ahh packing!!! ahh Winair!!! freak out time!

[amyames]

I've finally got into packing all the stuff I bought over the past month and now it's freakout time! Will everything fit? Will I go over the weight limit? Do I really need five boxes of Zone Snack Bars?? Will I loose my luggage? ahh!!!

any other first termer's having trouble getting everything packed and under the weight limit? and what airlines is everyone flying? I am flying Delta till San Juan (I know horrors!) and then American Eage Executive to St. Martin. I hope the lower weight limit on AEE (40 lbs vrs the 50lbs) won't get me in too much trouble.

also, I booked only a one way flight because it was cheaper....will I have problems in San Juan because of the one way ticket?

argh! and I just found out Winair has booked me to St. Eustasis and not Saba.

oh and one more thing..if you are brining a printer how you are packing it? I am a little worried about sticking into a suitcase because I know they are not gentle with your luggage at all!

thanks everyone and see you in ONE WEEK!!!:D

[psychMajor]

relax... :)

[amyames]

ya know, those space savers bags really work! my pillow is next to nothing in size now. I would def. recommend them to anyone packing for the islands.

so now the only things I am truly worried about are:

-will I get my Winair flight straightened out in time
-will I have any problems with my one way ticket in San Juan.

whew, great to see the other worries melting away!


oops...I just remembered...I haven't even packed my books yet! :p

[psychMajor]

did you send boxes in addition to your luggage?

iam planning to send over boxes and go light (maybe with my clothes in the luggage)

[amyames]

I've heard the boxes are expensive to ship and take awhile to reach the island, so after I saw how much stuff I had to pack, I begged and pleaded and now my father is traveling with me. He calls himself, "the island bellboy!"

so I should be fine on weight if I pack wisely...I just hope that I can store all the stuff I bring in my next housing assignment because there is no way I can bring all of it back with me come August break.

my heaviest items are my george foreman grill, my printer, my books, my portable DVD player, and all my school supplies (they have really added up b/c I hear those supplies are very costly on the island).......

but no boxes. I think so of the newbies are shipping so I'll let ya know how it goes!

[miasma]

haha, yeah i got my dad to come with me in sept too, so hopefully i'll be able to get all my stuff over there in one shot, and won't have to ship.

[psychMajor]

i want to ship: printer, school supplies, some book i get before hand, some kind of gril and ...

i will do it well before hand.

once you get there, write a big post about your experience!

[bhs2a]

Can some of you guys post rates of the boxes you all are shipping over. I am not sure what I am going to do to get all of my stuff over but I still have till Jan.
I just want to have some sort of a plan because I don't plan to come home but maybe once so I will probably be bringing a ton.

Thanks
B

[psychMajor]

i havent looked at prices

its shouldnt be bad, its feasable i hear, people do it often

[aframe]

Staff at the school set up a shipping arrangement via Florida. Call the school to find out the company and rates. If you go this way you will probably get your stuff in 2-3 weeks. If you decide to ship it throu DSL it may take 3-4 weeks. Shipping it throu companies that do not have arrangements with the island is asking for hardship as you may receive the item too late or find yourself spending a lot of time on the phone trying to track down the items at long distance rates. Choosing the companies at have arrangements with the island such as DSL or Hassells will save you time and much frustation.

[SunDevilDoc]

Yesterday I sent a package (6lbs 9oz) to Saba via U.S. Postal. For their 4-8 business days I paid $27.xx from Phoenix.

I had called ******* Free Exports (in FL) a couple of hours before and they will charge a minimum of $35.00. According to their shiping schedule, it would also take longer to receive my package.

No, let's just see how well USPS comes through on shipping times. :D

[swinginislanddoc]

I shipped several boxes to Saba when I moved there. It cost quite a bit of money, yes. In the past Hassel would deliver it from their place to your's for a very small fee (like $5). Remember to ship WELL IN ADVANCE - I didn't have my textbooks for the first week or two of school (everything turned out fine though :) ).

The big problem is shipping stuff BACK from the island. Every time you go home for a break, take stuff back home with you that you are not using or will not need. Before I left the island I sold as much stuff as I thought I would not need (by the way, great time to et stuff is at the end of the semester when all of the 5ths are selling their stuff off).

Best of luck in the coming semester!!!
~S :cool:

[amyames]

thanks everyone for the replies!

just wondering.... can we store our items in our next housing assignment? I guess that would be btw you and the landlords, but I was wondering if it was common to move over the stuff to your new assignment.


see everyone in less than a week! :D

[swinginislanddoc]

The islanders are quite used to the situation of students having to move their things at the end of the first semester. You will have to have it out of the dorms for sure when you leave. Most of the landlords allow you to move your stuff in or at least store it somewhere in the new apartment before you leave - just ask! My landlord was kind enough to even come with his truck to help us move.

Also remember that you need to start looking into housing early on in your first semester! Check with the 5th semester students and see who's leaving (Cristy will be a 5th semester - she used to post on here a lot). My first semester I had a place but wanted to move. We started class in September and by the end of October we had our contract signed for the next semester.

Best of luck! Keep in touch and let us know how first semester is going!

~S :cool:

[gianefiasco]

I think this is the scramble of all scrambles. AND I will be doing my packing thursday night for my flight on friday morning... LOL. Its so dam exciting. I cannot wait to meet everyone and get on the island already!:D

[amyames]

I think this is the scramble of all scrambles. AND I will be doing my packing thursday night for my flight on friday morning... LOL. Its so dam exciting. I cannot wait to meet everyone and get on the island already!:D


I totally agree! In fact, I'm still buying items to take with me on my Friday morning flight. The packing and buying never ends!

The hardest part for me has trying to fit my valuables in my carry on bag. Reading the posts, I am getting very afraid of traveling through San Juan, so I want to hand carry all my goodies!

what time does your flight arrive on Saba gianefasco or are you staying on St. Maarten to catch the ferry? I'll be on Saba arond 6pm that Friday...wowers, that's only four days away!


happy traveling to all the 1st termers and to all the current Saba students: thank you so much for your help. YOu have made a crazy, scary experience less so.

[gianefiasco]

yeah im gonna stay one night in st.,marten and then im taking the 5pm ferry to SABA. I already boked my ticket.

I think im gonna hit the casino on friday night w00t!

[Jeevee23]

Gianefiasco....i went to one casino the one rite infront of MAHO, and i thought it was a piece of crap...so look for a diff one...but man i wish i could spend a night there...but im flying in to saba...2pm friday...

yo amyames, im flying through san jaun also on friday..i have a huge break....3 hours i think....but i get to saba at 2 30 pm on fri..i was on the 5 pm flight but they changed my flight or some crap...i got some email..tat i got moved from the 5 pm winair to the 230 flight..o well..i guess tatz better.......anywayz...if u and i r in san jaun at the same time we can meet up if u want...well my dad will be w/ me so i can get some more stuff in....but itz straight....

[amyames]

Gianefiasco....i went to one casino the one rite infront of MAHO, and i thought it was a piece of crap...so look for a diff one...but man i wish i could spend a night there...but im flying in to saba...2pm friday...

yo amyames, im flying through san jaun also on friday..i have a huge break....3 hours i think....but i get to saba at 2 30 pm on fri..i was on the 5 pm flight but they changed my flight or some crap...i got some email..tat i got moved from the 5 pm winair to the 230 flight..o well..i guess tatz better.......anywayz...if u and i r in san jaun at the same time we can meet up if u want...well my dad will be w/ me so i can get some more stuff in....but itz straight....


hey jeeves,

when you arrive on saba, I'll be in San Juan. Sucks that they moved your flight! Make sure you have all your documentation handy that shows you are going to Saba for medical school. I hear San Juan gives you hard time about it, and especially if you bought a one way ticket. I did buy a one way, so I'm going prepared!

The WinAir flight isn't as scary as the landing!!!! They say the Saba airstrip is the smallest in the world, but I haven't looked up that stat. I will say I thought we were going to crash into the side of the mountain. yikes!


are you staying in the dorms and if so, what dorm is it? I def. want to meet up with everyone on VMD> again i'm in hillside quad 1.

I am hoping saturday I can find out about internet and go get my chippie cellphone. from saba students, I hear chippie is the most used.


anyway, have a safe trip everyone......

[Sun76]

hi Gianefiasco,

I'll also stay at st.martin overnigt. So we can pair up and have fun.
Let me know what time you'll arrive to island. If you would like to contact me, you can email me at zitito@hotmail.com
Thanks

[Jeevee23]

ya, im in quad 3 hillside...but ya tat chippie cell fone place is like rite by campus...i no where it is..the internet too....but i guess ill have 2 see if my roomatez r down cause id ont want 2 pay tat much just for me...but we will c...anywayz the one time i went to saba....the flight bak 2 sxm got delayed casue it was too windy..and ya those freakin planes r crazy...but itz all good...

[bill_evans]

ya, im in quad 3 hillside...but ya tat chippie cell fone place is like rite by campus...i no where it is..the internet too....but i guess ill have 2 see if my roomatez r down cause id ont want 2 pay tat much just for me...but we will c...anywayz the one time i went to saba....the flight bak 2 sxm got delayed casue it was too windy..and ya those freakin planes r crazy...but itz all good...
Jeevee, why do you write like you're in 3rd grade? Your name is Raj, right?

(I swear, if I get stuck with this 19 year-old in my dorm, I'm going to be raising hell at the Gardner office.)

[rdecastro]

Thank you.

Some (entirely too many) people seem to forget they're not in grade school anymore - that they're going to be PHYSICIANS, for God's sake, and it's time to quit acting like spongebob squarepants is the most important thing in their lives.

[psychMajor]

haha....

i was looking at one of the schools dorm pics; the student had spongbob posters and covers!

wow...all i can say

[Jeevee23]

wow bill evans really dont like me does he?

[bhs2a]

One of my microbiology professors that was extremely intelligent wore a spongebob shirt fairly often.

And Jeevee - to be honest the short typing is annoying.

But Bill, do you have some kind of anger problem? You were a little harsh.

Just my .02$

[Jeevee23]

Thanks bhs2a, I'll keep that in mind when I type on this forum. But you do agree with me that Bill could have said it in a nicer way?

[Bruce]

Wow.Mr. Evans... I understand they have an elective class open to first semester students "Anger Management 101", maybe, just maybe you should look into it.. Man, Lighten up a little...Probably not the best time to be critical here .. Have a Great Day!!

[soldierb11]

Jeevee, dont worry I will room with u, no matter what sheets you bring.

[krust3]

as long as you don't need plastic ones that is!

[amyames]

in Hillside it seems all the dorms have slightly different things. Everyone was given a
-broom
-dustpan
-toaster
-microwave
-iron
-ironing board
-fridge
-desks
-tv
-couches

but other than that, it's pretty sporadic. I know we had dishes under the sink, and they have come in handy, yet the quad next door didn't have nay dishes. We also had a coffee maker and some drinking glasses left as well, plus utensils! Yet even knowing this...let me tell you what you guys should really bring!

-a bath mat...the shower stream goes outside the door when you are trying to adjust the temp or at least that is case for quad 1 in Hilliside
-lots of hangers!
-lining for the drawers...they smell musty
-toilet paper (they provide the first roll for free, but bring extra so you don't have to spend the money at My Store)
-trash bags
-a george formen grille
-a kettle to boil water and hence make pasta, soups, ect.
- a rice cooker if you eat lots of rice
-and just dry goods. it's not that expensive, but then again it is about $1-3 bucks more for everything, so bringing cereal, snack bars, soups, ect will help you cut down on your costs
-and printer and printer paper
-and lots of school supplies..the stuff is pricey on the island
-good, strong flashlight
-couple pairs of sneakers
-and one of those travel bags that you can hang in the bathrooms (they have the hook) where you can store all your bathroom goodies.


well, that's about it! if anyone has anything to add about mathews or even hillside, please do!

[aspiringmedstudent]

Hey Amy,

When you were referring to bringing a kettle - did you mean an electric kettle? Or is there another way to boil water other than the microwave?

And also - I saw somewhere posted above about dishes being in your dorm? Were you referring to Hillside? And is it typical for those things to be provided for you? I am wondering whether or not to bring things like that and/or if they are available and affordable to buy at the market?

Thanks!