So how exactly does one pack for 6 months living in a
foreign country? I do not have this down to a science yet so I’m not entirely
sure. But perhaps this post will be at least a little more coherent than last week’s
post. Perhaps not. I am feeling rather frazzled every time I look at my
packing.
This is not the first time that I have packed up my
life in 2 suitcases and a carry-on bag to go live abroad. But this time is so
much more different then when I lived in Ireland. Even though I have backpacked
several times now and can easily live out of a backpack when I am traveling Europe,
this is so much harder, despite having 2 full suitcases.
Part of my bags are reserved for the medical equipment
and other supplies I am bringing for the trip that will serve as my equipment
when I work with my patients. I have items that are typical for a nurse, like
my stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, but then I have things like stress
balls, mental health education materials, and basic medical supplies that I
also need to take with me.
Another space in my suitcase is reserved for the
typical supplies one needs when traveling. I have a few changes of clothing. Somehow
less clothing then when I am backpacking, but I can do laundry easier (sort of)
on this trip. And 3 sets of scrubs (again I will be washing certain things a lot
more frequently). Clothing really shouldn’t take up a lot of room I have
learned. You can always pay a local woman to sew you skirts and other items of
clothing if needed.
Then another larger chunk of my suitcase is reserved
for the things that are harder to find. Bug spray and sunscreen are not as
common when I am traveling to, and they are expensive. I have texted others
that have been to South Sudan where I am going. Making sure I am taking the
right things and removing things I do not need. Bug spray must contain Deet,
but over in the villages Deet isn’t common in bug spray. Sunscreen is very
expensive to purchase. There are many things that I need to pack that I won’t
necessarily be able to find when I am there. These take priority over clothing.
Then there are the things that I have changed out to
make smarter packing choices. I am not bringing paperback books. Instead, I
will rely on the downloads on my phone or laptop to read. My regular shampoo
and conditioner were changed out for bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner. How
many shoes do I bring? I am not a shoe person but I also don’t want to run out
of usable shoes while I am there so is four too many or just enough (this
includes shower shoes and a pair of sandals). So, on goes the internal debate
of how much to pack.
The final portion of my packing consists of the
creature comforts I would like to take along. These are items to make my place
just a little nicer and a little more home-y for the days I am home-sick. So ideally,
I want to take a set of sheets I really like and a pillow, plus a small bottle
of vanilla sent that I like. Obviously, the pillow and sheets are larger but
relatively light so I hope I can fit them but if not, then these will stay
behind. Also, my photos of friends, family, and home will be coming too I hope.
I am not at all finished packing. More than being
concerned with the room in my suitcases it comes down to the weight of the
suitcases. Some of the flights I could just pay to have heavier bags but there
comes a point where I will not have that option. I have to go with weight and if
it is too heavy it cannot go.
I am sure over the next week I will pack, re-pack, weigh,
and debate at least 3 more times before I figure out what is actually going.
There will be more texts to those in my group that have done this before to
figure out what I should be concerned about and what I shouldn’t worry about. And
I will stare down my packing list so I know I have what I need. Inevitably I
will forget something bit as long as that something is nothing urgent or
life-affecting it will be fine. Until then I’m off to go stare at the piles of
items in my room and figure out what goes and what stays.
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