To take, or not to take, that is the question

[elijahbaley]

I am from India and will be moving to the USA (Maryland) for grad school this fall. I am agonizing over what things should I pack and what things should I buy when I reach there. I think there is no use taking stuff that I can easily get when I arrive there. What do the current students think? Also, what are some essential items that I should definitely pack?

[MathCat]

I'm not moving as far, just from Canada, but I'll still only be taking the things I can't easily replace, or that are very small. I will take all of my jewelry, a couple of smaller items that were gifts (like a small lamp), my computer, my textbooks, (some of) my clothes and shoes. I can fit all of these things into a couple of large suitcases (although I'll probably give the books to a friend to mail to me). If there's room in my suitcases, I may take some smaller household things that could easily be replaced, but that I can also easily just pack, e.g. I could take a travel mug because it's easy to just stuff some socks in it, and then it'll hardly take any extra room. We'll see how that goes when I'm actually packing.

 

In short, I'd only take essentials, things with sentimental value, small items, and things not easily/affordably replaced. You have to balance the cost of bringing it with the cost of replacing it.

[fuzzylogician]

I moved from overseas with one suitcase, and have had family bring over random things over the years when they visit. I mostly took clothes and shoes, some jewelry and personal effects, some photos to hang up, some random small kitchen things that were hard to come by (like spices from home and a kind of can opener that I haven't seen here), and some supply of basic medicines until I figured out how things work here. It's nice to have some personal items that are familiar to make yourself feel at home. For example, my parents brought me sheets from home, which was nice. I have pictures of family that I got frames for here, some random trinkets, that kind of stuff. Otherwise, it's easier to buy things here, especially furniture and anything else that is expensive and/or bulky. 

[Crucial BBQ]

Not sure what you should or should not bring but as far as any household items are concerned there is an Ikea down the street from U. Maryland.  Central Maryland and DC/DC suburbs are expensive, you probably won't find any place cheaper than Ikea, even for used.