Nola
Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by Nola on Jul 25, 2012 18:50:56 GMT
I am currently in the same phase as many of you waiting for BI/Med/Visa to clear. An uncomfortable limbo, as we are reminded time and again, not to do anything until all contingencies are cleared. So, I am anticipating a call one day when my relocation specialist says you have 28 days...go!
For me, this will kick in everything I have thought of thus far that needs to be done but can't be done until we are sure we are going.
I thought if I shared the meat of my to do list, it might stimulate some good conversation about what I may be forgetting.
As soon as we get the green light...
Costco shopping trip for vacuum cleaner and rest of vpainter "What to bring" list
Buy microwave
Clothes shopping for wife
Set-up Global Mail account
Change all addresses to new global address
Set up Strong VPN account
Subscribe to Vonage
Unlock iPhone 4S for GSM at Verizon
Find a solution for keeping US phone numbers that is inexpensive
Get Credit Card with no international fees
Pay off car loan to obtain clear le for vehicle transport
List house for sale or rent
Buy new iMac/Macbook
Cancel car insurance
Streamline possessions - cull out forbidden items, store
Transfer magazine subscriptions to iPad
Buy some SAR
Ship vehicle
What would you add?
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat_Tri on Jul 25, 2012 22:22:56 GMT
Nice list NOLA. I'm somewhat working within the same timeframe and preparing a list as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by almostcheerful on Jul 26, 2012 16:37:58 GMT
Boolish Family prepared a list of items, which I am repeating here: please feel free to update this list.
Kitchen dish towels and wash clothes
-manual can opener
-measuring spoon & cups
-spatulas
- small iron & ironing board
-small kettle
-mixing spoons
-hand mixer
-pot holders
-cutting board
-extra silverware (they provide a set but I was constantly washing)
-drinking glasses (the ones they provide were small juice glasses)
-coffee maker/tea kettle
-mixing bowls
-cookies sheet pans
-baking pans (9X13; 8X8)
-food stoe containers
-general cooking utensils
-any spices you can’t do without or any extract flavoring for baking
-a set of sheets for each bed
-a few bath towels-they do provide a set of towels per person
-pool towels
-microwave
-any special toiletry items
-pillows-if you particular to your pillow. Use the space vacuum bags to decrease size
-a couple of small throws/blankets
-pack at least 2 -3 bathing suits-stores do not have dressing rooms to try on stuff (ladies)
-extra under garments, socks
-Vonage or Magic Jack for phone calls to states (hand carry this with you)
-Vacuum cleaner
-Scooters or roller blades for the children or other toys to keep them busy
-Indoor activities for the children if coming in July -October they are the hot months & people tend to stay inside where it’s cool.
-Cordless phone set with a couple of handsets
-computer (they give you a USB stick with (slow) internet access initially). I hand-carried nettop PC, keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, webcam, dvd drive, external hard drive
-laundry basket (piles of clothes in the house)
-toothbrush holder & soap dishes
-swimsuit
-Racket/tennis balls
-clothes hangers
-a couple of power strips & extension cords
-alarm clocks/radios
-a few basic tools: screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, ect
-a few basic office supplies: scissors, pens, pencils, tape
-some basic first aid stuff band-aids, Neosporin, ect
-pictures/photo albums
-DVDs/CDs be aware that if you bring DVD from the states that you will need to bring a player for them as the DVD players are Region 2 player (US DVDs are Region 1)
-For the most part all these items can be found here it’s just a matter of getting out to find them or knowing where to find them.
|
|
Nola
Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by Nola on Jul 26, 2012 19:50:54 GMT
There's also a very good list in the FAQ. I was thinking more in terms of actions. For example, cancel insurance, stop the mail, turn off utilities, cancel the gym membership...
|
|
|
|
Post by DannyT on Sept 13, 2012 10:05:28 GMT
Question on the list here - I have an Iphone 4s through Verizon. I talked to Verizon today about "unlocking" my phone and they said that by inserting the new co SIM card, the phone will "unbrick" / "rebrick" with the new carrier information. A connection to Itunes would be required. How did your experience on this front go? I ask as I see you have a 4s Verizon too. Thanks for the insight!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Sept 13, 2012 13:56:06 GMT
Nola,
There is not an action list because, the actions required are different for every country of origin and dependent on what each person has as far as accounts, property, insurance, etc.
Sorry, about that. You could post where you are from and see if any of your fellow countrymen will answer what they did. There is quite a bit on the forum re: Canadians. They have different circumstances with regards to their country's laws. You can search the forum for those posts.
|
|
|
|
Post by justthe4ofus on Sept 13, 2012 15:51:12 GMT
Is all of this what you bring on the plane?? Or included in what you have sent over? That's a lot of stuff to take initially, no?
|
|
|
|
Post by gareth0127 on Sept 13, 2012 19:10:04 GMT
I've got to agree with the last post, you can get almost every item on that list really easily!
|
|
Nola
Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by Nola on Sept 13, 2012 20:21:26 GMT
Vpainter,
Thank you. I hadn't considered how different it may be to move to KSA from different countries. It was a pretty variable and broad topic as I look at it in retrospect.
I am American and I just received my visa today!!! Ready or not, here we go!
DannyT,
I haven't tackled the Verizon iPhone 4s unlock yet. I understand they are supposed to unlock it at the store and then after placing a new SIM card in it from KSA, and hooking it up to iTunes, it is supposed to work. The new hurdle may be the inability to buy a SIM card without an Iquama, though, as of July 31st.
|
|
|
|
Post by Overland on Sept 13, 2012 20:29:44 GMT
Nola:
Congratulations on getting your visa! Now you are really on your way.
You should call Verizon first before going to the store for an unlock. I have AT&T and was told similar only to find out that they only do that online or over the phone. I did one over the phone a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't that big a deal. That one will be for my wife. I will buy another one here in the US that is also unlocked to take with. Hoping that the release of the Iphone 5 will drive down the prices a little on the older products.
Best of luck to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by bolishfamily on Sept 14, 2012 8:18:54 GMT
When I created the list some of the stuff I would have brought with me on the plane & then some in the E-box. We were a family of 4 who had 2 suitcase & 10 dishbarrel boxes. We also live in RT so getting to the stores & knowing what stores to go to was challenging when we 1st arrived. Bus runs to the malls are limited from RT compared to Dhahran. It's a little overwhelming trying to figure out bus schedules at first. Sure now I know I can easily take a daily bus to Dhahran and then jump on one of their buses that head out to the malls daily.
Since I didn't pack it with us or in our E-box waiting for the stuff to come in our shipment was discouing so I went out & bought stuff so now I have 2 or 3 sets.
|
|
|
|
Post by interest_rate on Sept 15, 2012 0:57:01 GMT
Anyone has experience with at&t and iPhone unlocking if you are still on the contract? So, can I unlock after I pay early termination fee? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by DannyT on Sept 16, 2012 14:08:14 GMT
I to am on contract with Verizon. Per Verizon, I'll pay the early term fee $290 - ouch! And then the new provider will un-brick and re-brick it. There is no to-do here in the US with respect to "unlocking.". Inserting the new sim should take care of the switch over. As Nola said above, I think the bigger issue is going to be getting a sim in the short term. Should be an interesting experience I'm sure. Keep you posted on my findings once in country.
|
|
|
|
Post by DannyT on Sept 16, 2012 14:09:54 GMT
["Nola"]
Thanks for the insight. Do keep us posted on your experience on this topic.
|
|
|
|
Post by kwj11 on Feb 15, 2013 2:35:20 GMT
Nola-
keeping your US phone number was on your list of things to do. Do you have a creative way of doing this without it costing an arm and a leg ie.. paying US carrier rates. Can you port your number to Vonage then use the Vonage mobile app to call and text? Any other ideas? I don't know if Vonage mobile is a good solution. It seems that the person calling you needs the Vonage mobile app as well or there are calling charges.
Does anyone have any other ideas? Can I use a dual sim phone (DUOS Active) and keep my US number but then also have a local plan?
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I arrive in Kingdom in March and need to get this figured out quickly.
|
|
