Those of you who know me well should recognize the irony in me, the world's worst over-packer, writing a post about packing tips. I tend to be a "what if?" packer - "What if it rains? What if I lose the first pair of sunglasses? What if the world is invaded by aliens and I need to single-handedly defend it?", that kind of thing. But something bordering on miraculous happened while I was getting ready for Tanzania: I learned to pack efficiently. I know, right? So bear with me. If you're looking for a Rick Steve's style approach to packing (one 30L day pack to last you for anywhere from three months to five years, for all you non-PBS viewers), you're in the wrong place. These tips are based on a desire to fit all the essentials and some comfort items into a larger pack (mine is 60L) and a carry-on day pack with room for souvenirs and maybe a few of those "what if?" items in case of alien attack.
1. Research. Having never been to Tanzania before, I didn't know what to expect in terms of appropriate clothing (both weather-wise and culturally). YCI gives its volunteers awesome packing suggestions and information on weather and culture, but I found it helpful to use these as only a starting point. I Google'd, read past volunteer blogs, looked at weather trends (which may be overkill, but helped in my decision of umbrella vs. raincoat and rubber boots and how many sweaters (one) I should bring), and read numerous message boards. It can feel like information overload, but it helped me get a much better grasp on what to wear and what is available to buy there.
2. Make lists. I am a compulsive list maker, because I am paranoid of forgetting things and I find it helps to see things on paper. After I finished researching, I wrote down everything in the world I could possibly want or need for my time away. When you do this, be completely uncensored with yourself - if you think you may want/need it, write it down. Now go through the list and scratch of anything that you know without a doubt is unnecessary, put a question mark next to things you're not sure about and a star next to things you would need to buy. Now go through the list again. And again.
3. Shop/borrow early. When my list was done, I wrote a list of things I would probably need to buy/borrow and kept it in my wallet. I did this four months ago. Why? Because I know what it's like to leave everything to the last minute and end up overpaying, not getting exactly what you need (or not finding something at all) or worse: finding yourself running around a Walmart the morning of your flight telling yourself its okay to shave your legs in the sink of the airplane washroom because you left no time to shower at home. By having my list early, I was able to shop sales, order online (which saved me about $15 on a bug net), borrow, and add things to my Christmas list. More importantly, it kept me from impulse buying (for the most part) because I had more time to think about what I REALLY needed, versus thought would be fun to have (self-purifying water bottle, I'm looking at you).
4. Practice pack. I was made fun of for this, but it is really the most helpful thing I can tell you. People tell you to lay everything out when you're packing and then cut that pile in half. I don't operate that way. I find little things comforting, so while I know that I can buy things like shampoo and conditioner anywhere, I like to bring my own (travel-sized... if you bring full bottles, you're just being silly). Instead of doing such a brutal reduction of gear, I put everything in my pack to see how it fits and how comfortable it was to carry. If it doesn't fit, or is too heavy (wear it for at least 10 minutes - anyone can be Superman for 30 seconds), I go back and start trimming (a pair of socks here, a shirt there), until it fits well. Which brings me to my next point:
5. Leave room for souvenirs. You're likely going to bring home more than you left with. Deal with it. Either leave some space in your pack (more than a side pocket) or do what I do: bring a small gym bag that rolls up small and shove that in. That way you can fill it and check it on the way home. Whatever you do, do not use it to pack on the way there. It defeats the purpose of an extra bag, and just enables you to overpack. Be sure to leave a little space for things you forget (or need) until the last minute.
6. Make a list. Another one! I gave up on carrying a list of everything in my bag, but I did make a point to write down a description of my gadgets (camera, iPod, etc.) and their serial numbers. I am keeping a copy of this with my travel documents and leaving a copy at home (with copies of my flight itinerary, passport, health insurance, contact numbers, etc. - a worried family member is a stressful family member: make sure they have copies of EVERYTHING). This means if anything is lost or stolen, it can be reported easily. I also took pictures of things - anything to give to the insurance company to speed up the process.
7. Pack your carry-on as if you'll never see your luggage again. Well, maybe not again, but always plan for it to end up in another country for a few days. This means packing a change of clothes, prescription medications, all your valuables and (in my case) your contacts case/solution/glasses. I also suggest a toothbrush. No one needs to share in your two-day old morning breath.
8. Finally: be reasonable, but know your own wants and needs. Some people can bring one book on a trip, and be happy. I can't. That book will be finished before I get off the plane. I need at least one book a week. I now have a Kobo which, as something considered to be a "valuable", was on a few "do not pack" lists. I am bringing it anyway. To me, it's a need. The same goes for extra socks and underwear. If it is a must have in order for you to have an easier time adjusting while you're away, it shouldn't matter if it's "unnecessary". You know yourself better than that bitter guy on the Lonely Planet message board.
Tada! I will post photos of my packing experience later today. Lift off tomorrow!
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