Confessions of a Overpacker!
The thought of putting everything that I need for 5 weeks into 2 suitcases fills me with SHEER TERROR! In my last post I mentioned that I will be off to Harare, Zimbabwe for a month-long assignment as part of the SAP Social Sabbatical program. We’ve been instructed to bring only what we can carry!
So, there goes my dream of bringing a suitcase for each week and one for my shoes.“Calm down I’m kidding! Please let me live in my fantasy!”.
While travelling for business, I can do a week with a carry-on bag. However, I’m going away for a LOT longer than a week, and as my dear friend Barb says:
– “A girl needs her lotions and potions to look this good — THIS just doesn’t happen naturally!”
During our last prep call, almost all of the alumni stated that the one thing that they wished they hadn’t done was overpacked. How can you NOT bring a lot of stuff because you just don’t know what you will need???? “First world problems, clearly.”
After that call, I’ve revisited my 2-page single spaced, double sided packing list. On my list I’ve got these categories:
- Things for my room to make it feel like home
- Mosquito repellent and sunscreen
- Casual clothes and Work clothes
- Medications and First Aid supplies
- Mosquito repellent
- Lotions and Potions (see above)
- Food and Snacks — (not sure about the Cheetos situation in Zim, so I’m bring a couple emergency packs)
- Exercise gear (I’ve been told that this trip is not an excuse to stop exercising ☹)
- Sneakers, sandals and other shoes
- Little black dress and heels (just in case there is a social emergency)
- Also did I mention mosquito repellent (there is a reason I have this here 3 times but that’s for another story)
So, with that in mind I re-packed my suitcase again and took out a couple of things — after all it doesn’t sound like I will need 5 extra pairs of shoes. Now if I could just find a nail salon close to the hotel, I think that I can remove all of those supplies and have a bit more room for mosquito repellent.
Sigh! I hope everyone else isn’t struggling the way I am.
