elvis has left the building

It's been over two months since I have moved into my permanent place. Although I can be a homebody, especially in the winter months in New York, for some reason, I'm constantly out and about here. I haven't finished a book that I have started here yet. Although I don't cook much and insisted on having an oven, I have only used my kitchen to boil water once. Many of the weekends have been filled up with trips (e.g., Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and other domestic locations). Regardless, I have not organized and put away the items that I had shipped. Someone speculated that it is because I don't want to put down roots here. 

Apartment View @ Night

Since I moved out of my Chelsea apartment in early December, which was before my transfer date was determined, I had to decide at that time what items get stored and what items get shipped to Vietnam. I had spent a bit of time researching what other expats recommended to pack or not pack, especially items that would get hung up at customs and/or that are not readily available in Vietnam. For example, media (e.g., books, DVDs) may get screened for content, which given translation issues, would take a long time to clear customs. Despite what was noted in that's a-mores!, pornography including toys would be confiscated. One blogger recommended condoms since the quality here is questionable, and supposedly, the size is not as diverse.

Quite frankly, I had forgotten what I had put into the air cargo category. Over the last few months, there were certain things that I was hoping I had heeded other bloggers' advice on, such as loading up with tampons since they are pretty scarce in this part of the world, but had faint recollections of such preparations to the point where I doubted myself. The housekeeper who comes three times a week started to put things in piles just to clear up areas for her to clean. So I decided that I was going to buckle down this week, and would force myself to put things away by hosting a pool/BBQ party at my place this weekend.

I am a bit baffled at some of the things I decided to bring and not bring in my infinite wisdom - common sense may have been on a vacation that day.

• Wig - a spontaneous purchase with a friend but since I've decided to grow out my hair, the long-hair wig makes less sense now. Hair extensions here cost less than the wig does.
• Toaster oven - made sense until I realized that the voltage here is significantly different. I have already fried my hair dryer, flat iron and rollers.
• Corset - while this came in handy for a theme charity event, I'm not sure why I didn't decide to also pack the garter attachments that goes with the corset as well as the stockings to go with it. Somehow I also managed to pack a garter belt but of course a bit useless without stockings, which are impossible to find here without it costing something like USD 40.
• Cowboy boots - I've lived in Texas for almost 20 years without owning cowboy boots, but for some reason, I had a hankering to purchase some boots before leaving for Vietnam and somehow thought that bringing two pairs made sense in this part of the world where flip flops are worn for a reason - who wants toe sweat?
• Freestanding burner - hasn't been used since college when I lived in a dorm. I can't think of an occasion where I would even need this, especially given the voltage issue.
• Computer locks - not just one but two. Neither personal nor work computers have slots where these would fit.
• Sewing kit/medical scissors - those scissors would cut through anything too but somehow it didn't make it into the cargo. =(
• Certain shoes, clothes, etc. - if I didn't wear them (even if they still had tags on them) for years in New York, I'm not sure why I thought that I would do so here.
• Jewelry - I've heard stories about necklaces, earrings, etc. getting yanked off of people so not sure why I thought it made sense to pack all of these. I've already lost portions of 3 pairs of earrings and 2 belly rings and I'm not entirely sure how.