<p>If all goes according to plan, my son will spend next semester (Fall 2013) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. We're looking for some guidance in a few areas.</p>
<p>1) The whole "what to pack/what not to pack" discussion. He generally travels light. What things should he avoid packing (because it's easy/cheap to buy things there), and what should he definitely take with him (because it's hard to find/expensive there)? We expect he'll be living on campus.</p>
<p>2) Best way to keep in touch with those of us back in the US. At the moment we're expecting email to be the easiest way. Skype on occasion. Anything else we should consider?</p>
<p>3) Are there any issues taking his laptop and using it (and software) there?</p>
<p>4) Going early and/or staying longer. We're hoping to have him fly over early enough to get over jet lag as much as possible before classes starts. We would like for him to have some free time, probably at the end of the semester, to travel around. Any suggestions about where to visit, where to stay, what to do? Keep in mind he'll be on a limited budget, and will have to be back in the US for the following semester. Right now we don't have dates, or an exact budget, but for the sake of discussion let's go with maybe 2 extra weeks and about $500-$750 budget for those 2 weeks. Is that a reasonable amount of money to have some good traveling experiences?</p>
<p>Any "insider tips" that can make his journey and stay there as easy and fantastic as possible? He'll be flying out of Newark (EWR). </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>