Things to buy in the US
It would be nice to be able to take all the comforts of home to America when you leave, but let’s face it: in two suitcases, it just isn’t going to happen.  But leaving to MIT isn’t like moving to the Mongolian outback.  All the necessities of life are available, at a price, and you’ll find that in a year, you will accumulate more stuff than you can bring home with you.
There are a couple of “department stores” close to campus in a shopping area called the Cambridgeside Galleria. These department stores, Filenes and Sears, sell a world of household goods.  Equipping yourself in the first few weeks can prove expensive, but there are some indispensable, fundamental things (thankfully not many) that you really need – bedding, crockery/cutlery and electrical appliances.  There is no real use in bringing over any electrical appliances unless they make use of dual voltage because everything is 110V out there in America.
Depending on what kind of person you are, the cutlery/crockery bit can be pleasingly inexpensive.  A few hundred yards up Massachusetts Avenue from MIT towards Harvard is the Salvation Army shop.  You can equip your entire kitchen for under ten dollars.  If you decide that’s not for you, then Filenes or Sears would be your best bet although you can’t really buy anything in there for under ten dollars. The communal approach towards purchases is recommended-- going halves on a pan set, etc.  Everybody will need the same start up equipment and it is beneficial to buy in bulk and split the cost.
Linen and bedding can be bought from either of the department stores, as well as the MIT COOP.  It is probably about the same price everywhere.  Beds in America are apparently a different size from the UK – they seem bigger – so if you take sheets over, make sure they are not the fitted sort.  Taking sheets over with you is subject to space restraints but bedding is a priority item, as you will need them upon arrival, because – and be forewarned – the beds will be bare.
The range of necessary electrical appliances varies from person to person.  Things that you might want to buy are an alarm clock, answering machine (internal phoning is free but apparently networks don’t offer answering services), hair dryer, desk lamps and stereo.  Most places have communal kitchen facilities so sharing toasters and kettles shouldn’t be a problem.  Radio Shack sells answering machines and stereos and there is one along Mass. Ave. and another in the Cambridgeside Galleria.  Things like hairdryers, toasters, kettles, desk lamps, hangers, etc. can be found in the department stores, LaVerdes or the COOP.
If you are considering buying a laptop before you head out to America, the sage would suggest waiting because they are generally cheaper in the US.
The Americans use a different paper size from the British, so paper and folders for the year are best bought once you arrive in the US. The MIT COOP is the easiest place to go for all stationery needs. 

  • No labels