Moving to China has been one of the most amazing and difficult experiences that I have ever had. This was the first time for me to move further than a days drive let alone overseas. I had no idea what to pack. Even though I had time to get rid of all of my belongings time would fly so quickly. Needless to say, I still have many of my things stored in my parents garage (sorry Mom and Dad).
I was ill prepared for the move, and I flat out did not know what to expect. I had also been under the mind-frame of always be prepared for so long that I wanted to be prepared for any scenario. So this hoarder had to learn how to let go of the unnecessary. I still struggle with that, but I can tell you packing your life into 7 (yes I said 7) bags really shows you what you wont miss, and in some cases will miss.
I packed 7 bags to move, yes I know most people do it in less. I have a list of things that I brought with me that I wish I had not. So let’s talk about what I wish I did not pack.
1) I packed towels, blankets, and sheets. The school I work for provided me with the basics when I got there. I really did not need to pack these things with me. Even though I do use my extra soft blanket on my couch regularly, and my over sized towels, I could have purchased them in China for far less than 1 checked bag. I packed them because I was unsure of when I would be receiving these items (I knew they were being provided by the school).
2) Extras. I packed so many extra tissue packets, ear swabs, and feminine hygiene products that I could have gotten when I landed. Although I can say with the last item listed at this moment I have not found a product in China that I liked using. Just switch to reusables, you’ll thank me later. This was extra space that I really did not need to have filled and again far cheaper to purchase in China than paying for a checked bag.
3) Camping/hiking gear. I LOVE to hike and camp so I brought my gear. I have not used any of it… well I have let people barrow my bag and that is pretty much it. I had all of these grand ideas that I would be able to hike and camp all the time, but I am doing good to even explore the country. I plan on bring it all home next time I go, or have my parents bring it home when they visit. Another bag and money waisted.
4) Too many clothes. This is a double edge sword if you will. For a woman with a more curvy body it is very difficult to find clothing that fits in Asia. It is easy to have clothing made, which I have done. However, there is a thing called too many clothes. I thought I had done a great job at slimming down my wardrobe but alas, even with the slimming down of clothing and shoes I still had several bags dedicated to them. It did not help that I had planned to go to places that were cold for the holidays. I had to also pack my winter gear, and this took up additional space.
What did I learn from the moving experience? I learned that it is better to pack lighter and pick things up where you are moving to. I also learned the value of not always packing for just incase. It is nice to just live with what you need. I have only had a handful of experiences where I thought to myself I really wish I had that one item I had back home. I kept track of what that was and how many times I thought that, looked for substitute options in China, and if I could not find a replacement in China I got them when I went home to visit.