My two bags and backpack that contains all my stuff for 2 months!
Have you ever been unsure on what to bring with you to a foreign country, let alone had to think about all the things you would need to bring do a sport there? I’m sure if you have travelled for any sort of outing longer than a one week vacation on the beach this stress has been a reality for you. It is definitely hard to pack for such an outing, especially when you are going for two months!
For me, it was especially hard to pack in two bags and a backpack because I am such an organized person. Just shoving all my stuff in a dry bag simply would not do for me. To create a sense of organization in my stuff I used many small mesh bags and plastic bags to keep different types of things together like clothes and towels. In order to not forget anything (except my sunnies) I made a list of everything I had packed and I had yet to pack. This made my packing very successful because I got everything on my list, except my sunglasses because that is the one thing I forgot to put on my list.
Me demonstrating my organized packing methods. The use of smaller bags makes everything much more orderly and less stressful when trying to find things.
As for the list that we are given at the beginning of the semester, it is somewhat unrealistic, especially for me being a girl. I found that I packed more than the alloted amount of clothing and I am definitely wearing all of it. My best advice for packing clothes would be to make a list of the exact clothes that you want to bring with you and don’t let yourself go over that. Don’t forget there will be shopping wherever you are going to and you will be sure to want to buy stuff there.
When traveling with your sports gear, in my case a kayak, be sure that all your gear is organized and contained so none of it gets lost or broken. Tape your paddles to your boat lengthwise so they are less likely to get broken. Don’t forget to say it’s a surf ski at the airport, you might get it on the plane for free!
If you have travelled before, you probably have something special that you need to bring with you everywhere. For me, this is my pillow and a real towel. With these two things I am set to go anywhere. If you have a personal item like this, don’t forget to pack it. It will make you a lot more comfortable. Overall, packing for a long trip requires a lot of planning and lists. Start now so you don’t forget anything!
Tags: Chile, organisation, packing, planning, Sara-Jane Daub, Travel
