Week 9: Packing Tips

Now that I’ve gotten familiar with my set-up for the next 4 months, I wanted to share some packing tips for anyone studying in London, or anywhere really. I’ll probably do more of an all-around tips post later on, but I wanted to get this packing stuff down while it’s still on my mind. (Also I’ll admit I think this makes me feel better about some of the dumb packing choices I made that made lugging my 3 suitcases–1 of which was overweight–here more painful than it should be…haha)

Packing/Preparation Tips

• Do NOT bring appliances like hair dryers and straighteners. My roommate and I did not listen to this figuring that we had adapters and converters; my roommate’s hair dryer blew out completely even with the converter… Pro Tip/Exception: I am actually using my straightener here because I checked and my converter is compatible with my straightener’s wattage. My roommate’s hair dryer had a higher wattage, and I’m too scared to kill my own hair dryer forever since it doesn’t say on the appliance so always CHECK and you might be fine.
• NYU London’s SPEX club (Stern Political Economy Exchange) runs a rummage sale every semester (and SPEX is also present at a few other NYU global sites) and you can buy things for cheap like used hair dryers, straighteners, hangers (one of the biggest complaints was that our closets are too small and did not come with nearly enough hangers), laundry baskets, etc., and even used books. Pro Tip: do not buy hair dryers or straighteners at the rummage sale! They are much cheaper, not to mention new and including all the accessory parts, at a store called Argos. However, I did calculate the per hanger price here and it is worth it at the rummage sale. Also keep in mind that only so many additional hangers will fit in the tiny closets, and I think 5 hangers (sold together for £1 at the rummage sale) is the perfect amount.
• Check for your textbooks in the lounges of both Byron and Guilford since past residents usually leave them behind (and try do this before everyone else gets there!). Then check at the SPEX rummage sale. Definitely do not attempt to buy your books in the US before you come because even if you can’t find free books lying around I would say the book sale prices are still pretty reasonable. For custom textbooks you’re gonna have to decide if you want to chance it. Or ask someone who took the class here before.
  
• Bring a backpack and a lock for travel. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this, but now that I’m thinking of it you won’t have to.
• Minimize the toiletries you bring. I know this is common sense but I’ll tell you right now that the 2 most popular drugstores that you can find everywhere are Boots and Superdrug so you can even browse their websites and check to see if they have what you need, which chances are they will. Pro Tip: Superdrug tends to be cheaper, and both are in Brunswick, the nearest shopping center.
• If you are picky about your stationary bring your own. The paper size is different here (it’s difficult to find college/narrow-ruled paper), the holes are in different places (it’s a 4-hole punch), and thus the binders are also different. I wouldn’t really advocate bringing all that dead weight here when you can buy perfectly adequate substitutes, but just know that it’s useless to bring US-style binders without enough filler paper and vice versa.
• Consider shipping stuff here instead of going overweight on your luggage. You can have stuff arrive before you move in and NYU will accept it for you, unlike the policy in New York. However, keep in mind that you have to go to the academic centre to pick up packages, so if you have a lot of stuff you will need to factor in the cost of taking a cab or maybe bribing all of your friends to help you.
• Bring an umbrella! It promptly rained the first day I was here and I even brought an umbrella but just hadn’t thought about unpacking it yet.
• Check the weather and pack accordingly!!! The umbrella thing does technically fall into this and I knew it would rain a lot. But where I went wrong was packing too many summer clothes when it gets cold so much earlier here. Whoops…

Ok…will post more preparation tips that don’t have to do with packing next week. Stay tuned!