Field Note Nº 001 · Moving
What I actually packed in my two suitcases (and what I regret)
When I left Surat, my packing strategy was simple: if it fits, it flies. Mummy wanted to send half the kitchen, I wanted to bring half my wardrobe, and somewhere in between we filled two suitcases with a mix of genius and complete nonsense. A few years in Australia later, here's my honest list — what earned its place, and what I'd leave behind if I did it again.
01. The things I'm SO glad I packed
- A proper pressure cooker. Laugh all you want. The day I made dal in my first share house, I became the most popular person in it. You can buy one here, but it'll cost you three to four times more.
- Masala box, fully loaded. Indian stores exist in every Australian city, but that first month — before you know where anything is — your own jeera and garam masala feel like home in a dabba.
- Medicines you actually use (with the prescription!). Basic things like your usual cold and fever tablets. Customs is strict, so declare everything and carry the doctor's letter. Declare, declare, declare — ticking that box costs you nothing; hiding something can cost you a lot.
- Photos and one small thing from home. Mine is a keychain from my father. Zero kilograms, infinite value on the hard days.
- Documents, printed AND scanned. Degree, transcripts, birth certificate, licence, everything. Cloud copies too. Australia will ask for paper you didn't know existed.
02. The things that just took up space
- Too many formal clothes. I brought blazers thinking "professional country." Bhai, my manager wears shorts to work in summer. Aussie workplaces are far more casual than we imagine.
- Bedsheets and towels. Kmart and Big W sell them cheap. That suitcase space was worth more than the ₹800 I saved.
- Five kilos of snacks. I get it, emotional support khakhra. But Indian grocery stores here stock everything — at a markup, yes, but they exist.
- A heavy winter jacket (for most cities). Unless you're heading somewhere properly cold, a layered hoodie plus one decent jacket bought here does the job. Adelaide winter is more "annoying wind" than "snowfall".
03. What nobody told me
The most important things I carried weren't in the suitcase. Screenshots of my accommodation booking for immigration. A working international roaming plan for the first 48 hours. Some Australian dollars in cash — small notes — because my card decided to have a mood at the airport. And patience, because the first week is a paperwork marathon: bank account, tax file number, SIM, transport card.
This is my personal experience, not migration or customs advice — always check the official Australian Border Force rules for what you can bring, because they change.
see you in the next note — Anand ✈