Living on Christmas Island is very much an individual experience. Some people bring very little with them and this suits them fine, others prefer to bring more personal effects to make their house feel more like home. Mould and salt are a problem here so leave leather shoes & clothing, silver frames, good cutlery etc and photo albums behind. If you can‟t live without your photos bring a few copies (not originals). Although there are many items available through island stores, previous teachers have suggested that it is useful to bring certain things with you. The following is a list of items that island residents and recent arrivals have suggested are helpful to have on Christmas Island. They are in no particular order.

CLOTHING

• Several pairs of bathers & swim shirts (you may find yourself out in the sun quite a lot)
• Swim/reef shoes (the beaches are largely coral and rock)
• Hats
• Light long sleeved tops and light long pants (handy for keeping mozzies at bay – especially
  for children)
• Plenty of shorts, singlets and light t-shirts
• A couple of cardigans/hoodies/jumpers as it can get cool in the evenings at the Cricket Club
  or Cinema.
• Running shoes – walking is a popular form of exercise here and there are other exercise
  options that require shoes too, such as Hash House Harriers (a running group)
• Exercise gear
• A bright coloured outfit/shirt to wear to celebrations such as Chinese New Year. Red is the
  favoured colour.
• A nice long sleeved top and long pants made from cool material. You will need these when
  you visit the Mosque during the cultural tour that the school runs and for other Muslim
  celebrations.
• Work wear – again light materials are best. CIDHS dress standards are in line with DET
  recommendations. No one wears suits and ties here, but teachers dress smartly. School shirts, while not compulsory, are popular and are available to order through the front office.

HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS

• A Freezer – most people buy meat in bulk and it is also handy for freezing those big hauls of fish!
• Umbrellas for the wet season as the rain is heavy
• A Dryer – without one it can be impossible to get clothes dry during the wet season –
  especially important for families.
• Some storage – houses have little in the way of storage. Some people have suggested
  things such as cheap Ikea bookshelves and plastic tubs are useful.
• Personal effects to make your house a home. Most people bring pictures to put up around
  the house. Be aware, however, that the high humidity and salt spray, in areas such as Settlement, can damage these. If they are very valuable or precious – leave them behind. Cushions for couches and rugs for the floor are also a good idea. Talk to your buddy about the colour of the couch in your house – they vary.
• Television, DVD player/recorder, stereo, Computer, printer, gaming consoles...
• Coat hangers to hang your clothes on when you arrive.
• Bed linen – several sets are advisable as they can be difficult to get dry over the wet
  season
• Towels – as for bed linen, it is a good idea to have several sets of towels. Once bath towels
  get wet in the high humidity they tend to stay wet and can start to smell after a few days. It is also a good idea to have quite a few beach towels for each member of the family – you will use them!
• Mozzie repellent gear such as nets and coil holders. New people usually find they react to the island mosquitoes for the first year or so, particularly children. Even though houses are flyscreened, some mozzies usually find a way in.

OUTDOORS

• A good pram if you have a little one. Roads are often rough and a better pram makes it easier to go for walks.
• Outdoor chairs – there are often outdoor social occasions to which you take a chair
• An esky and cool bag – larger one for bigger events, smaller for an afternoon drinks
  somewhere.
• A BBQ
• Gardening gear such as hedge cutters, secateurs, whipper snipper, lawn mower, rake, shovel. Gardens can get out of control here over the wet season and though most of these items are available at the local hardware store, they can be expensive.
• If you are planning on planting a vege garden – bring seeds with you, the choice here can be limited.
• Snorkelling gear
• Bikes if you ride
• Outdoor toys for little ones – swing sets, trampolines and small pools are popular. If you are
  planning on having a sandpit – bring the sand with you – it is very difficult to get up here. You can buy sandpit sand from Bunnings in large bags.

CONSUMABLE ITEMS

Many people find the following items cheaper to buy in Perth and ship up than to buy here.

• Nappies/wipes etc for babies. Because the ship can take a while to get here though, it is
  advisable to send mostly the next size up.
• Laundry powder/liquid
• Napisan & laundry soakers
• Long life milk – but check expiry dates as ship can take a while to get here.
• Toothpaste, soap, deoderant female hygiene products
• Check with your buddy for other suggestions