How to pack for overseas assignments

Taking a break from the packing. Thought I'd share some tips on how to prepare and pack for moves to difficult countries, based on my personal experiences of going to Angola and Yemen. Since I don't have children, I couldn't give you good advice on kid-related issues.

A few months before the move, try to find out from friends/employees in the destination country:

1. What is and isn't available, and what they recommend bringing.
2. If the plugs/voltages mean that you can't bring your electronics (different voltages) or if you need to buy plug adaptors (just different plugs). If the voltages are different from your base country, I wouldn't advise getting voltage adaptors because apparently these "die" after a period of use and you may still risk damaging your equipment.
3. If there are daily/regular power cuts, in which case it is recommended that you get a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for your computer equipment and high-end electronics (TV, stereo system, etc). Some companies (if you're moving for work) may provide them, so best check beforehand and if there will be enough (we have one for the computer/router/modem and one for the TV/DVD player/decoder). Even if there is a generator at the new place, I would still highly recommend getting one or two UPS' because some equipment will become damaged from the power spikes. Another implication of intermittent power cuts and large voltage variations during the day is that electrical goods with timers/that rely on a reliable power souce will NOT work as well (e.g. breadmakers will reset and bread may not turn out right, although some breadmakers now come with several minutes' of backup power).
4. If there will be good medical care and if vitamin supplements etc are available/expensive. If you're going to a high-risk country, bring vitamin/mineral supplements, your favourite cold/cough/flu medicine (we love Lemsip but can't find it in most places outside the UK), diarrhoea meds, etc. But your doctor will advise (and make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations).

As for packing, I prefer to pack my own clothes and leave the fragile/big stuff to the professional packers. As a general note, don't pack anything that you don't want to risk losing because sometimes boxes get damaged... or disappear altogether. If you're going for a few years, you'll be amazed how fast time flies, so bring only a few photos (put the bulk of pictures on your computer hard drive and then buy an electronic photo frame) and avoid bringing expensive pieces of art/handbags/jewelry... besides, you will probably start collecting local art/souvenirs and take lots of photos. Trust me, you will leave with more than you came!

To pack clothes and personal effects:

1. Separate between what needs to be opened right away and what can wait (i.e. summer vs winter clothes)
2. Line clothes (and anything valuable) with large bin bags or plastic bags, because sometimes your shipment might sit in an unsheltered area under sun and rain for months while waiting to clear customs... like in Angola.
3. Make a detailed itinerary of what's in each box. And we found it useful to label boxes by room, since the delivery guys can put the boxes in the right room. If you don't want people to know which boxes might be valuable (e.g. computer room), then use a secret code (I use Malay!)
4. If you're packing early, don't seal up boxes (or the bin bags within the boxes) immediately, but leave the sealing to the end in case of any last-minute additions/removals.
5. Shoe boxes take up too much space, so pack in plastic bags and stuff some wrapping tissue (or socks or whatever) into the toe part or entire cavity to avoid damaging the shoe and to save packing space!

Miscellaneous:

1. Bring things that will make you less homesick (e.g. your favourite Malay songs) and will make the holidays feel more special (e.g. favourite Hari Raya songs for Eid).
2. Bring stuff/ingredients for cookies/cakes/food from home, even if you don't cook e.g. currypuff maker, rotijala sieve thing, gula melaka, rempah kari Adabi, mum's recipes, etc. You'll be amazed at what you're willing to try out to feel at home.
3. A home laptop is a MUST, for emailing friends and family. If the internet connection is good enough, you can call home using Skype, amuse yourself on YouTube and even listen to your local radio stations! But do NOT pack this in your shipment.
4. Bring lots of extra passport-sized photos - saves the hassle of having to make new ones, especially when you've just arrived in a strange country. You will need plenty for things like driver's licences, membership cards, residence permits, etc. Nowadays when you take a passport photo, you also get a CD of the image file(s) - you can later take the CD to a shop for printing (if you want to save money/time or if you particularly like that photo!). Also, put the image file(s) on your hard drive because, for example, you might be able to email the photos to the HR department of your company for whatever paperwork, particularly if they are abroad.
5. With recent advances in technology, it's amazing how much space/weight you can save by uploading CDs to your iPOD, keeping e-copies of your bank statements instead of hard copy, and keeping photos on your hard drive... but keep a back-up too!
6. It is also useful to keep a scanned copy of your passport, birth certificate, marriage cert, visas, credit cards, employment letter and other important documents in your hard drive, as well as in your personal email account in case of emergency.
7. Stock up on iTunes credit if you're going somewhere where it's not easy/cheap to buy CDs - you can buy music online

More later