Welcome to Virginia International University. Congratulations on getting Visa. The following are few tips for the new Indian students coming to U.S.

Kitchenware

• 1 Pressure cooker (bring a large one if you plan to share accommodation - at least 3 liters).Spare accessories for the cooker (safety valves, gasket, whistle, etc very imp)
• 1 non-stick ware frying pan and wooden stirrer spoons, forks,
• Butter knife,
• Potato peeler,
• Serving spoons (at least two )
• A pair of kitchen tongs (pakkad)
• Deep frying pan (kadahi, preferably non - stick)
• 2 plates, Glass, Tea Cup
• Masala dabba (box)

Clothes
The dress code on campus is pretty informal and a T-shirt worn with jeans is almost a universal dress code for both sexes here. Formal dressing is mandatory occasionally. You may, of course, want to bring along some Indian clothes (saris, kurtas, etc) with you. We would also recommend that you get a pair of good leather shoes, as they are fairly expensive here. In general the following list should suffice:

• 5/6 pairs of jeans
• 10/12 T-shirts
• 1/2 pairs of formal trousers/shirts/saris/salwar kameez/etc
• A suit (recommended–you’ll need it when you are being interviewed for your job)
• At least 15 pairs of undergarments (laundry cycle is once in 15 days)
• At least 15 pairs of socks
• 1 pair leather shoes/ 1 pair causal shoes / 1 pair of sandals (chappals)
• 3/4 pairs of informal shirts (Half Sleeve for Spring/Summer).
• 2 large towels, 2 small towels, 2/3 napkins
• 1 pair woolen gloves and a monkey cap (if u feel like it)
• An umbrella
• Fall Jacket / sweaters
• In summer it gets pretty hot and preferable clothing during this time is shorts/caprice/skirts, sleeveless tops for girls and shorts and t-shirts for guys.

Also, remember that the laundry cycle is once in 15 days so get sufficient clothes accordingly. You will have to buy the winter jacket from here, since nothing available in India is good enough for this place.

Food

• Spices, pickles, Snacks etc and no oil, salt and sugar (it will only increase your load)
• Pav Bhaji Masala
• Pulav Masala
• Garam Masala
• Pickles You Like
• Sambhar Masala
• Chole Masala
• Tea Powder / Coffee Powder
• Haldi
• Dhania
• Whole Spices (Khara Masala)
• Jeera
• Rye (Mustard Seeds)
• Chilli Powder
• Sambhar Podi
• Rasam Podi (Important, If It Is Your Staple Diet)

Note: Remember to seal and label all edible items properly. You can get all the above mentioned items in nearby Indian Grocery stores.

• Soap and soap case, (Do not bring laundry and dishwashing soap)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shaving kit
• Hair comb/brush
• Shampoo
• Perfumes and Deodorants
• Ear buds
• Tooth floss
• Coconut oil
• Alarm Clock
• Nail cutter
• Cold Cream (essential in winter)
• Miscellaneous
• Certificates, documents, awards, degrees etc. to the highest level.
• Copy of syllabus at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.
• Copy of dissertation/thesis, research papers etc.

Music
You may also want to bring along some cassettes and/or CDs of your favorite music as pre-recorded sub-continental music of your choice may not necessarily be readily available.
Immunizations/ Vaccinations

You are advised to have the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) injection and also Tetanus and get a certificate if possible for all the vaccinations you had when you were a child. Hepatitis-B vaccinations are also advised, but it takes 3 injections over 6 months. Consult your doctor on all this.

Also get Blood, Urine test reports, Tuberculin Test report, a dental checkup and a Chest X-ray unless you feel comfortable about paying through your teeth for getting one done here. It will save you money here.... You are also advised to get a first aid kit along. Remember to get any prescription medicines that you take regularly. Also if you use spectacles, get at least two spare sets as they are really expensive out here (around $150 – $200 ).

Useful things to bring
Text Books: Text books here are costly. On average the range about $80 to $120 each. Bring any textbooks that you know will be useful for your coursework here, that have Indian editions. Don't bring photocopied books - one, they are illegal; two, you won't feel comfortable if someone sees you reading one of those; three, books are a great investment when you learn something from them. Try getting in touch with people in your department and find out what books you will need. Textbooks are not cheap, but affordable if you have a stipend, and reasonable compared to other things you'll spend on. We recommend you to get in touch with some of your department students and find out about the text books.

Get an IDP (International Driving Permit / License) (If possible) - it helps you practice driving before you can get a driver's license, which is almost a necessity after some time.
Medicines: If you have any special medical needs, be aware that specialized medicines can be bought in the U.S. only with a prescription, so you would need to see a doctor. Otherwise, just bring small amounts of common cold/headache/indigestion tablets. These are easily bought here as well, although it will take you some time to learn the names. Bring medicines for headache, stomach ache, zandu balms, eardrops, eye drops, digestion, antibiotics, pain killers, as they will be helpful for you before you get insurance
Bring a set of transcripts with you in case you require them for interviews or new degree applications.

Most Important
Documents: I20, Passport and Visa originals must be with you right from you board plane in India till you land in USA.
Make sure to have some Xerox copies of I20 & visa and keep in your bag. Health care check up records

Cooking
Cooking is probably the most useful skill to acquire while in India. Eating out often is not practical, because of the effort (often not within walking distance), the cost (an average meal in a restaurant specially Indian Restaurant is around $10 and to your surprise is costlier than in an American Food Outlet), and the fact that it takes some time to acquire different tastes. It is often a welcome break though!

Also, there comes a time in everyone's existence in America when one is absolutely tired of cooking. The better cook you are, the later this will happen. And yes, you will feel at times that you were better off eating commons grub. Most students cook regularly, so ensure you know the basics for a simple meal, and then learn specialties if you have the time and motivation.
Vegetables commonly available all season are Potatoes, Onions, Green peppers (Capsicum), Tomatoes, various kinds of beans including green beans, Chana, kidney beans, and others. Cauliflowers, Cabbage, mushrooms, are also available easily. All kinds of meats are easily available.
Most kinds of daals are available at local Indian Grocery stores. For those more ambitious, there are a number of on-line recipe books you can find on the internet.

Housing, Health Insurance and Climate
Most students prefer to stay in family housing in groups of two-four, in order to lower their expenses. Single/Double bedroom furnished and unfurnished apartments are available around the university. Unfurnished apartments will include a refrigerator, a cooking range cum oven, wall to wall carpeting and other fixtures. Furnished apartments will throw in furniture (sofas, drawers etc.) as well.
Monthly rent per student ranges from $250 to $ 375 on a sharing basis. Upon your arrival, ISC will try and accommodate you along with other students in an apartment. If you eat mostly at home, food would run around $100-$150 a month for supplies, plus the cost of eating out.

Get used to walking, as you'll do a lot of that, at least in the beginning. Public transport in general is bad in this part of America, and while it’s useful to go to a few specific places, you won't use it regularly. Buses are infrequent; taxies are expensive (and not available on the street, you need to call for them). Making friends with people who own cars is a good idea. The temples are not accessible by bus, so you'll have to go with someone who is driving.
The Foreign Student orientation is very useful - you get many useful tips, and make many friends.
The comprehensive health insurance costs around $2/day.
Days are very long in summer. Even in August, it won't get dark until after 8:30 PM. The downside is that in winter it’s dark by 5 PM!
The average summer temperature is around 30 degrees C. In winter it dips to around -10 degrees C. Night time temperatures are around 15 degrees and sub zero degrees C respectively.
It’s common for unknown people to smile at each other, and say things like "how are you?" or "how's going?" even when they pass you on the street. These don't mean much, and are often just an artifact of social etiquette - almost any answer is fine.

Cost Of Living/ Expenses
We would like to give you an approximate estimate of expenses you will incur during your first semester here. Accordingly you can bring along an appropriate amount with you
* Food - $100-$150 /month.
* Rent - $250-$375/month.
* Miscellaneous - $250 (first month only).

Total amount to be carried
We advise you to bring Tuition + Insurance + $600 for your first semester if you don't have an assistantship or fee waiver, and if you would not mind doing an hourly job on-campus.
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Virginia International University is not responsible for the content/ message in this document. Indian Student Club is providing this information as reference only.