Hey whats up everyone. I just finished my Med 1 semester here at AUA and actually made this list a few weeks ago. I was in your shoes just a few months ago, and I know there was a list like this that really helped me out. This is helpful especially the last few days when you want to make sure you don't forget anything big or small. Some of the stuff on here you may not think is relevant to you, but hopefully its helpful.

This is my first time living away from home, and so far, i've adjusted pretty well and done well in my classes, stayed involved in school activities, all while in a cast and crutches, so if I can do it, it won't be a problem for any of you. Thank GODDD i got my cast off now! Time to party - no wait, I mean, study for genetics block with DocPluc, haha.

-Rajiv

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Clothes:
• Note: Conversion rate is 2.67 (EC) Eastern Caribbean Dollar = $1.00
• Note: Make sure you bring enough ‘Professional Attire’
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Tshirts – those with comical sayings are NOT to be worn in school
• Solid colored Polo-Style Shirts
• Males: A Suit or Dress Pants/Dress Shirts/Ties (Will be used for DPS, school research days, events, ceremonies, etc)
• Females should bring at least a few articles of clothing to dress up for DPS and research days
• Dress Shoes
• Dress Socks
• Slippers (1-2 pairs, because they may get worn out quickly)
• Sneakers
• Swimwear
• Enough socks and undergarments to last you in case you don’t get time to do laundry every week
• A Sweatshirt (Library and classes get cold)
• Sunglasses
• Pajamas

Household Items:
• Toilet Paper
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouth Wash
• Shaving Cream
• Shaving Blades
• Shaving Trimmer
• Deodorant
• Hair Gel
• Cologne/Perfume
• Contact Lens/Solution
• Soap
• Body Wash
• Bath Towels / Beach Towel
• Bed Sheets/Pillow Cases
• Mosquito Repellant
• Laundry Detergent (Available at supermarket here)
• Sunscreen lotion
• Cream/Lotion
• Laundry Hamper
• Closet Organizer (Very useful - From Bed Bath & Beyond)/Bandaids
• Advil/Tylenol/Pepto Bismol/Neosporin

Kitchen Items:
• Most Kitchen supplies are available at Epicurian, but anything you bring will save you a trip to Epicurian
• Real spoons, forks, and knives will be provided to you, along with some pots, pans, and drinking glasses. Plastic forks, knives, spoons, and cups are available at the supermarket.
• Cereal Bowls are not provided, so you may want to bring a couple of these.
• Plates will be provided, but you can bring some of your own plates if you don’t want to use ones that have been here.
• Coffee Makers (Not provided in some housing so check with someone. Otherwise, bring it because they are about $50US for the cheapest one here)
• George Foreman Grill (Very useful)
• Toaster (Not provided in some housing, bring if you think it’s worth it)
• Things to wash dishes are also available at the supermarket, but if you bring them, it will save you a trip

School Related:
• Backpack
• Laptop case
• Pens
• Pencils
• Highlighters
• Notebooks (Classes are Anatomy, Histo, DPS)
• Calendar (Either in a planner or to hang on the wall)
• Clipboard (Very important for lab)
• Headphones for laptop if you listen to music while studying
• Scotch Tape (comes in handy often)
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Paper Clips
• Desk Lamp
• Flash Drive – minimum 1 GB, this will be used heavily
• Blank CD-Rs/DVD-Rs (Not too many)

DPS Stuff
• 1 Lab Coat
• 2 Pairs of scrubs
• Stethoscope
• Blood Pressure Cuff
• Patella hammer
• Tuning Fork
• Mini Eye Exam Chart

Banking
• You can open up your own account here with ABIB or you can use your account from home, and just use the ATM here to withdraw money. You might want to check first if your bank charges for withdrawals in Antigua.
Food:
• Most things are available here at the supermarket (Epicurian) which is just a 5 minute walk from school, however things are a bit pricey compared to back home. This is because everything is imported from the USA, so after customs and duty, these prices add up to about double what it would be back home. Bring as much junk food as you can to snack on, cereal bars are good on the run, noodles, macaroni and cheese, granola bars, and anything you can cook quickly. You don’t really get much time to prepare gourmet dinners for yourself.
• Favorite Hot Sauce if you have one (Tobasco is available here)
• Spices
• Heinz ketchup (The ketchup here tastes too sweet, and they don’t have Heinz anywhere)
• 8 Minute Pasta or Rice
• Soup in a cup
• Frozen vegetables
• Cooking Oil

General:

• Cell Phone (Required – Unlocked, quad band phone will guaranteed work. Some Tri Band phones also work, but bringing a quad-band phone is the safest bet)
• A Laptop & It’s charger (Required) Both Mac & PC are compatible on campus
• Multi outlet switch (6 outlets)
• External hard drive if you have one, it’s useful to store all your AUA files for the next few years.
• Signup with some VOIP Service (Skype, Vonage, Viatalk, etc…)
• Alarm Clock
• Umbrella
• Flashlight
• Keychain/Ring
• Ear Plugs
• Any favorite TV shows or DVDs, this comes in handy after a long week of studying. (If you bring an S-Video Cable, you can display the video from your laptop to your TV)
• Milk expires here very quickly (about 4 days) so be careful when you buy it.
• Drink only bottled water
• Hooks that you can stick on the wall or behind a door (hanging clothes, keys, etc)
• Religious Items
• Electric Outlets in housing are the same as USA
• Pictures/Frames of family
• Webcam to communicate back home
• Digital Recorder (If you like to record lectures)
• Driver’s License
• Makeup for Girls
• Nailcutter
• Vitamins
• Baby Oil
• Gum
• Tampons
• Air Freshner (Febreeze, etc – don’t bring Glade Plug Ins, they may cause fires)
• Don’t carry too much cash on the flight.
• Brita Water Filter
• Passport
• Immunization documentation that AUA requires
• Immigration letter from AUA
•
Sending Packages: If your parents mail you a package here on the island, it will be mailed to the school address (American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Jasmine Court, Friar’s Hill Road, P.O. Box W – 1451, St. Johns, Antigua, West Indies Tel: 1-268-481-8888). Then, when it arrives, you will go to the admin office and look for your name on a list. If your name is there, they will give you a “slip”. You will take this slip to the airport and retrieve your package after paying customs/duty/tax. Average would be around $75EC = $30USD plus cab fare unless you have a car. Try calling ‘Amerijet’ and check their price for cargo: at 800-276-5387. Ask to speak to Louis Montella at 718-709-9560. Other air freight providers include American Air Cargo (800-CARGOAA), USF Seko World Wide (800-255-2896) and Cavalier International (800-235-4665). Ocean cargo, such as via Tropical Shipping (800-367-6200) is cheaper, but slower.

Stores that they have here:

• Epicurian – Supermarket, mostly everything available at Shoprite or Pathmark would also be here.
• Radio Shack – This is where you will purchase your internet connection card from (ACT-Online/Instantnet). The average cost is about $300 USD for 4 months, which is $75 USD/month. Its expensive, yes, we know.
• Subway – Just like back home
• KFC – Just like back home, but no Honey BBQ Wings
• Office Supplies store in Woods (Forgot the name)
• Digicell – Cell Phone Carrier
• Cable & Wireless – Cell Phone Carrier
• El Taco Loco – Mexican Food
• The Beach – Nice Restaurant to Eat

updated sticky, please read...lots of good information here

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I'm like Internationally-known

Wow., I read it twice... Thanks a bunch!!!

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CYL, Compassion MD
- Be The Best -


"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, and yes, even beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors." (1930)
by John B. Watson (1878-1958)

nice list
unfortunately i can barely fit 75% of my pooh pooh in my 2 bags and they weigh about 200 lbs total.

looks like i wont be able to bring my guitar down either :[

anyway what frequency tuning fork do we need? i know there's one for auditory and one for tactile sensation.

I'm praying I can get all my stuff in to two 50lbs bags. Its going to be close!!

Sorry to hear that from you guys...

I am a light travler and simple life person... so I know for sure it won't be a problem for me to pack everything I need it down there.. ^^

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CYL, Compassion MD
- Be The Best -


"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, merchant-chief, and yes, even beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors." (1930)
by John B. Watson (1878-1958)

I'll be honest I thought I was a light traveler, but you start going through all these list people post. Stuff and weight adds up quick, I was really surprised.

it doesn't matter, buy the cheapest

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I'm like Internationally-known

thanks for posting this.... seems very useful.

One thing i've realized - if u pack a lot of clothes (like me) put them in the vacuum packed space saver bags that you can buy @ walmart, target, linens n things etc. You'll save tons of space!

just a question though... u mentioned sign up with voip or skype... is this something we do in antigua or @ home?! haha sorry if its silly.. i don't know how to that stuff really works!

you should get skype or whatever voip service u want to use here before u get to the island...if u get skype, u should download it here, b/c it'd probably take forever to download on the island because of the internet speed...!