counter - rush for them to beat the queue. It might take 0.5-1 hour
here.
Keep your I-20, passport, admission & aid
letters ready. They might ask a few questions like - is this your first time in
the
You are
now in the
· Then go to the baggage are to fetch your
luggage. Pick up a cart (you get this at a machine for $1) to carry the bags.
Then pick up your bags as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eye-catching
labels help here). If you don’t get your baggage
inform the enquiry section - you may have to wait 0.5-1 hour here.
· cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If
asked tell them that you are a student, F-1 visa, school, dept., coming to US
for the first time. If asked to open the baggage do so slowly - do not mess up
the place. ô If asked about the "podi"s tell
them that they are "dried Indian spices" to make traditional Indian
food like curry. Rarely might they ask you to go to the agris.
Dept. nearby - that is a pain. ô If asked about "vibuthi"
tell them that it is holy Hindu powder used for prayer.
Note : In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all &
will be simply waved through.
· Now go & wait at the nearest exit for
the people who are supposed to pick you up. If nobody turns up after some time
(say 0.5 hour) make a collect call (at the public phone dial a ’0’, get the
operator & ask for a collect call).
Else call i) your Prof ii)
dept. iii) International Students’ Office iv) Admissions office v) any Indian
person in the directory Go & ask for an announcement to be made over the PA
system. Get a card, write your name & hold it up.
· Never leave your
baggage unattended. Do not go out of the airport
until somebody comes & picks you up. If you have doubts about the person
who comes to pick you up, do not hesitate to ask for his ID. [All this is of
course being a little extra cautious]
· Once you reach your friend’s house (or other
destination) call home & inform them of reaching safely. Keep a readymade
card - add a few lines - go to the nearest post office, get stamps & mail
the card immediately.
A few things of importance in after (arrival) life. Your first work is to meet the Foreign Students’ Advisor in the
International Student Office (ISO). They keep a record of you (passport, visa
details etc). When you leave the
Be happy now that your dreams have
come true!
List of medicines recommended by a
Doctor
®
Crocin tablets -
3 strips - For fever, bodyaches, headache - One
tablet three times a day as necessary
®
Erythrocin 500mg
tablets - 2 strips - One tablet twice a day when necessary, as advised
®
Sporadix 500mg
capsules - 2 strips - One capsule twice a day when necessary, as advised
®
Actified tablets -
3 strips
®
Cosovil tablets -
2 strips - For common cold & cough - One tablet three times a day
®
Avomin tablets -
1 strip - For air sickness - One tablet as necessary.
®
Lomotil tablets -
20
®
Digene tablets –
30 - For diarrhoea & stomach discomfort - One
tablet of each three times a day.
®
Baralgam tablets -
2 strips - For abdominal colic pain, backache, etc -
One tablet every six hours as necessary.
®
Dorstal (?) tablets – 10 - For nausea & vomiting - One tablet three times
a day.
®
Electral powder -
2 packets - One teaspoonful mixed with drinks to make up loss of electrolytes
after vomiting or diarrhea.
®
Novalgin tablets - 2 strips - For headache & body aches - One tablet as
necessary.
®
Stomatil tablets -
1 strip - For vertigo (giddiness) - One tablet three times a day as necessary
till relieved.
®
Isogel (Glaxo) - 1 box - For constipation - One teaspoonful in a
little of water at bedtime.
®
Brufen 600mg
tablets - 2 strips - For arthritic joint pains - One tablet three times a day
after food
®
Avil tablets -
1 strip - For allergy - One tablet as necessary
®
Sepmax tablets -
1 strip - For sore-throat - One tablet twice a day
after food, till relieved. NOT TO BE TAKEN WHEN ONE IS
ALLERGIC TO SULFA DRUGS.
®
Relaxyl ointment
- 1 tube - To be appplied as a pain balm.
®
Band Aids assorted – 12
®
Soframycin skin
ointment - 1 tube
The above list would have been made out by person who is very cautious. Kindly take care.
True that medicines are relatively very expensive
in the
AMERICAN IDIOMS AND
SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS
(Provided by Auburn University / April, 1990)
Beat up: worn out,
shabby (said of a thing)
Beat
around the bush: avoid an issue
Been had : to have been
taken advantage of
Big shot : a supposedly
important person or someone who thinks he/she
is
Big deal : anything important, exciting
Break
the ice : make a beginning
Buck : dollar bill
Bombed : see
"high"
Booze : alcoholic beverage
Bummer : a term to designate
that something undesirable has happened
Cash : paying someone with currency
rather than a check
Check
out : look over a situation
Cool
or neat : slang term denoting approval for something
or someone
Cool it : calm down
Cop : slang for
policeman
Cut
it out : stop it
Crack
up : to lose
emotional control in laughter
Date : to go out with someone; also
the person with whom you go
Down : to feel
depressed, sad
Down
to earth : practical,
straightforward, (person)
Drop : to
withdraw from a course on or before the set date
Drive
one up the wall : drive one nuts; to make one very nervous, or upset
Fall for : take a strong liking for
Fed up : disgusted
with, or tired of
Frak out : to lose control of oneself, go crazy
Give
a ring : to
call on the telephone
Go to
pot : to
deteriorate
Grass : slang term for
marijuana
Gripe : to complain
Hang on : in reference to the telephone it means do
not hang up the receiver
Hang
in there : keep trying; do not be discouraged
Hassled : troubled by
Have
a lot on the ball : to be capable, talented, or efficient
High : intoxicated
("loaded") from liquor or drugs
Hit
the sack : go
to bed
12
Hung up : to be in
conflict over a problem
I.D. : identification
In a nutshell : very
briefly and concisely
Jock : an athlete
Keep
your shirt on : be clam, be patient
Know
the ropes : be
familiar with the details of an undertaking
Lemon : bad buy or purchase
Loaded : to get intoxicated
Make
ends meet : budget
within one’s income
Make up : (1) to
apologize after a fight or disagreement
(2) to do an assignment
after it was due
(3) cosmetics a woman uses
Mid term : test given
during the middle of the quarter
On
the house : free, no cost
Old man : slang term
for father
Once
in a blue moon : seldom, infrequently
Out
of it : (1)
somebody whose mind is Far away or preoccupied, or
(2) somebody not fitting
into a certain group
Out
of the question : unthinkable, impossible
Over
my dead body : not
if I can stop it !
Out
of sight : term of approval denoting something
exciting or very good
Play
it by ear : to
respond to circumstances as they arise
Phony : someone
who is insincere, also fake
Play
second fiddle : be
second in importance
Pop-Quiz : a test given with no prior warning
Pot : a term used for marijuana
Psyched
up : to
mentally prepare yourself for something; excited about
something
Pull
one’s leg : to
tease someone
Pull strings : use
influence
Pull
the wool over someone’s eyes : deceive or mislead someone
Put
someone on : to
tease or try to fool. "Are you putting me on ?"
Put
your foot in your mouth : say something you regret having said
Rip off : to steal;
charge an exorbitant price for some item
Redneck : hillbilly
Run
around with : be
friends with
Screwed
up : confused
Shook
up : upset
Show : movie or film, cinema
Skip
or cut : not
go to class
Stoned : to get high on
grass
Straight : one who goes along
with the norms of society, conservative
Take
a raincheck : to postpone an
invitation, accepting it for a later date
Take
for granted : to
assume
Through
the grapevine : through
gossip
To
the max : to
the maximum or greatest degree
Uptight : worried,
tense
Under
the weather : sick,
not feeling well
With
flying colors : with
victory or success
Wasted : an extreme lack of
energy. Also can mean "high" Ya’ll : You all
Zero
in on : focus
or concentrate on
FINAL CHECKLIST FOR
STUDENTS TRAVELLING TO
Airline tickets, Passport, I-20
(Travel documents/immigration documents). Health care
documents/Immunization form and immunization completion certificate. General and specific medication/Spectacle and Contact Lenses and
spares. Clothing and Accessories: Sweaters, Umbrella/raincoat, even a
pair of good waterproof boots if you can. 9 Formal attire and traditional attire. Atleast 2 week’s supply of daily
wear garments. Required pots and pans, a pair of tongs (’pakkad’) to lift hot pans, even a masala box if you can.
Edible items/Spices/Masalas 9 Textbooks, plastic files and folders to start
you off in school. Other stationery you think will be useful. Your list of contact numbers and useful addresses. Some
loose change in quarters, dimes and nickels (25 cents, 10 cents and 5cents
respectively). Travelers’ checks/cash for foreign exchange.
HAPPY JOURNEY
Note: The Webmaster is
in not anyway responsible to any errors in the data.