MBA Blogs @ Manchester Business School

I want to throw all my Bangkok life into the bag, take everything to the UK so that I can just land all my stuff in the room and do not need to buy anything at all. BUT as you know … the weight limit for the luggage is 30kg (+ hand carry 7kg). We need to do a bit of prioritisation. (I managed to buy a Korean bag that literally has no weight at all   Also I have a hand carry that have like 20kg weight but I manage to maintain a smily face pretending that it is not heavy at all and of course, no one can touch the bag. My friend from China (MBS) told the lady at the check-in counter that it is her first time travelling abroad and she is a student who really needs all the stuff to study. She also got away with that excuse as well. And as far as I know she brought 8 bags total weight almost 80kg -_-! She beats me in this!)

In the picture is the bags and I (in the cap from Machester airport, 15th Aug 2010)

Looking back, if I have to do everything again, what is a definitely must bring (or ding?)

1.Medicines.

Especially antibiotic and antihistamine. I always catch cold and the medicines I take are quite strong. I usually take 1000mg of amoxikav tablet (While the one they sold in Boots in the UK is only 250mg) for 3 times a day, Clarinase 24 hour, etc. In bangkok, the hospital is really good especially the private one. So you get everything sorted out for you very quickly from seeing a doctor to getting your medicine (with a very good service, of course!) but here, in the UK, it is quite different, the doctor will not give you medicine when you caught a cold. You will need to recover it by yourself or buy a cold medicine from a counter which is no where near the medicine I usually took. Basically, you need to wait for your virus to develop to a certain level that the doctor will give you more advance level of medicine. This process can take up to 2 weeks. So to be safe, Medicine is a must BRING!

(Later on, Laura told me that  in the UK doctors do control the prescription of antibiotics, it’s to reduce antibiotic resistance which increases when antibiotics are used too much. I know it’s not the same as in Thailand but it’s for a good reason…)

Now I understand that I am one of the people who have been spoiled to use these medicines!! Too late… I think.

2. Clothes

From my experience, no need to bring a lot because Manchester has everything you want You can wear jeans to class but if you have a client meeting, CMS networking events or a class presentation, a proper business dress is required.

For ladies, I think it is very hard to find the short heel shoes here. If you love them, then bring from home.

(Bedding, you can buy the everything from Asda, primark, Argos, etc. Except long pillow, they do not sell it here. My friend shipped it from Thailand)

3. Stationary

If you can’t study or read the textbook without colour pens, highlighters, etc. You might want to bring them from your home. Stationary is expensive here.

4. Important documents such as transcript, international driving license, credit cards, etc.

5. IT

Notebook –> Class 2012–> no need to bring but if you are a Mac user, you will miss it if you don’t bring it with you.

New Class, I heard that you guys will be provided an ipad right? It’s so cool. Congrats. So I reckon you should bring

1. Notebook

2. Lan cable (especially if you live in victoria hall, there is no wireless - they only have high-speed broadband) 

3. USB drive

4. Mouse

6. Contact lens –> bring

7. Instant food, cooking ingredients –> No need, Manchester has everything (This case apply to Thai, Chinese, Taiwanese, etc. I do not mean to discriminate. It’s just I never cook other kinds of international food)

8. Rice Cooker (Confirmed by my chinese friend). Actually, Tarun (Mr. President) knows how to cook the rice without using a rice cooker. If he could tell us, it would be great!!!

For everything else, there is Master card. (I use NatWest, BTW)