What's in my bag?

“Wanderlust,” or the strong urge to travel, has taken over me. Really. I have been utterly consumed by it recently.  



My addiction to exploration started when I was a kid. My parents loved taking my siblings and me on multiple family vacations every summer. We'd try new beaches, explore different cities, and we even went out of the country twice. My parents especially loved taking us on road trips along the east coast (bless their souls with having to put up with four fighting rascals in the back of their SUVs). I loved the various cultures that the east coast had to offer: from sweet, southern comfort, to speedy, exciting city life in the north. With each trip, I'd awe over how each destination was so different, despite being so close in proximity.



It left me wondering: if states just along the east coast are so unique, imagine how things are on the opposite side of the country, on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, or even on the opposite side of the world.




Consequently, over the years, I have become increasingly passionate about exploration. With my many journeys, I've begun to realize that there are few things I love more than meeting new people and immersing myself in new cultures. I love learning about different fashion, music, and food in various areas. I love the indescribably distinctive sights and smells of new places. Likewise, traveling has shown me that I'm addicted to the thrill of adventure. As I've grown up, I've discovered that when I make myself step out of my comfort zone, into a foreign place, and when I'm forced to try new things, I end up learning more and more about myself, as cliché as that may sound.


These reasons contributed to why I chose to spend a semester studying in London. 



However, my recent adventures have shown me that there are disadvantages to traveling. For some it may be the expenses, for other's it may be the motion sickness on planes, trains, cars, or boats. But for me, it's the hassle of packing. 

This past year alone, I went from finishing my sophomore year in Syracuse, to spending 11 weeks in New York City, right to visiting friends and family in D.C., Richmond, Williamsburg, and upstate New York, then having to pack again to spend a semester in London. Consequently, my life seems as though it has been nothing but a series of unpacking and re-packing. It's truly overwhelming and frustrating at times.

But despite the hassle of writing packing lists, boarding airplanes, and stressing out over every miniscule detail, the excitement of exploring new places is worth all of it.

 And I have to admit, with the help of my pack-mule father, things have gone fairly smoothly, too. Not only has he gotten me to and from my various destinations, he has also taught me how to pack efficiently. Especially when packing to be away for a long period of time, he  taught me to limit myself to 3 pieces of luggage: a backpack, extra-large rolling duffel, and another medium-sized carry on duffel.

(For those of you who are interested, L.L. Bean has an amazing selection of rolling duffel bags, and REI had a great section of traveler’s backpacks -- I chose the Osprey Porter-46, which was only $100!)



Below, I have added my packing list, so for those of you who are interested in ever spending 4 months in Europe, this is definitely helpful! And believe me, the adventure is well worth it. 



Enjoy,


Charlotte

The Essentials      

Documents (passport, visa, itinerary, plane tickets, etc.)      

Extra eye glasses/contacts      

Prescription drugs      

Computer w/charger      

Camera w/cords and charger      

Adapters

Clothing/Shoes                                 
    

3 Sweaters   

3 Pairs of Jeans    

T-shirts    

Long sleeve shirts    

Underwear   

Socks                   
   

Workout clothes (if you plan to)    

Coat    

2 nice dresses   

 Running shoes      

Boots
   

 Flip flops (especially for showering at hostels)    

Warm hat, gloves and scarf

Toiletries    

Contraceptives   

Contact lenses and solution   

 Over-the-counter medicines (aspirin, etc.)    

Nail clippers and nail file    

Makeup   

Shampoo and conditioner   

Toothbrush/toothpaste   

Soap   

Deodorant   

Razors   

Brush and hair ties   

Feminine products

Misc. 

 Small plastic bottles for toiletries for use in your carry-on   

Refillable water bottle   

Purse  

 iPod  

Travel books  

Umbrella

Sunglasses   

Thin lightweight towel (preferably microfiber so that it will dry fast when you’re traveling)

X-Large duffel and travel backpack as aforementioned.

Oops, I broke the zipper.

Get in there, you.

Whenever I'm preparing to leave on a trip, my mom always imparts the same words of wisdom: pack everything you think you need, then divide that in half. As a general rule of thumb, this makes sense. You probably won't end up wearing everything in your suitcase, and while having four pairs of jeans may seem absolutely necessary, chances are it absolutely is not.

With years of practice, I have become quite the efficient packer. I once spent two weeks in Chicago and brought nothing with me but a small backpack. One summer I spent nearly two months in France and had only a carry-on. Don't get me wrong – I have been known to require more than one person to help me cram everything into my small bags and have on occasion broken a few zippers, but generally speaking I feel confident in saying that I have achieved the art of packing lightly.

As I prepare to embark on a five-month study abroad program in London, however, packing lightly has become an entirely new challenge. Technically, I am moving to another country, so naturally I should be allowed to bring everything with me...right? Wrong. Most unfortunately, I have been confined to a 23-kg bag limit that seems to dictate exactly which items I can and cannot bring. But what if I can't find my favorite face wash in London? And since everyone dresses well in Europe, won't I need tons of trendy, fashionable outfits? These are the types of questions that have been bouncing around in my head for the past few weeks. I won't even arrive in London until the beginning of September and yet I have already packed, unpacked, and repacked my bag more times than I care to count. My bag is so full it's a miracle that the zipper hasn't broken. Now let's just hope I can carry it...

-Chloe