Everyone keeps asking what to bring and what not to bring
when moving to Tonga. I will tell you
now that everyone wants/needs different things.
When Barry (my husband) and I first planned to move here in
July 2015 we packed everything we thought that we could not live without.
Sentimental items, king sized memory foam bed, $4,000 fridge and freezer set,
quad bikes, side by side, and a hundred more items that we figured we could not
live without. After being in Vava’u for
6 months we found out that none of that stuff is good for here and we were VERY
GLAD at that point that life happened and we did not actually end up shipping
all of that stuff all the way to Tonga.
And why were we happy about that? Because the bed is so big
it will not fit in the bedroom that we have. The fridge/freezer – while
beautiful, huge and perfect for our foodie tendencies – is too big to fit in
the kitchen, not made to withstand the salt in the air, and would cost an arm
and a leg to run in Vava’u. The quad bikes – while very nice – can be bought
and imported cheaper then what their used value was in Canada and as for the
cost of the side by side, one can be imported for less than the cost of buying
and shipping one from Canada.
Barry and I spent 6 months in Vava’u and when my father came
to visit he packed an extra suitcase just for stuff that we wanted. The list
was very simple … Feminine hygiene products for me and new knives and measuring
cups for Barry – both which are hard to find here in good quality.
Our next “order” coming in October 2016 is also very simple
– knife sharpener for Barry’s knives, sewing machine needles, meat injector for
our Deli business, flask (for the late night parties in the bush), and a few
skin care products that I cannot get on the Island.
It all depends on what you absolutely have to have compared
to what you need. Toothpaste? There is
lots. Not the wonderful assortment and fancy flavours that we are used to
having our choice of but Crest and Colgate are available at many Chinese
stores. Hell, I even saw Closeup at one store.
Some stores specialise in ordering from Costco in the US and will take
orders if you ask them nicely. And most
times all you have to do is wander through the Saturday morning market to find
other items that are not cheap and Chinese – such as Charmin TP (a big treat
here but not something most people would pack).
As for larger items that do not fit in your suitcase quite
so easily, shipping from New Zealand or Australia is fast, easy and reasonably
priced. For example, I just bought
160kgs of items online from a reputable store in New Zealand that I cannot get
in Vava’u. I have contracted with a shipper in Auckland – Friendly Islands
Freight (recommended to me by people who have used them for shipping to Vava’u)
– and I will have these items in my possession within 2 weeks of ordering for
about $150 NZ. I personally think this a
good price considering where we live.
If you don’t mind used items you can always ask around for
items that others have brought in that are just sitting in storage right now.
Furniture can be bought from local builders or you can pay
for the imported stuff from stores in Nuku Alofa or in Vava’u. This price might seem outrageous at first but
if you remember that the US dollar is double the Tonga Pa’anga or that shipping
from North America is nearly outrageous then the high looking prices are
definitely worth it.
Also, there are often people coming in who have no problem
bringing the small “can’t live without” items like sewing machine needles, or
watch batteries, are a bottle of an herb or spice that you can’t get here.
I recommend – leave your items in a prepaid storage facility
near a person of trust. If after 6 months you think it is worth it to ship your
items here to Vava’u then have your person ship them. If you don’t need them,
then have your person sell the items.
Because it is absolutely amazing how your priorities change
after you have been here for 6 months.
