WHAT TO BRING
Teaching Materials and Sharing Culture
These are suggestions only! (Please check with Danielle and your teaching supervisor first to see what we already have in our resource center.)
• Examples of your currency to use in class
• Actual bus tickets, movie tickets, menus, shopping receipts, brochures, etc… for use in class.
• Actual forms from your country such as to open a bank account, fill out hotel registration, airport visa forms, etc.
• Menus, bus schedules, travel brochures, maps, etc.
• Artifacts: such as traditional toys, traditional clothing, textile art (weaving, batiks, etc). FLTAs usually do a number of cultural activities and having some of artifacts is a wonderful way to engage audiences of all ages.
• Music and/or traditional instruments
• We usually do not need any books or workbooks–FLTAs have brought these for years, so we usually have some you can use here.
• Lots and lots of small, light, inexpensive souvenirs that represent your country to give to various people.
Personal
This is a harder list for me to create for you, but here are some suggestions to consider.
Remember
that most things can be bought here or found to use on campus (eg.,
There are pianos in many dorms and in the music school). As you are
packing, think about what you can NOT get here, or what is expensive
here–those are things you should bring. If you have a question about a
specific item, let me know, and I’ll find out if it’s available here and
the approximate cost.
• Money—as Fulbright told you, the stipend will probably not
cover trips you might want to take, or souvenirs you might want to buy.
Having cash and/or an international credit card will help, especially
in the beginning days as you transition to setting up a bank account and
getting your first stipend. Current FLTAs suggest that $200-$300 should
be enough to get started here, but make sure you have some small bills
(many places won’t accept a $100 bill, but will accept a $50.00, or
$20.00 bill).
• Medical records, prescriptions in English with the scientific name, not brand name.
• A list of all of your allergies.
•A LAN cable to hook your laptop up in your dorm room in Owen. (Wifi in the rooms isn’t good, but the cable is perfect. You can also buy them here, but maybe not for a couple of days.)
An extra pair of glasses or set of contact lenses.
• Umbrella! You can buy one here, but you will probably need it the first week.
• Pictures/videos of family and friends—very important!
• Laptop/tablet (If you have one. If not, there are many computer labs on campus.)
• Don’t panic too much about clothes–you can find clothes here at all price ranges, so sometimes it’s better to wait until you’re here. (Winter clothes/coats/boots are going to be cheaper here than in many of your countries, AND you won’t have to pack them.)
• Clothes. For everyday teaching, I think we could be described as “business casual.” There will also be some social events for which dressier, more formal clothes would be appropriate. Don’t forget different activity clothes too—swimming, hiking, biking, sports, etc. Remember though, you can find clothes here too.
• Instruments, sports equipment, hobby materials, etc. if practical. (Obviously you can’t bring a piano, but maybe you could bring a violin.)
• Adapters for electronic equipment. The only thing you can find here are adapters for US citizens to go overseas, but it is very hard to find adapters for your plugs to fit our plugs.
• USB drives –the current FLTAs say they are much more expensive here than in your country.