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1. In addition to thinking about weather when you select
clothes to pack, you need to consider cultural norms. Shorts would
not be acceptable in Thailand, most of the Middle East or most areas of Japan, for example.
Shorts are not commonly worn by either the French or Italians.
In Italy even if you are not religious, you’ll want to
visit a lot of churches because they contain incredible works of art.
Italians find it offensive to enter a church wearing shorts or a
sleeveless shirt. It is so offensive that many churches have monitors
who will make you wear a paper "poncho" to cover your body if you
violate their rules.
>> (inside
churches)
To show respect (and avoid feeling weird
in the paper covering!), consider the following options:
- If you are determined to wear shorts (vs pants), why not buy
the pants that allow you to zipper off the bottom portion?
You could then simply add the bottom part whenever you entered a
church.
- I watched one man in shorts reach into his backpack and pull
out a lightweight (parachute type material) pair of pants that he
quickly pulled over his shorts to enter St. Peters.
- Females can do the actions above or wear a skirt or dress.
- A short-sleeved tee shirt, a lightweight shirt with short sleeves
or a shawl (large scarf) can be worn over the upper arms.
- You will be doing lots of walking so definitely bring
comfortable walking shoes (2 pair so you can wear them alternate
days. This will allow them to air out.). Put them in
plastic grocery bags when you pack them to keep from getting
clothes dirty.
- Pack an empty plastic grocery bag to use as a dirty clothes
bag.
- Dress for classes and sightseeing will be casual, however, consider
bringing at least one nice outfit for possible dress-up occasions (dancing
at a club, attending a church service, nice meal in the evening,
formal reception).
- Toiletries, etc.: You might want to pack some of the items listed
below in your carry-on luggage if they are permitted by the
airlines. One way to decide what to
carry on the plane is to ask: how difficult or time-consuming would
it be to replace the item? For example, you can easily buy
Imodium in most countries, but do you want to stand in line when you desperately
need to go to the bathroom?! Better to have an initial supply
with you in case you need it.
Note: be sure to add items you use that are not listed.
For example, if you use Tums here, you’ll want them when you're abroad
as well.
Important: when you pack your medicine, take more
than you will need. Why? Sometimes flights are
cancelled and you end up spending an extra day or two due to the
weather. If you packed just the right amount of your
medicine, you'll run out if the trip lasts longer than planned.
- Basic first aid:
- Imodium (for diarrhea)
- Band aids (you may get blisters from all the walking
or have a small cut)
- Polysporin for cuts & blisters(which really is better than neosporin)
- Mosquito repellent
- Few aspirin (or whatever you take for headaches)
- Optional: antihistamine
- Toiletries and odds & ends:
>>
(Why take them?)
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Soap in plastic soap carrier
- Hair gel/hair spray
- Brush/comb
- Make-up; eye make-up remover
- Voltage AND plug adaptors to
use with any electrical items. Important note:
countries around the world vary in how many volts of
electrical current go through their outlets; that's
why you need a voltage adaptor. Countries also
vary in the number and shape of the prongs on their
plugs. If you don't buy a voltage adaptor, your
electrical item will burn out, catch fire or explode!!
If you don't buy a plug adaptor, you won't be able to
plug anything in!!
Voltage adaptors and plug adaptors can be purchased at
luggage stores, some department or discount stores and
on the internet.
- flat iron/curling iron/curlers
- Hair dryer: note: while you can take your hair dryer
and use a voltage and plug adaptor, I highly recommend
buying a hair dryer in the country you will visit if you
will stay longer than one month.
Reason: even with the adaptors, hair dryers have a high
chance of burning out.
- Razor/shaver (if electrical, don’t forget the
voltage adaptor as well as the plug adaptor)
- Flip-flops or sandals that can get wet (when you shower)
>>
(Why?)
- Bathing suit (optional)
- something to use as a robe when you go to bathroom down
the hall (large shirt, swimsuit cover-up, lightweight robe,
raincoat, etc.)
- Small, lightweight backpack (you will use this to pack
water, maps, etc as you walk around the city). Some
people use this as one of their carry-on bags while others
pack it.
- nail scissors or clippers
- light jacket or sweater - Think about
where you will go. London may be in a heat wave
but you'll be grateful for warmer clothes if you go to
Scotland for the weekend. On the other hand,
Thailand is hot even in the northern part of the
country.
- Small plastic water sprayer (often used to water plants).
You can spray your clothes to get wrinkles out.
>> (Spraying clothes)
- Guidebook or pages from a guidebook. (Recommend:
Let’s Go, Italy which is written by college students
and/or books by Rick Steves. )
>>
(Guidebooks)
- maps (optional). You can buy them at tourist
sites but if you're going to be somewhere for awhile,
you might want to buy a good quality one.
For London, I highly recommend The London Mapguide by
Michael Middleditch published by Penguin Books.
National Geographic makes maps that are highly detailed,
laminated for durability and clearly marked for
sightseeing.
- music - the more compact the system, the better
- dock station for your ipod/mp3 player (optional)
- deck of cards - to pass the time in airports/trains and
great way to meet people when you travel
- Tampons/sanitary napkins (yes, you can buy them
overseas but they probably won't have the brand or style
you prefer.)
- purse. Empty you purse and
consciously put what you need back in.
Don't take your social security card, grocery store
card, or check book! (One student did and lost all
of them!)
I highly discourage the use
of purses in major tourist cities because they are easy targets for thieves.
If you do take one, consider one that has a strap that
crosses your body. Never put credit cards,
passports or large amounts of money in a purse; always
put those items in a money belt.
- Laptop computers - I highly discourage taking them
because (1) they are too easy to lose, break or have
stolen, (2) they take up important space in your carry
on luggage and they are an added step at security checks
(you have to take them out for scanning). Keep in
mind that some airports - like London - allow one piece
of carry on luggage only, not one piece and a
personal item (as we do the U.S.). If you will be
abroad for a semester or longer there is a stronger
argument for taking one. Ask yourself: how hard
would it be to replace your computer if it's lost,
broken or stolen? Ask someone who knows your
program: is wi-fi common where you are going?
- Pens, paper for homework. May as well buy them
cheaply in the U.S. and save your money for
souvenirs/food/travel when you are overseas.
- Recommend: foot cream (you walk a lot!)
- Recommend: Gold Bond baby power (for hot and humid
climates - remember that few countries have as much air
conditioning as we do)
- optional: journal. If you think you'll keep a
journal, a technique used by a colleague was to buy a
postcard wherever she went. She then taped the
cards into her journal and wrote about her day.
The result: her journal looked like an expensive
coffee-table book! But be realistic: if you aren't
the journal-writing type, simply send yourself a copy of
every email you send to family and friends while you're
abroad. When you get home, you can print them out
and you'll have a journal.
- optional: small collapsible umbrella
- optional: if you will wash clothes by hand, an
initial supply of woolite is good to have if you are
traveling between cities for the first week abroad;
otherwise, you can buy detergent overseas. You
might also include: a sink stopper (in case the sink in
your room doesn't fully close), clothesline,
clothespins and lotion for your hands. Note:
clothes will dry quickly in hot climates but can take 2
days to dry if the temperatures are in the 50s or below.
- optional: washcloth (Europeans don’t tend to use them)
- optional: wet wipes
- optional: astringent for your face (for hot
and humid climates)
- Optional: Moisturizer
- Optional: sunglasses
- Optional: small mirror
- optional: couple of pictures of family and friends
>>
optional: a book or two to read. >>(Book)
Do NOT pack anything that is valuable or
irreplaceable. Ask yourself: how difficult would it be to
replace the item? If the answer is "very difficult" or
"impossible," don't pack it! So, for example, don't
pack expensive watches or jewelry.
Next - [
Closing
the Stuffed Suitcase! ]
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