Things to bring down

[k@NcHi]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if it was worth to bring down a toaster oven to Grenada (which would mean that I would probably have to pay duty on it too)...or are they available for a reasonable price there?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

Cheerz,
Kanchi

[jahzmyn]

Hey there. I didn't think of that. Well, i know in the dorms we will have a microwave and some electric stoves. I was thinking we could get creative with those instead of bringing a toaster oven down. but, as for prices I have no idea...i guess it would be easier to buy one there..i don't know if it would be cheaper.

[lera]

Guys unless you are extremely picky with food, everything you need is here. You can even order Chinese Food, its not the best but I havent gotten food poisoning once

[drnick07]

Remember, its alot easier to use 220V appliances here than 110V, since 110V will require a transformer, and transformers for appliances are big, heavy, and expensive. And when you leave you can just sell it and make up alot of what you paid for it. I'm still looking for a 220V waffle iron. The superdorms are the only dorms that have 110V, and chances are you won't be there for your entire time in Grenada. I'll try to run by Court's and Hubbard's before i leave and post a price list.

[archon218]

Is sea food cheap? Any lobster?

[drnick07]

Is sea food cheap? Any lobster?
Apparently there are some lobster farmers who sell the crustaceans down by the shore between the airport and the school, but they sell out within an hour. Sorry i don't have any more info on that. I bought some tuna (although they told me it was salmon) down at the fish market in St. George. I got maybe 5-7lbs. for 35EC (13$).

[k@NcHi]

Hi Dr.Nick,

Thanks for the advice. Yea, that was my concern, the fact that the toaster oven would need to be 220V. I am going to check out the prices when I visit Grenada June 6-July 1. If you do get a chance to check the prices at "Courts and Hubbards", I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

-Kanchi

[coco881]

Remember, its alot easier to use 220V appliances here than 110V, since 110V will require a transformer, and transformers for appliances are big, heavy, and expensive. And when you leave you can just sell it and make up alot of what you paid for it. I'm still looking for a 220V waffle iron. The superdorms are the only dorms that have 110V, and chances are you won't be there for your entire time in Grenada. I'll try to run by Court's and Hubbard's before i leave and post a price list.

Hi Dr. Nick,

I heard that the 220 V Toastmaster Toaster Oven can be purchased for around $200 EC from Spiceland Mall. Is this true?

Any help would be appreciated!

Coco

[5th Termer]

I'm off the islands now and can offer suggestions on what worked for me. I tried all different combinations of 110V appliances + transformers, 220V appliances purchased in the states, 220V appliances purchased in Grenada. Here's what I did:

Check the rating of your appliance. My PDA, laptop, and digital camera were all dual power so all I needed was the three prong plug converter.

I purchased a 220V microwave, coffee maker, and toaster in the states, packed them up, and took them with me. Import stores in most big cities have these appliances, or you can buy them on the internet. It was impossible to avoid customs in Grenada on the microwave as it was obvious going through the line, and I had to pay another $80 US on top of the $160 I already paid.

So my advice is:
If the appliance is 100V or less, like a cordless phone or a radio, bring them from the states and use a small wattage transformer. The smaller transformers don't cost too much even if you buy them new in Grenada and the appliances don't seem to suffer from the power conversion. Don't bother taking any of this home, just sell them at the end of 4th or 6th term or give them away to friends.

For larger wattage/voltage items, like all the ones that heat (microwave, hair dryer, toaster oven, sandwich maker, etc.) buy them in Grenada. That way you will get 220V and a high wattage transformer will not be needed. In the long run you will save and have a properly rated appliance to enjoy. If the plug style is not correct on the appliance you buy, the bigger stores will cut the plug off and install a three pronged one (Hubbard's and Southern Electric). This way you get an appliance that is properly rated, don't have to carry the heavy stuff, avoid customs, and most of all don't have to buy one of those big scary 2000W transformers. Yes you will pay more for appliances there but in my opinion it is worth it for all the reasons I just stated.

Don't use an electric clock of any power rating. They lose time. A nice little battery powered one is a must.

That being said, I had no problem selling all those appliances I bought in the states. I actually took my smaller 22OV steam iron and hair dryer that I purchased down there back to the states with me rather than sell them. I just like the European design and thought I would hang onto them for my next international adventure.

P.S. Southern Electric on the Dusty Highway, the Hubbards just past the Lance aux Epines road, and Links in Excel are good places to look for toaster ovens and waffle irons. Good luck!

[stephew]

Is sea food cheap? Any lobster? the lobster is great and while cheaper than the us, not as inexpensve as its abundance probably should make it. but actually having said that for a while there were no sales to let the seas replenish. go to coconut beach. yum!

[docks]

My PDA, laptop, and digital camera were all dual power so all I needed was the three prong plug converter.

Are these the right plugs? My impression is that the top two are the kinds we'll need but the site I visited also showed the bottom two. How about in the newer dorms? Do they also have international plugs (asking in the off chance that they do)?

http://www.levoyageur.net/images/prises/d.jpghttp://www.levoyageur.net/images/prises/4.gif

http://www.levoyageur.net/images/prises/g.jpghttp://www.levoyageur.net/images/prises/7.gif

- Docks

[drnick07]

Are these the right plugs? My impression is that the top two are the kinds we'll need but the site I visited also showed the bottom two. How about in the newer dorms? Do they also have international plugs (asking in the off chance that they do)?
- Docks

Go with the top ones, but even if you got the ones on the bottom all you'd need to do is buy an adapter at the stationary store in Spiceland or buy a plug and do some minor electrical work. Superdorms have both 110V "american" and 220V "grenadian" outlets. Same for the library and histo/path lab. And hey, if you bring a 110 powerstrip to the library study area on the 3rd floor, you'll make lots of friends since outlets are few and far between, BUT DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PLUG A 110V POWERSTRIP INTO A 220V OUTLET!!!(by way of an adapter) Trust me, you will blow your strip to smithereens.

[5th Termer]

Use a picture!

First let me explain that I do not know the situation in the new dorms. I am assuming that they are wired for 110V and have American style outlets. The older dorms have 220V to the best of my recollection.

As to which plug goes with the 220V: the top two in your pictures. If you buy a 220V appliance here and it is from England, it won't have this style plug. But the guy at the store knows how to fix that. He just cuts off the wrong plug and connects a new one like the one in your top picture. All of my appliances are like that.

The reason I had to concern myself is because I lived in the older dorms first term and off campus the rest of the time. I only had 220V outlets with the top plug style.

With my PDA, I just needed the three prong plug adaptor (like from the Rand McNally store, no wiring needed). There was no need for a permanent plug change or any kind of power conversion.

Feel free to ask any questions on this you like, I can answer them.

[docks]

Don't use an electric clock of any power rating. They lose time. A nice little battery powered one is a must.

Are you sure that even a dual-voltage clock (if that's what you mean by power rating though voltage is not a measure of power) would lose time? I don't think I'd be very happy with a battery powered one because that means carrying down batteries not to mention it's not pleasant to worry about when my batteries will die. Therefore, I'm looking into an electric one and I find it hard to believe the claim that no electric clocks work. What do the local grenadians use to tell time? I can't imagine all of them using battery-powered clocks.

- Docks

[5th Termer]

My digital electric alarm clock ran slow. This was also true of the digitial display on my 220V microwave, which I reset to proper time once a week (more if power outages which we had from time to time off campus). I can't comment on analog or another other type of clock.

I used a small, high quality travel alarm on the same battery the whole time I was there. Although I had a spare, batteries were available everywhere on the islands.

This was my experience, you, of course, are free to try your favorite clock! Good luck!

[docks]

My digital electric alarm clock ran slow. This was also true of the digitial display on my 220V microwave, which I reset to proper time once a week (more if power outages which we had from time to time off campus). I can't comment on analog or another other type of clock.

I used a small, high quality travel alarm on the same battery the whole time I was there. Although I had a spare, batteries were available everywhere on the islands.

This was my experience, you, of course, are free to try your favorite clock! Good luck!

OK. I just find it really odd. It looks like I'll bring both down and try out the electric. I saw a few for about $20.

What do other people use?

Thanks!

[truthseeker]

Hello,
Sorry for the botherance but I had a "few" questions...

1. This is a weird one but what size bed sheets do we need to get.....everyones telling me sumthing diffferent from twin to extrA twin tht are needed for dorms so i am confused now..

2. Why does every one keep talking abt getting ones checks deposited in the states and then using ur ATM in grenada.....why dont people opt for the bank in grenada?? Do banks like citi and chase work in grenada??
Being a freshman how would one request the checks to be sent to the states or the banks in the states....hmmm

4. I am not realy hooked to coffee but at times i need starbucks to do all nighters...its one of the few things tht keeps me going at nites..so shld one pack a coffee maker..or can we buy one from sumwhere near campus...transformers wont work im guessing...

5. Why do we need scrubs..i know this is the second time im asking this questions...but i know friends who have taken anatomy and they dont wear scrubs so why do we need to buy scrubs..is there sumthing im missing..and if we do buy scrubs how many do we need to buy...??..labcoats..hmmm

5. Ok about the gloves..why doesnt the skewl provide them..im guessing we need them for anatomy....hmm....the skewl doesnt provide them...im a lil surprised..but thas ok..i know skewls that dont..so.....


thnks

[RichS]

truthseeker,

1. the beds are not long twin, regular twin sheets

2. don't know too much about banking in grenada because i never bothered to open accounts. i just brought down traveler's checks and cashed them when needed. no hassle.

3. coffee is available at the store which is open til 11 pm each night.

4. you can wear whatever u want during afterhours lab, but during the lab they want u to wear some kind of scrubs or a lab coat. not sure why, maybe so things "look" better. don't buy too many scrubs.

5. lotta med schools don't provide gloves, and this is one of them. most use gloves, but you really don't need them. some people get used to dissecting without gloves entirely!

p.s. anatomy lab demonstrations blow! i hope they got rid of them or changed it for you term! actually, i hope they kept it haha!

[truthseeker]

Thanks Rich :)

"3. coffee is available at the store which is open til 11 pm each night...."

Every other coffee puts me to sleep except starbucks..i dont know maybe the coffee there will help me stay awake....hmmm..

You said: "don't buy too many scrubs."...im thinking two will be enuf..or a lab coat..ok

no gloves ...hmm interesting...

Thanks again...
take care of urself..
Bye

[AmitK425]

Hangers??? do we really need hangers down there if all we are gonna wear are t-shirts and jeans/shorts? Is there even space in your room to hang clothes in the closet?

[emt036]

You may want to bring something nice down on the off-chance you may be invited somewhere nice to dinner. Yes, the first-termer Superdorms have rods to hang hangers.

[daguru]

I am a first termer for this August, and I STILL dont get the whole power conversion thing, to be honest with you. But the one thing I do get about it is the clocks. Clocks keep their time based on the frequency of the power that is fed into them. So in america, clocks that use 110Volt power lines usually have 60 Hertz frequency of electricity. In Grenada as in the rest of the former British Empire, they use 220Volt, and 50 Hertz. If you convert the volts, that is fine, your alarm clock won't blow up, but now the timing mechanism is basing the passage of time on an electrical current that is 10 clock cycles per minute too fast. You can't really convert the hertz of the power. So every hour will actually be an hour and ten minutes for your clock. The people who grew up in this system just buy alarm clocks that are made to run on the 50 hertz system, so they keep time properly. You can find thsoe types of alarm clocks at import stores around the states, esp. in the NY/NJ area. But think of it this way, if you are afraid of your clock batteries dying, you might plug in your clock and the power could go out in the middle of the night, and then you would be messed up anyway. So batteries are a good way to go. I hope I explained it properly. Sorry if I am wrong. Or boring. Or perhaps both.

[5th Termer]

Thanks for the analysis. This question comes up from time to time on the forum. I was glad it came up right before I left for SGU (in 2002) so I could pack my Swiss Army battery powered clock. The thread at that time blamed hertz too (not volts or watts).

That being said it is still hard to understand. I had a built-for-the- European market microwave with a digital clock that had to be reset once a week anyway. ????

[Negean]

I was hoping to use my voltage converter and plug my surge bar into it. Is this safe and if not what are the alternatives?

I am going to have a number of things I want plugged in such as my laptop, printer and etc.

Please post any suggestions or experiences

[emt036]

If you are a first-termer, are you living in the Superdorms? If so, they have 110V with normal American outlets - no converter needed - can plug the powerstrip directly in.

[eadeh]

I am still in some confusion of what to bring down: are pots and pans absolutely necessary to bring down or can we buy them used? I do plan to cook...

[docmo]

hey guyz, jus another question. did anyone bring down an iron or did u guyz jus buy 1 there? if u bought it there, how much do they roughly go for? thanks.