So you may not usually make lists. We are not all the most organised of people. But however you feel about your organizational skills, writing a checklist is a necessity for anyone about to move to the UK. Now is the time to start: a flight ticket without a passport is not much fun...

 
We’ve made a start on this below to help you remember some of the things you will need to bring and do before you leave. Some of these are pretty obvious. But let’s be honest, most of us are more likely to forget the most important things and remember the most obscure things we will never use!

What you need

But before we get to the checklist itself, have a think if there is anything that might help you in a new country. So you need to make sure you have the things that might help you settle into life in a new place like the UK.  

Consider bringing things that can help you get through day-to-day life – perhaps something that reminds you of home. You might think this would have the opposite effect if you are feeling homesick, but having things that you are used to around you in a new place may be a great comfort.

Look for photographs of you, your family and friends to put up in your new home in the UK – it’s good to have those who care about around you! You could also bring some traditional foods from your own country or favourite recipes that will remind you of home. (check you are allowed to bring them with you first!)

Before you go

As well as things you need to bring with you to the UK, also think about things you need to do before you leave:

- Find someone who can send you anything you need in the future that you forget to bring now! This could be anything you miss from home such as your favourite chocolate!

- Make digital copies of all the documents (passport, driving licence etc.) you need in case you lose them, or just need to refer to them at any time. You could scan these in to a computer and save them on a digital memory stick where they can easily be found.

- Make a copy of all your contacts in your mobile phone before you leave – if you lose your phone while you are in the UK, you are not likely to bump into your friends so you can get their number again!

- Take as many contact details of your friends and family as you can – get their home phones, their mobile numbers and email addresses so you have no chance of losing contact! Contact with people you know will help a lot, especially in the early stages of being in the UK. And with the internet, it’s easy to keep in touch with people who may be thousands of kilometres away!

- Go and visit everyone you know – or even throw a leaving party to let everyone know where you are going and that they are welcome to visit you while you are in the UK. Your family members will be very happy to see you before you leave, and the more people you can involve in your new life the better it will be for you!

Things to bring with you:

All the clothes you take on holiday plus warm, waterproof clothes and an umbrella to help take care of you in the predictably bad British weather!

Shoes for every occasion
Towels, toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste
Your plane tickets
Passport (or ID card)
Driving licence
Birth certificate
Pet certification e.g. vaccination certificates, PET passport
Plug adapters – you will need an adapter to connect your existing electrical equipment to the power supply in the UK
Favourite recipes – so you can cook the food you love
Photos of you, your family and friends
British money
Credit/debit cards
Medication?
Laptop computer (and its charger!)
Camera
Mobile phone (and charger!)
Batteries and chargers
Books and magazines
Some of your favourite food

Things to do before you leave:

Find a job!
Research a place to stay in the UK
Pets – if you have them, make sure you have everything in place so that you can bring them with you
Insurance – for you and for your belongings
Mobile phone – make sure yours will work when you get here or you know what you are going to do when you get here to make it work!
Go and visit all your friends and family, tell them where you are going and that they can visit anytime!
Take photos of your home town to show people you meet in the UK
Read as much OKinUK as you can!

 

By Matt Taylor

 

To be listed here click

USEFUL WORDS

memento = something kept to remember something or someone, especially good things
digital copy
contacts list
keep in contact/touch with = to communicate frequently with someone by writing or by phone
throw a leaving party = to give a party
waterproof clothes = clothes which do not let water through or cannot be damaged by water
adaptor plug = a device for connecting an electrical appliance in a different country

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

False Friends

actual = real
present = current, existing now

ignore = deliberately take no notice of, pay no attention to
not know = have no knowledge of
 
camping = activity of holidaying in a tent
camp-site = a place for setting up tents

morale = spirits, state of mind
moral = right, proper, virtuous

frequent = go to often
attend = go to a school, course, be present at

adequate = enough, sufficient
suitable = right for purpose

argument = disagreement; supporting reason
subject = something talked or written about or studied

eventually = finally, after a long time
possibly = perhaps or maybe

assist = help
attend = be present at

souvenir = something bought or taken home as a reminder of a visit, occasion etc.
memory = something remembered, ability to remember

sympathetic = showing sympathy or understanding, willing to listen
nice = pleasant

voyage = journey by sea
journey = travelling from one place to another

become = grow, develop into
obtain = get possession of

legend = very old, possibly untrue, story
key = set of symbols and their meaning on a map etc.