BootsnAll Travel Community

Okay, so I leave Australia in just over a month and I had NO IDEA how much you have to do before you move back to your country. I made the big mistake of asking a couple of questions so now I have to get up at 5am tomorrow to call Canada Customs in Manitoba to find out how to label the box of my crappy, nearly value-free belongings. This is all so I won't have to pay duty on things I purchased in Canada in case some overzealous government clerk has decided that I intend to make my millions by importing used socks for resale.

Then, I have to fill out about a million forms to declare every item I'm bringing back with me because apparently my year-old nickers have commercial value(??).

Of course, this is all in preparation for returning to a place I don't really want to be when it is still cold and rainy. I hate rain.

At least I got a cheap flight back... I guess.

When I moved from Germany back to Oz, I thought it was going to be nightmarish but it turned out to be pretty painless - hope the same for you.
I had heard horror stories about paying huge customs fees, having customs pull apart your stuff and take what they liked, stuff getting damaged enroute etc.
But going through a shipping company who knew the ropes was a good idea. They mailed me the relevant forms to fill out, did all the paperwork, picked up and delivered door to door (letting you bypass port/customs officials) and were the cheapest option.
And when I was looking online, there were heaps more shippers in the US/Canada region than in the EU so you should be able to track down some budget-friendly options.

Hey Borderland,

You're probably right that the whole thing will be less painful than it looks at the moment.

Too bad I'm shipping from Australia to Canada. So far, the only companies I've found have been Global Gossip and Australia Post. I'm only sending one 20kg box. Anyway, when I went to Global Gossip to pick up a box, the person who was serving me knew nothing about that service. At least Australia post is used to handling boxes so I've opted to send something with them.

The funny thing is that I spent a couple of hours looking for other shippers, but no dice. Oh well, what could possibly go wrong....

Just think, after this, I get to worry about banking, tax, superannuation, quitting my job, trying to cancel my phone contract, dealing with DIMIA and my university about leaving the country, etc. My to-do list is SOOOOOOOO long, I can't even begin to see the edges of it so I'm hoping that if I keep doing things, eventually I'll be able to get a handle on it.

Wish me luck.

OK, how in heck were you able to live in Australia with whatever fits into a 20kg box + your flight luggage? I had 350kg of stuff and I travel pretty light - no furniture, no appliances etc.

amazing.

Oh crap, I didn't declare anything when I shipped it home from Oz to the states. That was 5 years ago, and no one has ever asked anything

quote:

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Originally posted by borderland:
OK, how in heck were you able to live in Australia with whatever fits into a 20kg box + your flight luggage? I had 350kg of stuff and I travel pretty light - no furniture, no appliances etc.

amazing.

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I could claim to be very spiritual and have eliminated all materialist urges, but I'd be lying.

Truth be told, I've taken what I own and reduced it to what I absolutely need or, roughly 70kg all up. Photos, cards and other momentos count in the 'need' pile, but I've sold almost all my sports equipment and have given away anything housey because the cost to ship outweighs the cost to replace.

When I get back, I'm starting from scratch, but just think of all the new things I get to buy

Are you moving back to that really isolated spot you grew up in? A log cabin on the lake; Population:5 etc.?

I haven't lived there since I was six, and to be honest, I could never live in that kind of isolation. I need more than that.

Nope, I'm heading back to a cold, wet town with a crappy job market so that I can study for another year. I'm depressed just thinking about it....