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International Field Engineer Travel Tips?
ShamelessHero writes "I was recently hired as a Field Engineer, deploying servers, workstations and peripherals to sites around the globe. I try and travel light, but try as I might, the Emergency Repair Kit has ruined three sets of luggage so far. I know there are Slashdotters here who travel internationally and through some treacherous environs. What are the best travel tips you've come up with? Recommendations for durable, light yet large luggage are much appreciated."
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If you need to take a large set of tools with you, get dedicated hardcase luggage with foam cutouts for each item. Is that what you mean by "Emergency Repair Kit"?
Is it possible to ship the hardware you need to the site a few days before you arrive?
Can you learn to pack so that you don't ruin one set of stuff with another set of stuff?
http://www.anvilcase.com/
Windows is not the answer.
Windows is the question.
The answer is "NO."
Bring lots of condoms.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Seriously - Ship your supplies (and if possible, clothing) there, and ship them back. You should only have two things to actually lug around while travelling - You, and a book to read on the plane.
Don't drink the water. The local wine or beer is probably much better.
Invenio via vel creo
While it may cost a little more, having your tools shipped will save wear and tear on the luggage, and the way airlines are charging extra based on weight of luggage, you will be better off not dealing with that potential snarl at the airport.
Since airline regs mandate that your tools go in the checked baggage, you will have a better chance of actually having your tools arrive at the same time you do if you ship them.
I'm a happy pessimist. I expect and prepare for the worst, when it doesn't happen I am pleasantly surprised.
Get a pelican case, waterproof and near indestructible for tools and equipment.
Get another for your stuff.
They come with removable foam, and you can customize spots for each tool.
Some other tips-
Carry some cash somewhere on your person other then your wallet. Carry more then one type of credit or debit card. (machine ate one of mine in china when I arrived in China. It was NOT a good day)
Printout maps to all the hotels you are staying at-its handy to show cab drivers that don't speak english.
Carry some basic things like a small travel toothbrush, and hand napkins on your person. If the plane you are about to board has the luggage loading door torn off-you will appreciate this as you spend the night somewhere with no luggage.
Deodorant is your friend-yeah they don't sweat in the 110 degree 90% humidity heat. If you were born in Minnesota, odds are you do.
Don't assume things. Some fun examples-
Going out to eat Pussy, in China refers to the district you are going to have dinner in NOT the activity.
When Chinese are saying "nigga" they are NOT referring to any color of your skin, its not related.
When asked if you want a "Chinese girlfriend" they are asking about a hooker, not if you want to meet nice Chinese women to get a girlfriend. Try to avoid conversations where at the end of it they assume you are gay. God that was funny later. Not so much at the time.
Buy tools and shavers that take both 110 and 220.
Bring adapter plugs.
Hotel networks are often horrifically infected with spyware etc-keep a firewall up, and up to date anti-virus.
If you don't think you can eat those chicken feet, or bugs without throwing up-decline.
If you CAN eat horrific things, and the locals are messing with you to make you look foolish-suggest a better place to eat, and take them somewhere where they turn green. Evil...but funny.
Good job the emergency repair kit caused those issues. Otherwise what would have been the point of taking it if you didn't have something to repair.. What's that? It's NOT a sewing kit?? wtf bbq
As well, I find outdoor backpack type gear also work well. Personally, I use a large travel pack from Mountain Equipment Co-op http://tinyurl.com/3lrpae
Words to men, as air to birds.
Depending on where you travel, DHL may be a the only option for getting things delivered. Have accounts with both, just in case.
Invenio via vel creo
Aero, Anvil, Pelican, or hard-shelled Sampsonite will work.
There's also Zero Halliburton aluminum luggage, the favorite of movie drug dealers.
If it's for tools, get a real toolcase, with the pallets and loops to hold tools. I have a big Jensen toolkit myself, in one of those cases.
One plug adapter + One power strip = One room with lots of plugs you can use.
I once had a japanese customer that really enjoyed himself seeing me eat "natto" (a sort of soy bean curd gone terribly mad) at breakfeast in Hokkaido.
When he came to visit in Paris I brought him to an "only cheese" french restaurant. And we really have delicious but very smelly cheeses here 8)
(for cheese lovers, they have a "Crescendo" plate, where you start with a light, fresh goat cheese and finish with something called ""Le Gris", which is like the strongest goat cheese ever, even stronger in taste and smell than "l'Epoisse")
The next time in Japan, I got an invitation to the best non-sushi restaurant in town. Seems he got the message all right.
It takes 40+ muscles to frown, but only four to extend your arm and bitchslap the motherfucker
One of our biggest problems right now is how to move money internationally.
All the banks we've discovered have big fees and numerous anti-customer arrangements. How do you write a check in Euros or Brazilian Reais? How do you move one currency to another without paying a bank a huge amount?
We need ATM cards that allow withdrawing money in the currency of the country in which we are working -- without paying the large fee banks charge, or the "3%" currency exchange fee that is, in fact 5%.
Maybe it is better to have something that doesn't make everyone who sees you say, "Rich guy!" Find some other way to protect your stuff. Avoid being a target of crime.
Skyway Northwest Trails Westport 30" Rolling Duffle: $29.99.
McGuire-Nicholas Rolling Bag Set includes 14" Multi-Purpose Rolling Bag with 16" and 12" Bags: $39.99.
ATEC XL Pro Travel Bag Three Sidecar Pockets, Zippered Full-length Mesh Inside Pocket: $59.99
Bags costing $200 do more than carry your stuff. They talk to everyone who sees you. They say, "I have money to burn. I am probably carrying expensive things you could sell. Steal me."
If you're not familiar with it, visit and study onebag.com - written by a fellow engineer. You don't have to religiously follow his objective of travelling with just one carry-on bag, but he has a lot of useful travel insight and tips on that site.
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For travelling, musicians usually have really good gear for that sorta stuff. There are even setups that take racks in a portable unit for DJ's that need rackmounted stuff. They aren't near as deep as a typical "U" rack, but should have lots o space. The guitar cases (not always shaped like guitars on the outside), the turntable "coffin", and keyboard cases all would work great for electronic equipment. All the music equipment is getting so filled with electronics, the requirements for making the casings are quite similar. This is the route I would take if building a road warrior setup.
:)
Also, shipping your stuff to the site is much easier than carrying it with you, and usually much cheaper. Many people noted that, and I would second it.
I really recommend them, the gear they offer is worth checking! (Now if they made some armored luggage for my camera, I would be really happy.)
sir.
Curb CO2 emissions: Kill yourself today!
As a working field engineer, I'd recommend the following:
For your equipment, I'd recommend Pelican Cases.
For your luggage, I'd recommend either Tumi or TravelPro. If you go the TravelPro Route try to shoot for some of the higher end lines for TravelPro, as they're well padded, have reinforced corners and are generally well designed. I have a Platinum 5 wheeled laptop bag and a Crew6 25" expandable suitcase.
Tumi makes durable, stylish luggage that also holds up real well. I have a carry-on Tumi 22" Generation4 suitcase for those light/short trips.
The troll with karma.
... and WTF is it anyway? You'd expect a geek to know better than to ask such a half-assed question. For shame!
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Pelican or Seahorse case. Seahorse is about 1/2 price of pelican w/ approximately the same quality. Personally, I use a large pelican case for my checked luggage. A giant (12" x 18") emu (not EMO!!!) decal proves I'm a TSA trusted air-traveler. FedEx (or use preferred parcel delivery service) your tools and equipment ahead of time if possible. Other tips... Make sure you take a licensed taxi. Although traveling 105 MPH through Seoul was thrilling, and the selection of 10-year old music videos was humorously satisfying, you may have to explain the $150 charge claimed on your expense report. If you frequent airport hangars, or similar restricted areas, don't wander far...underpaid soldiers with expensive weapons do not joke around. Don't exhange currency in airports...they often provide the worst rates. Look to your local banks, as they can provide competitive rates. Become acquainted with the local customs and make an effort not to be an ignorant. You may be rewarded with an all-night, all-expenses-paid party featuring gorgeous english-students from around the world, soju and gamjatang.
that jsut means the price goes up
'...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
PayPal fees:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-fees-outside&countries=ROW
In the table, see the row "Multiple Currency Transactions". It says, "Exchange rate includes a 2.5% fee**".
Also: "** If your transaction involves a currency conversion, it will be completed at a retail foreign exchange rate determined by PayPal, which is adjusted regularly based on market conditions." (My emphasis)
What I understand: We decide what the exchange rate is, then we add 2.5%.
Notice that there is also a link: "Fees for cross border payments". It goes to another page that mentions a 3.9% rate. I am not sure, but I think this is a fee that applies to all transactions through PayPal.
This definitely isn't good. However, I certainly believe it is fast.
http://www.savillcases.com/ They will make any hard case or soft bag to your specification. UK Based.
It's not no exchange fee. They decide the rate of exchange; they don't use the interbank rate. Hotels make 5 or 7 or even 10 percent on all the money you exchange. It's a huge rip-off, that slows global progress. Maybe there are hotels that don't take advantage of guests, if so, I certainly don't know of any.
International travel for a field engineer? I can make computer stuff work, where do I sign up?
Seriously. I'll explain in the interview that my UID is so high because I didn't get around to creating an account for a few months. Back in the days of Afterstep.
You pay the exchange rate, which I suppose is whatever they want it to be. If so, they make a LOT of money on foreign use.
Interesting. Who determines the exchange rate? It's necessary to consider all the fees, not just one.
If you can afford it you can just buy whatever you need at your destination (if it's available!).
tar -cfz baggage.tar.gz /home/luggage/
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
The problem is that those banks will charge a huge amount for exchanging currencies.