The Balikbayan Box, bow...

Does the name sound familiar? The only time I remembered seeing one ages ago, and I mean ages! Was when I was young, probably first grade and my uncle, who was a doctor based in Saudi Arabia came home and he opened this huge box, well there were many boxes, but this one was special because I think there were chocolates there. That was my earliest memory of a balikbayan box.

And now, its my turn to send my family something that I earned and worked hard for and hopefully, they'll find as much pleasure as I did in buying them.

Before my actual packing started, I had read blogs and looked into forwarding sites to find some tips that a newbie like me need to know. I've read countless horror stories, so I'm crossing my fingers that the same fate will not befall my little balikbayan package.

I actually started buying things a month after I arrived here. I started with bags, canned goods, toys and even tried ordering online because thinking of lugging them around (since I don't have a car) was just too much of a hassle, not to mention backbreaking? lol. So, months came by, and my excuse was, I didn't have a car to buy a box, to finally, not having a box yet and now that it's here. I don't have an excuse. I just need the time to prepare my box and then send it home where my family is hopefully looking forward to receiving it.

There was this unusual tip (although, I haven't tried it) of a balikbayan sender, and I suppose he is an expert at it, was putting rice as a filler in between the nooks and crannies of the box. Other than the actual contents, you've given them rice too, lol. I'm looking into that. And then, there's one where you put a plywood at the side of the boxes as support. That, I can understand. Pretty much. Imagine your box at the bottom of what, 4 or 5 balikbayan boxes that are just as heavy as your box or maybe even heavier. Oh drat, I wish my box wouldn't be like that. Lol. I'd hate for the electronic toys to get squashed. The only thing I can do though, is make sure there's bubble wrap or wrap them around clothes or towels, which was also another suggestion. I've already eyed the old comforter that I got as a padding for the top. Whoopee, at least I don't have to throw it out. Oh yeah, ma, you need to wash that when it gets there, lol.

Alright, first step, the box which is double walled something something for extra strength. Check.

Next, writing the name of the recipient all over, check. Hey, did I spell the Philippines right? Or is that the right spelling of the recipient's name and address? Hehehe...I'm sending it to my brother-in-law in Metro Manila so at least I won't have to pay for provincial rates and there's always someone home because the nanny is there. Check. All sides have names. Hurrah!

Next, put a lot of tape. Again, the research helped me give an idea as to what kind to use. I would've used the 3M really strong one thing but it was more expensive. I still used 3M and it was the acceptable packaging tape. Duck tape or masking tape are not acceptable. Glad I read up on that. And yeah, use up all the packaging tape as much as you can. I know that they're going to strap it, but I want to make sure that if someone slices open my package to steal stuff (again, based on the horror stories that I've read on a forwarding company here and back in the Philippines, grrr...) then they'd know that it was tampered with.

And in relation to that, when i finish packing, I will take a picture of my box so I have proof of what it looked like and email it to my sister, the picture, not the package lol. And yes, I have a list of items that I sent which I will print copies of so that I have my own copy as well as the forwarding company's copy. And again, send a copy to my sister as well.

I haven't finished putting tape all over and that's going to pretty much occupy me in the evening tonight after coming back from school. (It's not a work day but my desk in school is just clamoring for attention. In fact, where's my desk? They're all papers!)

So that is the story of my balikbayan box, which is still a box for now, but hopefully will be filled of goodies for my family.

Now, off to shower, geez, did I just smell myself? Lol, kidding, I haven't broken a sweat in a long time here, its just so cold, yeah, I know someone who'd contradict me and say, that's not cold! That's sweater weather!! Nah ah....

To be continued...