a few nights ago, chris and i were discussing the merits of trying to take as many items as possible that we already own and as little as possible in luggage we already own.
make sense?
in this quest, i think i've chosen the bags that will be accompanying me to cambodia. (it still feels so AWESOME to say that.)
first up, i'm hoping to pack thirty five pounds in this baby.
this happy kelty backpack accompanied me from beijing to paris in 2007 and i love it.
then we have this little pack:
i'm still debating on this weekend/day pack. i'm not sure where i'd stuff it and i'm not sure if it'd be worthwhile to have.
i debated buying a new rolling duffel but then figured, why should i spend another 70 to 100 bucks when i have this bag that's made it nearly eight years and is the perfect size for what i need? it's part of an eddie bauer luggage pack that i received when i graduated college in 2003, and it's dirt-showing-proof, being all grey and such.
the best part of figuring this out one random day last week was discovering that i had never fully emptied my backpack since our trip in 2007. what i found was pretty awesome.
that's a language book, really old sudafed, a paper bag that once held some chocolate from switzerland, some wet wipes, very expired sunscreen, pepto, dramamine, kleenex, and some black headbands.
after throwing away the expired medicine and useless paper bags, these are the things i'm definitely taking with me. a happy yellow leatherman the hubs bought me, a bottle for medicine, a small box from container store perfect for holding earrings/wedding ring, inflatable neck pillow, headbands, some chapstick (not this this nasty stuff, but definitely the key chain holder for it!), and the voltage converter.
any one else nominated/invited who has thought through luggage and key tools/needs for your new home outside the U.S.?
5 comments:
Hi Kate -
I was just looking through Peace Corps Journals for possible invitees to Cambodia and came across your blog. First off, congratulations! I'm a PCV in Cambodia in the K4 group - I'm sitting in my mosquito net in Cambodia right now, listening to the chickens next door and some wedding music down the road. We are already really excited for the K5 group to get here. Let me know if you have any questions at all (kaitlin.beach[at]gmail[dot]com), and we'll look forward to meeting you soon!
-Kaitlin
P.S. I think you should definitely bring flip flops; most Khmer people live in them. The closed sandals I think they mean for teaching garb, which requires dressing up a little. If you wear a size 9 or up, you'll have a hard time finding shoes other than flip-flops here.
Hello! I'm an invitee for Armenia in June. I've been wrestling with the same luggage question, but haven't quite figured it out yet. Unforunately, with Armenia, I have a lot of varying temperatures to pack for...
Oh decisions, decisions!
Hi Kate,
My husband and I are in the application process for PC right now (our interview is next week). We also live in DC. I'd love to get any advice from you on the interview process or anything else as a married couple applying! Shoot me an email at amyhhille[at]gmail[dot]com.
Amy
Don't forget the mosquito repellent. If Cambodia is anything like Vietnam (where I've spent a lot of time), the mosquitoes LOVE our blood.
Bring lots of sunscreen!! Even when they have sunscreen available (only in the city if you're lucky), it is a low SPF and of dubious quality. Also, I would bring all my medicines if the quality is important (ie don't buy birth control there), since it's common to substitute the pills for placebos (it's cheaper!) and they don't necessarily have the same medicines available anyway. I haven't seen tampons available in most of Asia either; if you use them, bring them with you (they're pretty compact).
Agree with Nellie about the mosquito repellent.
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