Moving back home to Canada..

Hi there!

In June, I came over to the Netherlands on a Working Holiday Program which will end in April 2008 (when I return home). When I first came over here, I already was overweight at the airport (how do you pack for a year? haha), paid up my $50 fee and was on my way.

Now since that I've been here for 6 months now, I would like to send some extra clothing that I have brought over from Canada back home. I've bought some extra clothing since I've been here (I had to buy some for the winter season because my luggage was already overweight in June, so I had to leave most of it behind in Canada), so I know that it will be WAY overweight this time around when I go back home.

Does anyone have any advice or information about how to send back extra clothing rather cheaply (I assume by ship. I'm not in THAT much of a hurry yet.) or how I can make sure that Customs does not charge me a tax on articles of clothing that I am just sending back home that I already own?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Nemzor,
Interesting and rather familiar predicament!

You don't by chance have a friend or family member visiting do you? My brother came to visit about a month before I left North Africa and I has asked him to come with big suitcases and lots of extra return space. (He had them full on the way in too bringing things like peanut butter from Canada for my western friends!) I sent all of my extra things with him and picked it up at his place when I returned. I don't know what your network is like there, but you could ask around a bit Even getting it back to North America this way could be cheaper than shipping (maybe!).
Secondly, I would say purge, purge, purge. No sense shipping it when it will cost almost as much to do that as to buy it new in Canada.
Third, (but connected to my last thought) check what your weight limitations will be exactly and then prioritise what you want to bring back. Stretch the outer limits of your weight and space. You would be amazed what you can all even get into a carry on. (I brought with me 40 lbs of English books for my students! -- It was heavy, but they were voracious readers and I am glad I did!)
Fourth, if you have the option, pack using large u-haul style moving boxes. With some extra packing tape and string all around, it is amazing what you can all fit one of those and still be under the weight limit. They are much lighter than a suitcase and can hold the same weight. You may get stopped at customs for a little while because it is such a odd shaped luggage peice, but they are an efficient use of your wieght allowances. (and with the explination that I was returning from living overseas, Canada customs really didn't ask many questions -- they didn't even have me open them.)

I know these seem kind of obvious, but it is amazing how much these little tid-bits helped me.

Blessings on you as you move back!

Allyssa