Packing for a beach vacation is easy: sunscreen, sandals, swimsuit, sunglasses, something else starting with S and you’re all set! Packing for six months or even a year studying in another country – well, that’s a bit higher on the difficulty scale.
Your seminary, yeshiva, study abroad program, program alumni, friends and well-meaning relatives are likely to have plenty of advice for you about what you should bring, but it can often be just as difficult to make tough decisions about what to leave at home. Whether it’s worries about whether you’ll be able to find your favorite conditioner in Israel or the emotional trauma of abandoning your teddy bear at your parents’ house, it can seem like there are just too many things that need to go in your suitcase.
There are some things that just don’t need to come along for the ride
“Heavy Liquids In Bottles”
Sure, travel-size containers are a rip-off, but for the most part, you’re going to be able to find a version — or at least a passable approximation — of the toiletries and other products you normally use in your study abroad country. If you’re absolutely in love with a specific moisturizer and not having it is going to destroy your quality of life, then by all means bring it, but it’s not the most efficient use of your limited suitcase space or weight to fill it with Costco-sized bottles of shampoo and face wash when you’ll be able to buy those in your study abroad city.
Best to buy in Israel. Yes, everything is more expensive in Israel, but you can get a decent bottle of shampoo for 12 shek which is about R39 – not terrible.
It’s a lot better than paying for overweight luggage or having exploding bottles of gooey stuff in your neatly packed suitcase. As a guide, I used 2 big bottles of shampoo the whole year. (Americans – As for blow-dryers or irons, it’s probably better to get in Israel or borrow because they’re not likely to survive the difference in voltage, converter or not.)
“How Many Pairs Of Shoes Do You Really Need?”
Any more than that, and you’re probably over packing.
“Culturally Appropriate Clothing”
This should be a no-brainer, think Shabbat clothes maybe bring something fancy just in case you have an event/simcha. If your staying in Jerusalem think about the very windy winters and maybe invest in a good poncho.
“Do You Really Need Tons Of Electronics?”
Obviously, some things, especially laptops, are a necessity for a semester abroad. If you plan on using your phone while studying abroad, of course you’ll want to pack that too. If not, it can be nice to have an iPod or other music player for those days when you’re stuck in hours of traffic trying to get home or maybe that e-reader for traveling.
Beyond that, try to think really strategically about which of your devices you actually need. Electronics are probably the universal number one target for theft — you’re way more likely to get a phone stolen than pretty much anything else you own — so don’t bring more targets than you absolutely need, especially if you would be really upset to have any of them stolen.
Besides, you should be spending your free time outside getting to know your new city and country, not inside playing Candy Crush!
“Lots Of Food Or Snacks”
Look, I get it — the idea of going months without peanut butter eats me up inside (no pun intended) too. But while you think you may be unable to get through your semester abroad without constant access to Doritos — which, news flash, they probably sell there — weaning yourself off your favorite snacks can help you discover tasty new treats that you might never have tried otherwise.
Besides Israel has its own unique snacks, and part of the fun of living abroad is finding out which ones you wish you could bring home with you and which ones you’d prefer to stay a continent away.
Part of the fun of living abroad is finding out which [snacks] you wish you could bring home with you and which ones you’d prefer to stay a continent away.
“Leave The Diamonds Behind”
You don’t need to assume that everyone is going to try to rob you or that you can’t bring anything that’s special to you, but objects of value are big targets, so really ask yourself whether the possibility of losing something is worth the risk of bringing it. Maybe you haven’t taken off that necklace your grandmother gave you in five years, but it’s worth thinking about if you can get by without it for a few months, knowing it’ll be safe and waiting for you when you get back.
“Leave the Books Behind”
The last thing is not to send books or sefarim– cheaper to buy them in Israel than pay for their weight, unless it’s a special book. There are lots of used bookstores for novels etc. and definitely seforim stores there. Unless you want English-Hebrew books- those are hard to find. Especially English -Hebrew machzorim.
“Linens: Stay Or Go?”
Buy/borrow from relatives in Israel unless you have the space. Additionally, in most semminaries girls from the previous year leave everything behind, so if you don’t mind, ask your semminary if they offer bedding/sefarim second hand. There are also companies in Israel like, Tamarim that offers an array of services from gifts to student dorm packs. So no matter what you can buy everything you might need once you arrive.
“School Materials: Leave It”
Get files, dividers, paper and any other bulky stationery items in Israel (max Stock)
(For Americans – Israeli binders and paper have 2 holes as opposed to 3, and the paper is larger too, so get your paper, binders and hole makers in Israel to avoid having to send home for more when you run out.)
A file is 10 – 15 shek which is about the same as here, so please don’t shlepp several files along in your suitcase!
Keep in mind that most seminaries will most likely help set you up with really nice families for Shabbat. Remember that you will need to do most of the calling and arranging–but thankfully by using Talknsave you have unlimited calling. Plan what to say before you call. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a place to go—Israeli mentally with regards to guests is very different than Americans. Guests are a part of life in Israel, whether you know them or not, eating by strangers is normal. You will meet amazing people from all over and see how different people celebrate Shabbat. Shabbat will be the high of your week!
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Stress less — Here at TalknSave we offer outstanding American customer service is so you can focus on what really matters. We know your time is precious while you’re visiting Israel, so if you have a problem, we’ll do our best to get you a working phone as soon as possible. We have our full-service office in Jerusalem where you can walk in and walk out with a working phone in minutes.
Mobile hotspots are critical for anyone who travels or who needs to have constant access to the internet with multiple devices. Our mobile hotspot offers you to be able to surf the web at faster speeds, thanks to our LTE network. More than that, I think that the best advantage of using a hotspot, besides not having to worry about racking up huge fees is the convenience– WIFI all the time and anywhere you go. And a dedicated connection for your devices. Eliminating all of the worries of using an unsecured network and the annoyance of having to find a WIFI connection.
We are now offering unlimited calling to Canada for no additional fees. Forget about hidden fees or a massive bill. With TalknSave we strive to keep you connected while you can keep your bills down.
With our ”Stay Local” number, you can have a local US* number that rings on your phone in Israel. Parents love this feature – there are no codes to remember, no PINs, no need to top off minutes. We’re sure you’re going to love it too!
*Not from the USA? No problem – we have lots of other country choices too.
If you already own a compatible phone, you can just rent a free SIM card from TalknSave for short or long term use. If your a frequent traveler to Israel i.e more than once a year, check out our SIM for Life program which is the best way to have a permanent number in Israel. Invaluable for business travelers and immeasurably convenient for families; stop renting phones and save the most.
No need to return your SIM when you are done!
Use old SIM cards to sign up again!
All incoming calls are free with our unlimited talk within Israel. Isn’t that nice? Doesn’t matter where they’re from, local or international. With just a click you can instantly keep track of your phone usage, which will come in handy since you’ll for sure be making international calls.
A lot of them.
Right now, you probably almost never call another country from your cell phone. But when you’re in Israel, your family expects to hear from you! Make sure you check what you’re paying for int’l calls. It’s cheaper than you think!
We’re happy to accommodate tour groups, large family trips, missions, etc. Don’t hesitate to contact our amazing Groups Department for a custom solution just for your needs! Email groups@talknsave.net now.
We offer free sim delivery before you even arrive, just pop in your new sim and your rearing to go. No matter where you choose delivery, you can usually get your phone number in advance of your rental start date. At the end of your rental, there is no need to return your SIM card; you can save it for next time!
TalknSave’s “Stay Local” number will keep you connected with your top people back home. With our ”Stay Local” number, you can have a local US* number that rings on your phone in Israel. Parents love this feature – there are no codes to remember, no PINs, no need to top off minutes. We’re sure you’re going to love it too!
4G LTE™ is actually two different terms that are often combined into one. 4G is the fourth and latest generation technology for data access over cellular networks. LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, is a protocol for wireless high-speed data communications. Combined together, 4G LTE means you’ll enjoy the most advanced data speed available within the network.