The Contents of [Katherine] Mary Poppins’s Bag

I hoped to have some of my new pages for the blog up and ready before I left for this trip. Maybe if I would have finished them (or wrote yesterday's entry) before I left I would not need to write this entry. I was a bit distracted before this trip to France and consequently, I forgot some of the little things that make my life easier while traveling. On the upside, a few last minute (and literally an hour before I left for the airport) purchases and unassuming items have really helped on the trip so far!

Things That I Am Sad I Forgot:

1.     Light My Fire Serving Spork

When I am traveling solo or on a budget (so, always), it is unnecessary to go out to eat, but a girl’s gotta eat. Markets and grocery stores provide a nice opportunity to experience local flavors (it is actually quite fun to peruse a foreign grocery store) and it is the most affordable option for long-term travel. I first bought this handy utensil (about $2) for my trip to Europe with Ami to make our eating on the road a bit easier. Unfortunately I had packed both hers and mine in my bag which was lost thanks to the airline. Luckily my bag reappeared magically on my mother’s doorstep unannounced and I was able to finally retrieve and use my handy gadget on future trips. The small, lightweight, and durable plastic ended up being handy for everyday use for my lunches at school; it never left my backpack for three years. Last year while in France I managed to snap it in half while scooping peanut butter (I am not sure exactly how beyond that). Well, I am back in France with my peanut butter but do not have my handy utensil. A fork and knife on one end, a spoon on the other, and an easy to hold curved handle. How I miss you.

2.       Washcloths

You might be thinking, gross, how is she getting clean. I have a scrubby cloth thing that my soap is in, gross I am not. A washcloth though can prove handy for various purposes. Last year I used a washcloth as a clean surface on which to place cups or fruit after washing them, and another for either giving my face a quick scrub or for cleaning up messes in my room. Not essential for some, but I am missing mine today. As I noted in my last post though, this is one of those things I could easily buy if I truly cannot live without it.

3.       Clothes…!

Seriously, WTF was I thinking for this trip. I packed clothes and even made sure I stuck with the same colors to make it easier to mix-and-match/coordinate, but I feel like I really failed this time. I was definitely distracted. It is also difficult to pack when you have museum research, tourism time, excavation dirt, and lounge-around-in-the-evening time to consider. Also with the amount of equipment I had to bring, I had so little room for clothes it was a bit frustrating. I suppose it might be one of those rare trips where I actually buy some clothes here because two t-shirts is not going to cut it for 2 months.

4.       My Updated I-pod

Yes, my I-pod is here, but for whatever reason, it did not update and add all the great TED Talk Videos I downloaded right before I came. As I do not have I-Tunes on my mini-computer I am without. Sad.

Things That Have Already Broke

1.       My USB External Mouse

While not essential, it would have made some activities on this trip a lot easier than the tiny touch pad on my tiny netbook.

2.       The Scale

I needed to bring a scale to weigh some ancient coins. Alas, I plugged her in and she said ‘no’. I am scrambling to figure out another alternative, but nothing has come up so far.

(On the Upside!) Things I Am Thankful to Have With Me

1.       Osprey Meridian ConvertibleBackpack/Wheeled Luggage and Detachable Daypack

While this pack was a hefty investment (even at 30% off like I snagged it), it is really quite worth it. As far as looks go, it is a big awkward and big/bulky. As far as convenience and ease of travel, it is a winner; totally worth hunting down the UPS driver to make sure I got my bag before I left (it’s a long story). Anyway, this bag is great because it is a duffel-style (easy to access everything), a rolling suitcase, but it also has the option to convert to a backpack when the terrain gets rough! In addition to the main bag, there is a detachable daypack that zips on to the front providing extra storage and ultimately, one less bag to pack!

2.       Razor Blades with Built-in Shaving CreamThings

I’ll try to limit details here. I never used these before but razors are one of my mother’s classic stocking stuffers at Christmas. This year she stepped it up with these fancy ones. At first, I was thinking, “Hmmm… I never use anything so fancy, and I only use shaving cream if I’m shaving in the sink… I guess I’ll give ‘em a shot since they were free and all…” Well, I can totally live without these fancy ones at home, but for travel, they are great. The showers at the school where I stay for research and excavations are push-button timed making it nearly impossible to shave in the shower. I typically did it in the sink last year which resulted in lots of cuts. BUT THIS YEAR, I can shave cut-free with the fancy cream-included razors. For those of you that always use shaving cream, you might want to consider this alternative since it would be one less liquid/bottle to pack. Thanks Mom!

3.       JIF Peanut Butter

Everyone laughs, but I have been packing a jar of peanut butter since I started traveling abroad. It is one of those rare things that is difficult to find in the form we know and love in the States. Apparently you can find Skippy in Paris, but I have always been a JIF girl. It is perfect for breakfast, for snacking, or when you just need a taste of home. 

Ok, I am off to Dijon tomorrow to see some good friends. I will start actually discussing my travels instead of my packing issues soon! Have a good weekend all! :)

What to Pack, When You Are Packing (For a Trip, Not Heat)

Some friends and family marvel at the fact that I can pack a bag that will last me for two months. While it does take some planning (i.e. a well thought out list), there are a few things to consider when trying to limit one’s packing:

1.       You have to carry everything you bring with you. Always. Think about your trip. What are you planning to do? What sort of climate will you likely be in? Do you really need that thick wool sweater, or could you get away with a cardigan that will layer well instead? Unless you plan to travel in style via taxis and stay at hotels with bellhops, you will probably have to carry your bag(s) through various terrains (baggage claim; the curb outside the airport; additional transportation to your destination via bus, train, etc.; through city streets to your hotel; and so on). There will be steps, there will be elevators, and there will be bumpy sidewalks and curbs. Do you really want to be dragging that 4’x2’ suitcase behind you and hoisting it up regularly? If you cannot lift it yourself, you need to downsize.

2.       Every item in your bag should serve multiple purposes. I traveled to Germany this spring and rocked this point so hard with the clothes I chose to bring it was amazing even to me! While not every item will do multiple things, it should be a priority for most things going into your bag. As far as clothes are concerned, layering and coordinating is essential.

For example, during my trip to Germany I was attending a conference for a week and being a tourist for almost another two weeks. I needed clothes that would work for both occasions for three weeks in variable spring weather. In my 22” carry-on bag, I packed: a classic cut blue dress, a khaki pencil skirt, black dress pants, a thin purple and black patterned silk skirt, a black cardigan, a thin grey sweater, a thinner purple sweater, a thin blue sweater, a white blouse, a pair of jeans, and 3-4 coordinating t-shirts and camis. Pretty much all of the sweaters and t-shirts I brought could be dressed up or down and accommodated both warm and cool weather and some of the sweaters and the blouse could be worn with both the dress and skirts. This was more than I typically pack for a trip, but I wanted to make sure I had options and backups for my professional debut. Making sure you have clothing that will serve double duty will save you space and will ensure that everything you pack gets worn several times, but not look the same. If you are in to accessories, this is a good opportunity for changing up the same clothes to keep you from getting bored.

As far as other things that should serve multiple purposes… I think I will need another blog entry for that. Stay tuned.

3.       It is worthwhile to invest some money upfront to get items that will save you time, stress and more money in the future. Every year before a big trip I torture myself by looking at things that would make my travel experience easier. I debate whether or not I should drop that money on something I will use once a year, or if I can live without it. Reading product reviews typically helps me decide. Nearly every item that has stuck around in my head for more than a month I end up buying and nor regretting. A good bag can make travel so much easier. A handy coat with tons of pockets, therefore negating a carry-on bag, frees you up a lot. Each traveler is different. If you think you might like something or it would be particularly useful to you, chances are you are right.

4.       Bring things you are ok abandoning for something better or will use up before the end of the trip. I have a box which contains clothes specifically designated for travel. These are things that are travel specific (e.g. a desert climate) or are old clothes that I do not feel like donating yet. I bring these along every trip with the idea that if I find something here that I really want, I will always have room in my suitcase to bring it home. If you like to shop, this might be a nice option to consider. If I want to keep myself from shopping, I bring clothes that I wear regularly to remind myself I do not need anything new now.

I also bring products that I will probably use up or nearly use up before coming home. I could not bring myself to throw away a bottle of something that was still half full, but if there is about a quarter or an eighth left, I do not feel bad leaving it behind so that I might fit a great souvenir in my bag instead. Simply keep track of how quickly you go through your toiletries at home to gauge how much you will need for your trip, or if you have a bottle that is almost gone and you are going for a week, take it along.

5.       And remember, most things we have at home can be found in other countries. As a girl who has been without a bag more than once, compliments of efficient airlines, I know that nearly everything I have at home I can find while traveling. If you forget something, or perhaps you do not want to deal with liquids in your carry-on at security, you have options when you arrive. Another part of the travel experience is trying new things. Last year while in France I bought shampoo and conditioner that was made in a local region from honey. It was a treat to take in these new smells every morning and to see the cute icon on the bottle to remind me where I was.

Alright, that is enough for now. I will maybe plan to share some of my favorite travel products in my next entry. But for now, I will just say that both my bag and I arrived safely in France this year and while I have already been faced with a few surprises and challenges, it looks to be a promising summer!