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| My first trip over... again | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 13 2008, 06:16:29 AM (554 Views) | |
| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 06:16:29 AM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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I'm thinking it might be a good idea to pack up some boxes and ship them over before I fly over with the clothing I'll need while there. That way I can manage with a carryon bag and my laptop bag, I believe. I'm planning on getting those travel Space Bags for both, since the clothes I want to send will be winter stuff, including a jacket I got while working for MSNBC and never got to wear cause it's too heavy to wear in Phoenix! If I wear any jacket here, it's my beloved beat up denim one
 Anyways, has anyone else done it that way for a long visit, the sending over of clothes to make a lighter flight? Forgot something else I meant to ask. I am a terrified flier at the best of times, and my doctor usually gives me sedatives (I am *so* going to miss that man!), but I don't think I want to do that on an international flight, at least not when the short hops are on. Anyone have any suggestions for me on that?  |
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| tukkerlove | Mar 13 2008, 09:02:01 AM Post #2 |
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Chinwagger
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Are you planning on shipping your clothes by boat? You might just want to see what the shipping company has to say about those Space Bags- we were told by the removalists here that we couldn't use those because a lot of times they tend to 'inflate' again over time, and sometimes can bust open the boxes they are in. Even if you were flying them I'd check, not sure how they'd go with the changes in pressure. You get free alcohol on international flights. That's always calming.
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| American in Australia- Moving back to the USA 23 April 2007!! | |
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| SuperMindy | Mar 13 2008, 09:11:10 AM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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I used space bags on my flight and they worked fine.. Not sure about shipping because as ^^^ she said they could bust open. how long are you planning to stay for? The only thing i'm worried about for you is this is your first meeting with him and how do you know for sure that you both are going to feel the same way about each other.. So having to ship all this stuff over will make it that much difficult if you have to come back to the states. |
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Maine to Sydney since August 1st 2007 SuperMindy***Blog  | |
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| Angie | Mar 13 2008, 10:37:46 AM Post #4 |
True Blue Mate
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I looked into doing this after a few trips back and forth and actually deciding to make the move, however shipping is VERY expensive and time consuming as opposed to taking luggage on the flight. Your boxes could get held up in customs if they are back logged. I had a girl friend ship things like clothing from Ireland to Australia and it got stuck in customs for 6 months. My mom also sent me a coffee pot that got held up for 8 months. It is also cheaper to pay for the extra luggage rather than shipping. I paid $115 for an extra suitcase after checking with the post office and UPS and being told it would cost me nearly $300 to ship anything for that exact same weight and size. I travel with 3 HUGE suitcases, a backpack, a purse, and my laptop. It's a total pain in the A$$ but well worth it considering the cost and time shipping boxes can be. My first trip over I only brought 2 suitcases and stayed for 3 months and that was plenty of stuff for the entire stay. And trust me I don't travel light... in those 2 suitcases were 13 pairs of shoes, 6 purses, and HEAPS of clothing! Personally I think you are jumping the gun a bit and putting WAY to much into your first trip over. Come here, meet the guy, decide if you even like him in person, see if you like Australia as a place to live, then look into the proper visa and figure out shipping all of your stuff. I don't know if this makes a difference or not but I would have to wonder what Australia customs would think if a tourist came through with NO luggage. Maybe nothing, but it's something to think about. |
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| shylady | Mar 13 2008, 11:00:07 AM Post #5 |
oldYank
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You're right, Angie, it's one of those things that attracts their attention! Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| minx | Mar 13 2008, 12:29:37 PM Post #6 |
True Blue Mate
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Yeah, they even gave me a hard time when I LEFT Aus with just a carryon. I actually had shipped some things ahead (before I learned to pack light :goodonya: ). It's not worth it, just check a bag. |
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| Jaffas | Mar 13 2008, 02:39:34 PM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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I went to the USA with the smallest suitcase I could find. That was it! I'd never met Marty before, I was only planning on staying for 3 months max, but I was prepared to leave at a moments notice just in case. There are downsides to that, of course!! Meeting, falling in love, and staying there for 11 months WITHOUT much in the way of clothing did make things difficult. Especially when winter came 'round. I had my Mum ship over my favourite boots, and I brought a new pair of jeans there, and a set of thermal underwear for the winter!! Other than that, I just wore all Marty's clothes! Crazy, but true. |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria  See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 04:58:48 PM Post #8 |
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True Blue Mate
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It was just a thought on the clothes shipping
I'm planning three months with the ETA. I suppose my mother can ship more over fedex if necessary
Free alcohol would be good if I drank! I'm diabetic, tend to avoid the stuff *grin* I know it sounds odd to a lot of people, but we have known each other five years, we've talked on the phone, we see each other on the webcams every day, and we're both sure. This visit is to satisfy the "have you met in person" part of the fiancee visa. I'll happily marry him on the ETA if we decide we want to, do the bridging visa, and do whatever we have to to stay together. |
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| pastrycook-136 | Mar 13 2008, 05:32:19 PM Post #9 |
True Blue Mate
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I traveled light to Australia on both of my trips. I was questioned on my first trip because the customes agent thought I did not have enough cloths for a month long trip. I told him that I travel light and planned to wash my cloths in Australia as I believed that Australia had washing machines or something to that effect. Apparently if you travel without much clothing you fit the profile of a drug smuggler who might only stay a short time and not pack much. |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 05:38:46 PM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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Ouch. I never throught of the drug smuggling thing. I am generally a light packer, but in this case I'm going from July in Maryland to July in Kalgoorlie and I'm expecting a climate change Plus on this long a trip, I'm putting dvds and cds in with my laptop for my own entertainment, as well as carrying my meds, changes of clothing, my jewelry (I'm a nut about my Celtic earrings, bracelets, pendants and so on), and my Nintendo DS for added "If I focus I won't be scared" thing. Oh, and a few books. Did I say I pack light? LOL!My only motive in wanting to travel light is that I walk with a cane (it's actually mostly for my own security these days, I feel as if I'll fall over sometimes), and it worries me about those flights where I'll change planes. I've had luggage lost before, and it would be a *nightmare* not to have enough clothes there, especially if the price of them is bad as I've read *sighs* |
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| Jaffas | Mar 13 2008, 05:47:02 PM Post #11 |
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True Blue Mate
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5 years is a long time!!! I knew Marty for about 4 months. :mrgreen: hahaha. I had 1 photo, and I'd never even heard his voice (he's shy). We were mostly sure that we weren't both axe-murderers or anything.. mostly. Seriously though, its a very different relationship, meeting online. So much talking, so much honesty.. you get to know someone on a whole different level to having only met in person. When we finally did meet in person, it wasn't like walking upto a stranger in an airport. It was much much better than that!! (well, it would have been even better if I wasn't dead-on-my-feet tired and jetlagged, but hey!)Deciding to stay, getting married, all that, was never a question I would have said no to. He was everything I hoped for and more!! :lurve: I hope it all turns out that well for you, too. :eggplant: |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 06:11:42 PM Post #12 |
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True Blue Mate
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T'anks
I *love* Dash's voice. We even have sent each other .wav files and have each saved messages from the other on our cells just so we can hear each other whenever we want
I have also spoken to Mum and Dad on the phone, and his older niece has seen me on the webcam and in WoW. She's a pistol that one! I love that I'll have two more nieces to spoil, hopefully my Hannah will love them too, she and Ravana are close in age. My older nephew tends to get possesive over his "Aunt Pommm" as he's called me since he was little *smiles* He even shut the other two out of the room when I was home for Christmas year before last, just to get *his* time with me! I think he'll be ok, though, specially since we'll have the webcam and phone calls, and he knows what it is to be halfway round the world. My sis and her hubby and the two boys have lived in Belgium and other places, so they both understand the distance thing All three kids "met" Jason on the webcam then too, so they have an idea who he is |
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| dave2006 | Mar 13 2008, 07:28:46 PM Post #13 |
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True Blue Mate
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lol never heard his voice until u met in person? wow, that *is* shy, hopefully he had something to say to you after u traveled all that way :mrgreen: |
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| Jaffas | Mar 13 2008, 08:01:44 PM Post #14 |
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True Blue Mate
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Yeah, he said he wanted a kiss.
ooh, and pretty much the first thing he said to me was that I was beautiful! aww.. I'd be blushing, but he kinda sounded surprised.. :headscratch: I think it was the "this is all too good to be true" thing right up till I got there. :rollin: |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| minx | Mar 13 2008, 08:03:32 PM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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AWWWWW!!! :lurve: |
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| Jaffas | Mar 13 2008, 08:04:15 PM Post #16 |
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True Blue Mate
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Now I *am* blushing! :# |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 08:18:40 PM Post #17 |
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True Blue Mate
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*grins* Dash says the moment I'm through customs, he's taking me into his arms and not letting go. And you know what? I'm gonna be doing the same to him!
...we'll have to get his brother there to take a photo |
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| Jaffas | Mar 13 2008, 08:34:36 PM Post #18 |
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True Blue Mate
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So sweet! :lurve: |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Dashael | Mar 13 2008, 08:40:21 PM Post #19 |
Yacker
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*grins* You make me sound so romantic precious. I think our friends here might be right about not shipping extra things, we'll have Nathan (my brother) with us at the airport to help us if you need to bring a couple of extra bags. That won't help with connecting flights of course, but we can give that some thought. |
| Stop Uwe Boll! | |
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| Pamm | Mar 13 2008, 10:04:07 PM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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You *are* romantic, honey :love: And durn right, Nathan is gonna be there to help, and prolly 'vana too! I suppose I'll just put my itinerary in my checked bags and hope for the best on them. I don't let my laptop out of my clutches except to go through security and at takeoff and landing, my life is on this thing. I guess I'll see about getting some mild sedatives to take off the anxiety edge, and just remember why I'm flying |
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7:43 PM May 19