Pegasus Solutions

0866 - 6615223, Cell 98484 98664, 9885000055 & 9885757000

Shopping Check List
Note: 1. Everything listed here is just for information purposes. 2. There is no such thing as "authentic" information here. The articles listed here may or may not be of help to you. It is up to the user to deci de what to do and what not to do. 3. We sincerely hope this list comes handy to all the new students. Books : (Very important, thi s is where you will save money) Get in touch with your advisor and get a list of text books. Also, get some good general reference books [Also read the books section of this website for some more information]. Optionally, you might want to get dictionary, calculator, cookbooks, recipes from mother etc. Clothes :

T-shirts and shorts (very common in the warmer areas and even in cold areas in spring and summer) Full sleeve shirts (not too much in vogue except in formal occasions) 1/2 sleeved shirts (Make sure that most of the shirts are of the type that do not require ironing.) 2 sweaters (one full and one half, DO NOT buy a winter jacket or overcoat, it is better bought here!) Track-suit (if you are the sports-enthusiast kind) Suit and ties (suit not absolutely necessary, you can do without one). Suits would not be worn till you have your first job interview or major presentation, often around a year or more lately. Most people buy this when they visit home the first time, which usually occurs earlier than their first need for a suit. Even otherwise, suits are not a must for interviews and unless you have one we suggest that you don't buy one. Please note that even a sidey suit here costs $100. A good one would be for approx. $ 150 - 200 Traditional wear is a matter of choice, though it is hardly required. Guys might want to get a pair of kurta-pajamas. Ladies probably might want to get a few salwar-suits, a couple of saris and/or any other traditional apparel. Some jeans (These are the ones that u would most commonly use) 2-3 formal trousers (Used rarely) Belts (one formal leather belt and the others as you please) Turkish towels and napkins Laundry is usually done every two weeks though some with enthusiasm do it every week and some do it even less frequently. So get enough undergarments, socks, shirts/Tees, jeans etc. to last you 2-3 weeks. The more undergarments and socks you get, the better. Please do not try to get any stud winter clothing from India. It will be useless and a waste of money. They can be best bought here for approx. $50. This may sound expensive but believe us, it is worth the money!

Footwear :

Sneakers (they are used a lot.). Good formal leather shoes (Not used frequently, but are much cheaper in India) Chappals / sandals .(Again depends on what you feel comfortable in) socks

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Linen :

1-2 single bed sized bed sheet .(The beds here are usually larger than the beds back home, and the bed sheets and bedspreads that you get from home fit very poorly. Its better to buy these items here.) 1 pillow, blanket ( These can be left if space/weight is a consideration.) They are quite cheap here.

Cosmeti cs :

Shaving blades (get a good stock) Brush and toothpastes Soap (get a couple of bars of bathing soap till you go for your first groceries here) Combs and hair oil Small mirror (just in case) Nail cutter Small scissors Safety pin bunch Mini-sewing kit with some buttons

Medicines :

2 pairs of extra spectacles. (Excessively expensive here) Ask your family doctor for a list of Medicines to carry along when you come here. Complete important check-ups and vaccinations like MMR, Hepatitis B, TB, Chest X-ray, Eyes, Dental etc.. Complete the health documentation that you may have to submit when you arrive here. [See the Medical Section on this website for information about these]

Utensi ls :

Almost all the students cook in their apartments. So you will need all the basic stuff needed for cooking. A large (for 3-4 people) pressure cooker with spare gaskets and safety valves is probably the most important kitchen item you can get. A 3 liter one should be sufficient but you might want to consider a larger size. A few steel or non-stick vessels to cook vegetables in. There is a lot of non-stick cookware available here but its expensive. Dinner plates, small plates, bowls, spoons, tumblers, knives, forks (1 or 2 of each) Cooking tongs / Serving Spoons Ladles for serving, sauce pan, frying pan, strainer. Cutting board ( Plastic or wooden)

Food Items:

Get tea/coffee if you are a regular drinker [until you shift to Beer :-)] Get a couple of bags each of haldi, red chilly powder, garam masala, dhania powder, pickle bottles (preferably sealed ones), pav bhaji masala, biryani masala etc..Etc... Bring approx 1 month supply of masalas. Masalas are also available in the Indian Stores here. Some quantity of rice, dal, pulses etc. that you plan to cook so that you don't have to run to the Indian stores on the very first day.

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Make sure that you carry some change with you (a few quarters and dimes (i.e.10 cents) will do), so that you would be able to call somebody, after your arrival in the US. A typical nationwide long distance call costs a little under a dollar

for a minute from one of the pay-phones in the airports. If you wanted to make a local call it would cost you 35 cents and so have this change with you just incase.

For off-campus housing you'll be required to pay an initial deposit (one month's rent) and first months rent in advance. Rent might vary from $200-$400 per month. You might have to pay first quarters Health Insurance (approx. $150) before you get the first pay check. So bring this from India. Plus there will be initial expenses in settling down during the first month. All this can add up to around $1200 or more (to be on the safe side). Traveler's cheques and personal drafts are easy to use and should pose no problem at all.

Mi scellaneous :

Get a driving license and an IDP (International Driving Permit) Some kind of Insurance from India might be helpful for the first 15 days till you get enrolled in the Health insurance plan here. [ not required ] Get at least $800 if you get paid within one month of arriving and at least $1500 if you get paid after a month and a half of arrival. Get your application material if you wish to reactivate your applications at a better place for the following quarter/year Get few sets of transcripts in case you apply all over again for a PhD. B.E./ B.Tech. Degree Certificate (laminate it in thin plastic if possible ) Get 2-3 passport-size snaps Get an address/phone diary with all important contacts Have a sets of copies of visa, passport and I-20 in each piece of luggage. Get a small umbrella as it rains quite frequently here. If you are getting a camera have it endorsed on your passport. [Cameras are not expensive, you can always purchase one here] Have an RBI permit ready for the dollars you are carrying with you. All your Hindi/other audio and Video cassettes, VCDs and DVDs. Get a good leather purse that has several sections of 'visiting card' size. You'll need those for the bunch of credit cards/key cards/id s etc you'll accumulate in no time here. You will definitely have 5-6 different cards in your wallet at all times Carry medical prescription for all medicines you bring. If you have glasses, get a thorough eye-check-up and get 2 extra pairs of glasses. Good spectacles can cost anything up to $100. Keep passport, visa and i-20 and other admission documents in the handbag you'll carry on your shoulders all the time. Confirm your ticket a couple of days prior to the flight directly through the airlines you are flying no matter how reputed your travel agent is. Let me repeat this, get a driver's license and an IDP. Learn good driving. This is very important. You cannot live in the U.S. unless you can drive and you have a driving license. [You can learn driving here provided someone has a car that you can use and provided someone is ready to teach you driving] Things you should not get: Clothes hangers (you might get a couple for starters, but they are of a different size here), electrical appliances, blank note books etc. Get all kinds of first aid medicines, with prescriptions. (actually, we never get to use them, but its good to have them around.) Remember it is 110 volts AC here. So electric appliances will not work here. GIVE power of attorney to your father, make all bank accounts JOINT. Opening an NRI account might be a good idea if you want to transfer money to India (Though not necessary)

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Things To Be Done In Advance :

Certain things have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as you get your aid - much before the flight. Apply for VISA. Finish Emigration / Income Tax clearance. Bump any jobs you may have got. Send your acceptance letter by three modes - FAX, phone, letter and maybe e-mail. Block air tickets Learn typing Learn driving Learn to cook Apply for bank loan (if necessary) Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20 Get medical checkup done (Hepatitis B normally takes 6 months for 3 doses) Get cassettes recorded which you may like to take with you. Contact the ISO giving your flight #, time & date of arrival; we will pick you up & give temporary accommodation if necessary.

After landing in the US :

Once you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration counter - rush for them to beat the queue. It might take 1 to 2 hours here. Keep your I-20, passport, admission & aid letters ready. They might ask a few questions like - is this your first time in the US ? Student ? F-1 visa ? Which Univ.? They will attach an I-94 card to your visa. Preserve this I94. Go to the baggage are to fetch your luggage. Pick up a cart (you get this at a machine for $1) to carry the bags. Then pick up your bags as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eye-catching labels help here). If you don't get your baggage inform the inquiry section - you may have to wait 0.5-1 hour here. Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked tell them that you are a student, F-1 visa, school, dept., coming to US for the first time. If asked to open the baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place. If asked about the "podi"s tells them that they are "dried Indian spices" to make traditional Indian food like curry. Rarely might they ask you to go to the agris. Dept. - that is a pain. If asked about "vibuthi" tell them that it is holy Hindu powder used for prayer. Note: In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply waved through. Now go & wait at the nearest exit for the guys who are supposed to pick you up. If nobody turns up after some time (say 0.5 hour) make a call / collect call (at the public phone dial a '0', get the operator & ask for a collect call) to the ISO member in charge or any friends here, OR Go & ask for an announcement to be made over the PA system, OR Get a card, write your name & hold it up. Never leave your baggage unattended. Don't go out of the airport until somebody comes & picks you up. If you have doubts about the guy who comes to pick you up, don't hesitate to ask for his ID. [All this is of course being a little extra cautious] Once you reach your friend's house (or other destination) call home & inform them of reaching safely. A few things of importance in after (arrival) life Your first work is to meet the Office of International Affairs. They keep a record of you (passport, visa details etc). When you leave the US (temporarily or permanently) you have to go there again. Then get your University ID card (I-Card). But one would get the University I-card, only when registered for classes. Complete tax forms etc - some paperwork in the dept.- Meet the HOD/graduate Student advisor/advisor - register for classes. All further information will be given through the Office of International Affairs through their orientation programmes.

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