Packing for an overseas move
No one would ever confuse me for a fashionista, or even someone with the slightest fashion sense. I might be the least adventurous, cost-conscious shopper I know. So there’s the disclaimer. Now on to the advice …
DITCH YOUR CLOTHES. STOCK YOUR KITCHEN.
As part of our move, we were lucky enough to get company-sponsored shipping. We could fill a small air shipment of things we’d need right away, and a very large sea shipment with our furniture and things we wouldn’t miss too much. The air shipment was supposed to take two to three weeks to arrive (it ended up being five), and the sea shipment can take anywhere from three to eight months. We’ll see it when we see it.
So what about clothes? We each packed suitcases to fly over with, and I put most of my clothes in the air shipment. Also in the air shipment: our everyday dishes, our bath towels, some household basics (e.g., yoga mat, screwdriver, kitchen towels).
Unpacking the air shipment was like the most disappointing Christmas morning ever. Oh boy, here are all these clothes I already forgot I owned, but what about the cheese grater we could use every.other.freaking.day? Did I pack ANOTHER hoodie? Why do I have so many hoodies? And why didn’t I think to put our beloved cocktail shaker into the “urgent” pile?
Furniture claimed by the dog, whose favorite bed is in the long-awaited sea shipment.
If Doc Brown showed up in the time machine right now, I would first prioritize averting terrible tragedies and unraveling world crises, and THEN I would:
New tea kettle and teabag collection, bringing me much joy
Put way more kitchen stuff in the air shipment. Those items are expensive to temporarily replace (ahem, Le Creuset). Even if you’re willing to fork over the €€€ to buy new, you can’t count on being able to find the same ergonomic vegetable peeler you loved in the States.
Same with pet supplies. Our dog had a specific collar that worked well for her, and I should have had that thing in my carry-on. Pet stores here are great, but they can’t stock the selection we’re used to in American big-box outlets. This is especially true if you have an XL dog. Our Great Dane has taken over a chair in the living room because they don’t have beds here in her size.
Get rid of most of your clothes. One, you won’t have space to store them in a Euro closet. Two, you’ll want to buy new things that match the weather and style of your new home.
But do pack hangers. We had to buy all new hangers, which will be sadly hilarious when our sea shipment arrives with 200 of them.
Stock up on over-the-counter medications you like. The healthcare culture here deserves its own essay, but just know that Nyquil is non-existent. BYO drugs.
Somehow we managed to get a couple of things right:
Buy more adapters than you think you’ll need. Because you WILL need them for cell phones, laptops, Bluetooth speakers, etc.
Sell or give away most things that plug in. Most U.S. small appliances aren’t rated for the Euro voltage, and even if they do work here, you don’t want to live permanently off all those adapters you purchased. Say goodbye to your iron and your reading lamp and your blender (and the potential of melting the outlets in your apartment). We bought ourselves a fancy Smeg toaster and a Fellow tea kettle as housewarming gifts, and our old kitchen appliances are now just distant memories.
Happy packing!