So, it’s the day/week/month before you head abroad to teach… you’ve either got all your worldly goods strewn all over your bed, or a very neat list of things to take with you. Either way, to preserve your sanity while trying to teach abroad, make sure you find space to cram the following things into your suitcase:
1. Chocolate
You could be spending 12 months abroad without decent chocolate. Make sure you take initial supplies and get an emergency supplier (usually your Mum) lined up to see you through those tough times.
Mmmmm, chocolate... (Photo: Rocknroll Guitar)
2. Laptop/Netbook
You’ll justify it to yourself that you’ll need it to do lesson plans. In reality, you’ll need it to spend hours chatting to your friends on Skype, wasting time on Facebook and blogging on Chalkboard.
As well as using it to decorate your new abode (what?! It’s what every home needs…), it’s worth putting in your case, as you’ll inevitably need your TEFL certificate for some bureaucratic nonsense or other. And if you haven’t found a job yet, waving that magic piece of paper under people’s noses will open a lot of doors.
4. Magazines
Cosmo’s 101 Ways to Make That Cute Guy Swoon probably won’t last you an entire teaching contract. However a good stash of magazines (no, not that kind…) are brilliant bargaining chips and also great to use as lesson resources/inspiration.
5. Pictures from home
If you’re not interested in using your TEFL certificate to decorate your walls with, pictures of your friends, family, home-town, cat etc are nice reminders of what’s waiting for you back home. Plus, they’re great starters for classes on family, pets, appearances or, if your party snap-shots are anything like mine, the dangers of binge-drinking.
6. Make-up
If you’re female (or just like a spot of cross-dressing) and heading outside of Europe, you might want to take spares of your favourite make-up when you head abroad, especially foundation and concealer, which will be difficult to get in your skin tone.
7. Moisturiser
If you’re heading to Asia especially, a lot of the moisturisers will contain bleaching agents. If, like me, you’re pale enough already these are a big no-no. Other moisturisers can be really expensive, so it’s worth taking a big bottle of your own.
To be honest though, as long as you take some ideas, enthusiasm and a LOT of patience, you’ll be able to survive – but the chocolate does come in handy…
What do you think is the most important thing to take abroad - vote in the poll!
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Total votes
54
What do you think is the most important thing to take with you when you head abroad to teach?
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|---|---|
| Vote Chocolate | |
| Vote Laptop | |
| Vote Lesson plans | |
| Vote Pictures from home | |
| You must vote to see the resuts. | |
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I should also have mentioned, if you travel anywhere and have return tickets, scan them too because if you cannot prove you have purchased them, you will probably be up for a whole new expense....
My travel agent is a wealth of helpful hints. ;)
Good tip Sanne - thanks for sharing.
Just a little tip everyone...and an important one too...PLEASE scan your passports (just the important page in the front with your details) and keep a copy on your pc, and also give a copy to your rellies back home in case your pc crashes.
Also, register with your Department of Trade ans Foreign Affairs (DFAT in Australia) so they will know their citizen is out of the country and where that person is...just in case they need to evacuate you for ANY reason.
I never leave the country unless I register because one never knows if political unrest or natural disaster can befall a country I visit. I don't want my rellies to worry.
Cheers
Sanne
Blank notebooks and journals!!
Digital camera and camcorder!
Completely agree on the chocolate front - though long a fan, i never realised how truly amazing Cadburys was until i had to live without it for a few months (then my friend sent me over a creme egg, which made my MONTH!)..... also was sent some thorntons fudge by another friend which was an indescribable taste sensation.....yum!
So - yeah, due to being unavailable/expensive here, its definitely worth bringing over / getting people to send you things like: Cadburys chocolate, thorntons fudge, English tea, coffee, hot chocolate.
If you're a reader i'd also recommend bringing a fair amount of reading material as you could be stuck somewhere without an English bookshop or anywhere to swop books.
Good tips guys - thanks for sharing!
I'd also recommend having scanned copies of all important documents - passport, qualifications etc - as who knows if you will end up wanting to apply for more work after your contract ends? Useful to have...
Ha, I've been asked this question a lot! My essentials were many of the above, number one being my laptop - for facebook, Skype, msn....oh, and teaching of course! I brought a good selection of English books (which have been exchanged in various hostels here to get new ones) plus blue tack (can't get it in China) English breakfast tea, hot chocolate (I'm finding the Chocolate here ok, particularly developed an MnM addiction!) good deodorant, as it is hard to find here, suncream in a proper sized bottle as it is all in small, expensive bottles, tampons - yes - they don't stock them in China, good supply of underwear and shoes to fit - everyone here is tiny. I would also recommend getting a pay as you go credit card like the caxton fx one - means you can withdraw without charges and top it up if you need more. Magazines - definitely!!! Were a big hit with my class (and teachers) when my friend posted me some out. They then got used to make resources for describing people... Oh, bring a good sized USB stick to back things up, and I also use mine in class to take in powerpoints. Electrical stuff is not cheaper in China...
Great article Honor!
You can get chocolate from international grocery stores that they have in some countries...it's just a matter of finding them. The chocolate is usually expensive though. I found that chocolate from the countries I visited was just as delicious- in fact sometimes it's better! I was recently sent a packpage from some of my foreign co-workers in Japan that contained a bunch of Japanese chocolate in it- it was a nostalgic day!!
Laptop is most important when teaching overseas. You never know how the keyboard will look on foreign computers and where you get get access to Skype, email, facebook, blog, and listen to English radio and music. The fact that I could stream American television while overseas helped me be more sane and deal with the seperation of living away from an English speaking society! When you hear a foreign language all day and spend so much time confused- it's comforting to understand a TV show or movie online! Not to mention- it's a great tool to keep all your photos organized, especially if you don't have a large memory stick on your camera!!
Definately laptop. I'd be totally lost without it! Though it wasn't that easy to purchase mobile internet in China.. In Hebei where I am, it's pretty much unheard of! ;)
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