itsartipatel

Packing all your things into 2-3 suitcases and moving to a different country is not an easy job. It’s not just about the clothes and specific items that you’ll be bringing with you but also about the change in perspective that is needed. I knew that moving to Barbados was not going to be easy, but I also did not realize how difficult it would be to adjust to the lifestyle over there. It did take some time to get accommodated with these changes but once I was all settled in, it felt a little more like home to me. I’m not going to go through each and every detail on what was different or similar to my life back at home. But, I do want to mention a few things that could be helpful to others. 

[Tip #1: do not bring your entire closet from home with you]

As straightforward as this sounds, we often over-pack thinking that we will be wearing all types of clothing. But as the days goes by, you will notice that you aren’t even touching all those extra clothes you thought you’d be wearing. Yes, there will be days when you go out and want to look nice but there is no need for 10 different pairs of shoes or 20 different dresses. You can definitely use that extra space in your suitcase for items that are much more needed. On that note though, do pack some sweats and a hoodie if you are a RUSM student. It does tend to get chilly on campus. 

[Tip #2: adapt to your surroundings]

The lifestyle on Caribbean islands is much different than being in the states. When I first moved to Barbados, I would get frustrated when something was not available or going the way I needed it to. I soon realized that I cannot have the same expectations as back at home. We have to learn how to adapt to our surroundings instead of hoping that the natives will change for us. For example, not all grocery stores give out plastic bags and others will charge per bag. It’s important to remember to bring a reusable bag with you when grocery shopping. I’ll be honest, I would forget every single time for the first few weeks when I was there. But you catch on to the small changes and turn them into a habit. Transportation was the one thing that always got to me. Not having a car made it difficult if plans were changed last minute or if I had to rush to campus for something. But I worked around my schedule and figured it out because I knew the shuttles from school were my only option. There are so many different things I could talk about that I had to adapt to but that’s not needed. The key point is to just keep an open mind. Having the mindset that you’ll only be able to live with the lifestyle you have had back at home will only make things worse. Believe me when I say adaptation is key. It will transform you into a person who is more resilient and open to change in life. 

[Tip #3: plan your shopping trips ahead of time]

As I mentioned before, not all students will be renting out cars on the island. Majority still use the school shuttles to get to and from campus. Although there is a grocery store in the housing community, a shuttle is provided to a larger grocery store a bit farther away on the weekends. These shuttles are scheduled and it’s important to know that there is limited seating capacity and if you have to go, plan accordingly. Don’t get there 1 minute before the shuttle departs, hoping you’ll have a seat available. And make a list for everything you’ll need until your next trip. Because you will not have a 24-hour Walmart available at your service in case your forgot something. Timing is everything when you get to the island and it will help you in the long run. 

[Tip #4: insect repellent will be your best friend]

No, I am not exaggerating when I say this. My biggest fear was seeing a centipede in my room or bathroom whenever I walked into it. Luckily, I never saw any, but my roommates did come across them in the bathrooms. The extreme heat and rain brings these creepy crawlies right out and it comes in handy to have some type of spray on you. Mosquito repellent is also a great pack if you’re more of an outdoor person. It’s also important to keep your home and kitchen area super clean with no food being left outside or in open containers. 

[Tip #5: always keep cash on you as backup]

Even if you’re not someone who is a fan of using cash (like me), it’s a good idea to keep a small amount on you at all times. Although there are plenty of travel credit cards available, there are times when the transaction is rejected due to the change in location. And if you’re anything like me, you might just panic a little when you are buying groceries and have your card get rejected. The extra cash will come into use one day or another. 

[Packing essentials]

• Passport: it’s pretty obvious that you won’t be able to go past the airport without this but make sure the expiration date is not within your entire stay on island. You can get it renewed on breaks between semesters, but it might be stressful if your passport does not get renewed on time to fly back. 
• Driver’s License: this will be needed for those who plan to buy or rent a car. 
• Laptop
• iPad: I know these are expensive and many people prefer to use paper and pen, which is completely okay. But, it’s important to remember that you will be traveling back and forth, and those papers do add up. The iPad is extremely useful for taking notes, watching lectures, reading textbooks, etc. As someone who prefers to take handwritten notes, the iPad with the Apple pencil was a worthwhile investment, and I still continue to use it till this day and plan on using it in the future. 
• Phone: I know we don’t go anywhere without our phones anymore but keep in mind that you might be going to the beaches more often and it might be a good idea to bring a backup in case you lose your phone or if its damaged in any way.
• Chargers: it’s always great to have backup phone chargers and multiples so that you don’t have to remember to take it with you whenever you leave home.
• Headphones: there will be plenty of times when you’re trying to study with a bunch of noises around you. Noise cancelling headphones will be your best bud during these times. 
• Textbooks: although the iPad is best for majority of textbooks, I do like to use a hardcopy for First Aid For The USMLE Step 1 and I’m sure many other students would agree on that.
• Stationary/Pens: this is definitely a personal preference depending on if you’re okay with one or two basic pens or if you need an abundant amount of multicolored pens (me). 
• Clinical Skills Equipment: RUSM has a list on what students will need for the clinical skills component for each semester. I brought these onto the island with me and left them in my room until my final move back home. They are heavy so keep this in mind when packing.
• Bedding: these take up a lot of space when packing and it might be a good idea to buy it off the island if you don’t have enough room left. Luckily, I was able to fit 2 pillows and a small comforter into my suitcases, but larger sizes might be difficult to pack.
• Clothing:
  • T-shirts, tanks, shorts, etc.:  it will always feel hot outside no matter what month it isHoodie/sweatshirt: as I mentioned earlier, a hoodie is usually needed when on campus (it is always freezing unless the A/C breaks). Scrubs for anatomy labs and clinical skills. Professional attireWhite coatSwimsuit
  • Shoes
• Makeup, hairstyling tools
• Bath products
  • Drug store brand products are available at the local stores, but it will be difficulty to find other brands outside of that
  • It’s easy to find majority of bath products but since I always had enough space in my bags after each break, I would bring everything with me from home so that it’s less stressful when I got to the island.
• Extras
  • Water bottle
  • Travel mug (for coffee of course)
  • Umbrella
  • Toilet paper (will come in handy for the first day or two when you’re still settling in)
  • Flashlight (these come in handy when the power goes out!)
  • Battery pack (also useful during power outages)

*These are all the things that I could think of in the moment but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!*