Liebkuchen Posted March 2, 2011 at 05:27 PM Report Posted March 2, 2011 at 05:27 PM I know there are lists on the forum of what to take to China, and that most general western commodities are available, albeit at a price. But what about the little things that remind you of home/stop you going stir crazy? What did you take? Did it come in useful? Did you take anything that you later wished you hadn't because you never looked at it? I'm thinking of photos, a dvd or two and a favourite book, which doesn't seem much. With occasional supplies of homemade tablet (a Scottish confectionary that's almost 100% sugar)and women's magazines (subject to customs) being shipped in. I've got a favourite woollen blanket for my bed- but I'm wondering if it'll be a bit pointless climate wise in Chengdu. 1 Quote
roddy Posted March 3, 2011 at 12:16 AM Report Posted March 3, 2011 at 12:16 AM Be careful with the tablet - I find 95% of Chinese people I give it to screw their faces up and complain of sugar poisoning. The other 5% become instantly addicted and will never stop pestering you for more. Best to eat it all yourself. I'd say you want to have supplies for an inevitable cold winter's day when you've got a cold and feel homesick. A blanket and a favourite book will go a long way, but what about some sachets of a favourite hot drink - hot chocolate, a cup-a-soup, Lemsip? Also, minor medicines - decongestants, immodium, the lemsips. Not necessarily stuff you can't find here, but stuff that, when you need it, you are by definition not wanting to go out and buy. Quote
anonymoose Posted March 3, 2011 at 05:54 AM Report Posted March 3, 2011 at 05:54 AM What is tablet? Is that like haggis filled with sugar or something? Seriously though, if you like chocolate, bring that. Chinese cholocate tastes like soap, and whilst a limited selection of imports is available in some supermarkets, the price is about twice what you'd pay back home. 1 Quote
heifeng Posted March 3, 2011 at 06:02 AM Report Posted March 3, 2011 at 06:02 AM -A hand/egg/rotary beater was something that came in handy when I wanted to make my own random recipes and make sure to mix out all the lumps. Also, any seasoning packets for misc. foods since they didn't take up too much suitcase space worked well for me. Although I think I did bring back taco shells and macaroni and cheese once...must have been raiding some kitchen cabinets or something. Maybe since there is a discussion on chocolate, bring bakers chocolate....it could last longer and you could mix it into....virtually anything B) -Mini photo album or just a few wallet sized photos of family members. Some old black and white photos of my grandparents and pictures of my sister (a total ham in photos as a kid) made for nice ice breakers. -Things to occasionally pamper yourself especially when you are adjusting to your new enviroment and the weather. Things that I liked to bring included a hair highlighting kit and favorite cosmetics and toiletries...but perhaps this is falling under the 'western' products category though. Even so it can be difficult to find things that work well with your hair/skin, etc. -Things that YOU find funny. I had dvd's of the Chapelle show and watched that at night after a long day. Sometimes I needed some comedy that I actually thought was funny. My friends did the same thing and the humor was totally lost on me, but that's the thing about comedy, different strokes for different folks! Things that I brought which I never used: High heels! Mid heels...sure maybe a nice walkable wedge, but for the most part shoes over 1.5, or 2" collected dust and were used to swat mosquitos. Quote
nickpellatt Posted March 3, 2011 at 08:36 AM Report Posted March 3, 2011 at 08:36 AM I took a sleeping bag liner (of all things) on my last trip to China! It sounds odd, but it didnt take much luggage space and it was pretty warm to sleep inside during the cold winter, which I do think you are likely to experience in ChengDu. Mostly, I think practical things you might not find easily are the best things to pack! My number one piece of advice is to bring a plug extension/adaptor thingy. One that has extra plug sockets, you plug it into the wall (via an adaptor) and hey presto! You have four UK plug sockets for a laptop, mobile phone charger, camera, Ipod etc. A few sets of earplugs are another handy and practical addition to your luggage. Tesco Value roll on deodorants are always high on my list too! 39p each here, small, easy to pack and hard to replace in-country. I wouldnt bother with special chocolate or foody treats from home. I have found I suffer from jetlag and anything snacky that I bring will probably be consumed at 4am on my second day in China, and I feel its wasted then! Teabags are a good idea (if you are a teapot like me!). I have always found decent UK tea to be hard to find in China, and very expensive. 400 teabags are a 'must pack' for me. If you have, or want to invest in something...a Kindle or ebook reader sounds like a good bet and replaces heavy books. I dont bother with DVDs because pretty much anything can be bought in China, pirated and cheap. My final tip would be to leave other toiletries at home, all can be bought locally and cheaply, but do ensure you have the right footwear. I foolishly bought a cheap pair of trainers for my last 6 month visit to China, and they broke after 6 weeks. I was then unable to replace them as I couldnt buy my size anywhere and struggled wearing inappropriate footwear for the remainder of my stay. Quote
Lu Posted March 4, 2011 at 05:27 AM Report Posted March 4, 2011 at 05:27 AM There are some types of Dutch candy that I am very much addicted to, but when you know two bags have to last you for half a year, it takes some of the fun out of it. Pictures of your family, friends and home are nice. My mom made me a postcard-sized book with pictures of everybody. This time around I brought a few packs of sanitary towels. Somehow they don't have the wingless type here, really annoying. Quote
skylee Posted March 4, 2011 at 06:42 AM Report Posted March 4, 2011 at 06:42 AM Liebkuchen, it seems to me that each time you started a thread you had made some progress and moved a bit closer to your target (like, now you are thinking about what to bring when you leave). I find this inspiring. Quote
roddy Posted March 4, 2011 at 06:46 AM Report Posted March 4, 2011 at 06:46 AM Yeah, it's fun to watch. Hope you don't forget us after you've actually made it to China. Quote
889 Posted March 4, 2011 at 08:01 PM Report Posted March 4, 2011 at 08:01 PM Shoes in large sizes can be near-impossible to find, as can some fussy dental supplies, including fluoride mouthwash (which you may need, with all that candy you're bringing). Quote
Xiwang Posted March 5, 2011 at 08:29 AM Report Posted March 5, 2011 at 08:29 AM 1. Extra memory cards for your camera. I preferred buying them abroad for the peace of mind of knowing that I wasn't getting fakes that could result in me losing my pictures. 2. Dental floss, if you have a favorite kind since the selection in China may be limited. (Do Chinese generally floss? I've never been brave enough to ask.) 3. Non-prescription medications. Again, I'm paranoid about fakes. Also, I recall that Chinese aspirin may come in much smaller doses per pill. 4. Condoms. I recall Internet postings by Western males complaining that the sizes of the Chinese brands were . . . inappropriate. (I've never tried any Chinese ones and so sufficient lack knowledge to render a personal opinion.) 5. Sunscreen, if you have a favorite brand. So many of the sunscreens in China are mixed with chemicals to bleach your skin white. (I prefer not trying to change the color of my skin while fighting off skin cancer and wrinkles.) Quote
heifeng Posted March 5, 2011 at 06:40 PM Report Posted March 5, 2011 at 06:40 PM Put it this way if you are well endowed or plain ole' big in any way, plan ahead on the following items or prepare for some discomfort: Shoes Bras/panties Condoms* Then again, this will be all of the fun stuff you get to 'discover' while living abroad. On the other hand, if you are actually petite and/or have a slight build & small feet China will be like heaven and all the clothes and shoes will be calling your name! For example take bras above. I actually think bras in China are an awesome deal...2 bras for 15-20元 and the sales girls know how to work that tape measure to help you pick out the perfect size (as they often do w/ other clothing too)...wow! However, taking into account my more top heavy sistren, you could be more hard pressed to find correct sizing. Panties, jeans, etc are also a hit or miss. I list panties and bras though because ill fitting undergarments are truly uncomfortable & of course you can't try them on in the store before you buy 'em...if you chat up sales people and what not you may be able to exchange jeans and such though even in smaller stalls. *I would take what guys say with a grain of salt though b/c condoms can stretch. It's more worrisome if the condom is too big. China has "western brands" too and pharmacies everywhere that sell condoms but it may even be cheaper to just buy an economy pack in your home country on sale if you are truly worried about dimensions or quality. However on the other end of the spectrum, just as an FYI, if you do have an emergency, emergency contraception is also available over the counter in China at a reasonable price. In fact it's actually on of those items one could potentially want to stock up on before leaving... For feminine needs alot of these products (heck even facial tissue) are scented so you may need to check around if you need or prefer items fragrance free or if there is a particular type you like. Other than that I feel like there is still a reasonable selection. The brand 苏菲，for example, has many different types including unscented. http://www.sofyclub.cn/jz.html (go ahead, click the bunny). However I remember long ago in China (10 yrs ago) I was tramatized by my classmates constantly complaining (in cycles none-the-less) about local tampons not having applicators... Therefore I have never done my own personal 'research' on the different types of 卫生条 available in China and the whole applicator situation and just brought my own to avoid any such problems...but as always, if you have a special preference you may want to bring enough to hold you over for a while. One last thing~~ Since many public restrooms don't usually have hot water or soap I would usually bring mini antibacterial gel bottles that could hang on a key chain, purse zipper etc. Not to say such things aren't available in China. But they are in any dollar store in the states so I use to stock up.... As you can tell everyone is excited for you!! Quote
anonymoose Posted March 5, 2011 at 11:21 PM Report Posted March 5, 2011 at 11:21 PM *I would take what guys say with a grain of salt though b/c condoms can stretch. They can stretch, but you don't really want the blood to be squeezed back out when you need it. Anyway, if what girls say isn't to be taken with a grain of salt*, all this is superfluous. What you really should be advising the OP to take is a boyfriend. *See this thread Quote
heifeng Posted March 6, 2011 at 12:04 AM Report Posted March 6, 2011 at 12:04 AM Oh my, well someone remembers that old, infamous thread! Quote
skylee Posted March 6, 2011 at 01:37 AM Report Posted March 6, 2011 at 01:37 AM I list panties and bras though because ill fitting undergarments are truly uncomfortable & of course you can't try them on in the store before you buy 'em... You cannot try bras on before you buy them? :o Quote
heifeng Posted March 6, 2011 at 02:23 AM Report Posted March 6, 2011 at 02:23 AM Correction Below: Keep the following in mind for your pre-purchase clothing fitting options: Department, specialty stores, and mid-sized shops may have fitting rooms-so you can most likely try things on--including bras. Small shops may be equipped with a sheet to try things on behind and/or a friendly shop person with a tape measure. Street side stalls & the pedestrian bridges... eyeball it and try to measure & compare with the clothing that's on your back. Better? Quote
mr.stinky Posted March 6, 2011 at 01:41 PM Report Posted March 6, 2011 at 01:41 PM it's all here.... most shops carry fluoride toothpaste, just check the ingredients label. if you can't figure out the characters, just look for crest or colgate, then find the thingy with 0.014% on the label. carrefour and 好多又 both carry oral-B dental floss, and listerine. condoms come in three sizes: small, tiny, and minuscule. the diameter sizes are listed on the package, along with the flavours. ritter sport and toblerone is commonly available. i've found shoes up to size 17, although not much selection. check taobao. and the best part....you can try on bras and panties in some of the department stores. (not sure if it's absolutely essential that you be a girl either!) hahahah....so now you're wondering how many girls and/or boys tried on those panties you bought last week.... Quote
Liebkuchen Posted March 6, 2011 at 06:53 PM Author Report Posted March 6, 2011 at 06:53 PM Thanks everyone for your very helpful suggestions. I'm on the smaller size of average in the UK for shoes and clothing (a narrow size 5, 10/12 UK) so I'm presuming I'll be ok for clothing...thanks also for the info on bras and sanitary pads. It had crossed my mind but I didn't know quite how to ask :blink: Cheers for the support, Skylee and Roddy! At the moment, asking stuff on the forum feels about as much as I can do to prepare until I hear about the Scholarship I'd applied for which won't be until late June, early July (much like the CSC people, I suppose). All I can do is try to save money. If I don't get the scholarship, I'll continue to save/try and sell my art and go in February. I'm still bricking it at the thought of going, though! Quote
889 Posted March 7, 2011 at 12:04 AM Report Posted March 7, 2011 at 12:04 AM it's all here.... most shops carry fluoride toothpaste, just check the ingredients label. Yes, but I mentioned fluoride mouthwash, which I've never come across. You won't find it any 家乐福 I've been to. Quote
mr.stinky Posted March 7, 2011 at 04:35 AM Report Posted March 7, 2011 at 04:35 AM fluoride mouthwash can be found at 好又多 (and elsewheres) 250 ml bottle of 黑妹 brand is ~5 RMB. according to the ingredients label, it gots 氟化钠 (0.05%) bar code 6902226158135, manufacturers website http://www.huoliheimei.com/HM/Default.aspx?pageid=121 and the mouthwash page.... http://oralcare.masson.com.cn/ProductCenter/Default.aspx?pageid=145 Quote
889 Posted March 7, 2011 at 05:14 AM Report Posted March 7, 2011 at 05:14 AM That's interesting, but at 0.05 percent it's the weak 230ppm stuff. Do you where I can buy the strong 900 ppm fluoride mouthwash? Quote
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