Good News & Moving Questions!!!

[Suzanne]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't been around much. It's been crazy in the last two months as my house was robbed twice with one attempted break-in between. This all occurred in a 4-day span. Our police department couldn't catch a cold! Luckily the night of the attempted break-in, I got my computer out of the house so when they came back and broke the door, they didn't get that or my digital camera.

Per received his interview paperwork last Wednesday and is almost finished filling it out. He was told 2-4 months from that date!!! I can't wait.

He was here just after Easter to meet my family and friends. We told my mom and dad about my move just before he left and my mom was thrilled. My dad didn't say much but was still positive. I am planning everything as if I was moving in October. According to Per there are some reasons I need to be there before November. I know I can have my house sold before I leave as I've already had 5 interested people with the house not even being officially up for sale.

I was wondering if anyone could offer me some tips on packing. I really have a lot of options as far as the things I can bring. I am not bringing any furniture or electronics. I am going to give my computer to my mom as Per can get a good deal on computers. I have already sent most of my cd's with him and many of the DVD's he was going to take back were stolen. I will bring anywhere from 1 - 3 cubic meters (8-24 18" X 18" X 24" boxes) of items, mostly clothing and shoes, doll collection, blankets, towels, 1 set of stoneware, Christmas decorations, pictures, a few books, and personal items such as makeup, perfumes, lotions, etc.

Based on your experiences:

Would it be better to ship my towels and afghans (which are in great shape) or to buy new ones?

What are all the shipping costs I have to know about? I can get my items to a shipping company in Chicago easily. I am leaning towards American Baggage which would allow me to ship to Gothenburg for 310 per cubic meter for 3 or less cubic meters. There is a $35 handling fee and terminal fees of less than $100 for unaccompanied baggage service for up to 25 cubic feet. What exactly is unaccompanied baggage? What are customs clearance fees?

One company quoted me $8.15 per cubic foot (100 cubic foot minimum or 2.83 cubic meters) from Chicago to Gothenburg and another $860 for customs clearance and delivery to Trollhattan. Then $18 per $1,000 for insurance. My quote doesn't include Port taxes and duties. Are these different from customs taxes? Would I be better off picking up my own things in Gothenburg?

Another option is additional cargo on the airplane.

I have to move as cheaply as possible as I don't know how long I will be unemployed once I get there.

Sorry this is so long. Any hints will help! If you have any websites in plain English that would be great too!

Thanks!

[Sandy]

Yay! Glad to hear that it is moving along!

Sorry to hear about the break in!

Towels (probably the afghans, too), I would bring. I have some Swedish friends complain about the towels here being so thin and that they really like the thick fluffy ones you can get in the States. You can pack them with those space bags that suck out the air, so that they take less space.

[Carolyn]

Pleased to hear that you'll soon be joining us on this side of the pond, but sorry to hear about the crime wave.

I brought over towels and wish I hadn't, because I've found some good bath sheets here, but then maybe I'm not as picky as some. I think they're thick enough and large enough myself. I also shipped over a queen-sized quilt and lots of other bedding and I have to tell you, the quilt is now in the storage. The fitted sheets have been nice if you're very particular about patterns and colors. An American queen size will fit on a 160cm wide bed and the king will fit a 180 cm wide bed here. But they are also introducing fitted sheets more and more here too, although the color selection is a little limited.

I gotta tell you, as much as I adore my husband, I've recently gone over to the Swedish style of having two comforters on a bed. I bought two heavy down-filled single bed comforters for the winter and two lightweight cotton ones for the summer. They fit into sacks called påslaken, so these can be taken off like a sheet and laundered quite regularly, and the real advantage is that you no longer have to worry about cover hogs or somebody letting in cold air, but you can still find each other for cuddles.

Other than those comments, I think you're all set. YOu know where to find me if you have more questions!

[Debbie]

I agree about not bringing towels. I have found bath sheets in several places that are thick and fluffy.

I brought five large suitcases on the plane when I moved in 99. I told them I was moving to get married and they even had pity on me and did not charge me for the extra baggage!

BTW Lycka till!

[Natooke]

Sorry to hear about the break-ins

Personaly I would bring my towels & afgans ... for sentimental reasons (well maybe not bath towels so much, but a few you really like ;D) & it would bring a sence of you to your new home. This for me helped me with my transition to Sweden ... until I adapted or found what I needed here. Same goes with measuring cups/spoons ... not only will you be learning to bake/cook in metric still pack them anyways ... I just figured instead of trying to convert my old favs. to metric, I could just follow the imperial measurments for the recipes.

Even thou fitted sheets are coming to Sweden ... I still buy mine in Canada since we have a King Size Bed.

Drop by soon Suzanne ;D
Cheers Natooke

[Sandy]

I also bought sheet suspenders the last time I was in the States to hold the bottom sheets on the too thin Swedish top matresses.

[Sabeine]

I am 50/50 on this with the towels and throws. Though one doesn't need to bring them here (since one can buy towels here) I still brought 4 new fluffy martex bath towels that I bought for a bargain at Costco. I also brought two smaller afghan type throws. I don't use the afghans so much though one would think so during the cold winter months, but it just turned out that way. With regards to the towels I am glad that I brought them. Sure one can find some fluffy towels here but they are more expensive in my experience. I took them with me so that I would have a "homey" feeling.

I left a lot of personal items behind such as pictures, some small vases and other items because it took so much space. I regretted it afterwards. I have since been back to the States a couple of times and collected them since they were at my Mom's. I think if the item doesn't mean so much to you then leave it, otherwise it might be worth bringing provided it isn't a very large item. I felt I adjusted better because I had items that I was familiar with around me. There are many things that I took with me that I don't use now, but in the beginning it was nice to have it around me, even if most of it ended up here in storage.

[Suzanne]

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely opt to bring my towels (I have a couple nice sets). I've already brought over plenty of wash clothes since I never saw one anywhere. My mom made all my afghans so I think I'll take most of those with me. Packing up this house is going to get really hairy. I've spent 15 years here by myself and have accumulated quite a bit of stuff!

[Pam]

Don't forget washcloths! And don't just pack these things, use them as packing. Wrap them around glass stuff or fill in any "extra" (LOL If there is such a thing!!) space.

[Natooke]

Pam said:

Don't forget washcloths! And don't just pack these things, use them as packing. Wrap them around glass stuff or fill in any "extra" (LOL If there is such a thing!!) space.

Oh how could I forget facecloths With Pams suggestion I also used pillows ... blanckets ... socks & underwear ... sweaters you name it to fill the nicks & crannies & it helped to protect many an item.