Saturday, November 25, 2017

Packing for a Semester in Uruguay

I'll be honest, I didn't start packing until the week before I left. My wonderful friend Carly, who has traveled quite a bit, sent me a packing list several months before the trip and included the contact information for the U.S. embassy on it. I put off packing because I didn't want to think about the trip. I was very nervous about leaving home. When I finally did start packing it was very overwhelming because I had to put my life for the next 4 months into 3 bags and because it meant that I was really getting on a plane.

Must Pack:
  • Outlet adapters
  • Extension cord
  • Contact solution (it's very expensive here and brands aren't the same on most things)
  • Peanut butter (the other Americans were jealous of my occasional sandwiches)
  • Backup glasses and/or contacts
  • Travel towel if you plan to travel
  • Reminders of home
  • Walking shoes


Don't Pack:
  • Hair dryer, straightener or other small appliances
  • Your entire closet
  • Clothes you don't normally wear


Tips:
  • Use travel cubes & vacuum bags
  • Pick clothes that can easily mix and match to make multiple outfits
  • Learn to use a Diva cup
  • Pack as though you will be on a trip for 2 weeks

My Packing List (PDF)

Bags:
  • Large suitcase
  • Carry on
  • Travel backpack
  • Personal bag
  • Cinch pack (packed)
  • Purse (kept in personal item)
  • Backpack for school (not pictured) (packed)


Purse:
  • Kleenex
  • Face wipes
  • Motion sickness medicine
  • Wisps
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Ear plugs
  • Sleep mask
  • Sun glasses
  • Snacks
  • Soap paper





Clothes:
  • 5 pairs of jeans (wore 1)
  • 2 pairs of leggings
  • 5 pairs of shorts
  • Belt (wore)
  • Long skirt
  • Dress
  • 4 long sleeved shirts
  • 2 light hoodies
  • 2 hoodies (wore 1)
  • Flannel
  • 2 western shirts
  • 10 t-shirts (wore 1)
  • 2 sweaters
  • Cardigan
  • 2 swim suits & a rash shirt
  • Ball cap
  • Warm hat
  • Warm scarf
  • Infinity scarf
  • Gloves
  • Water resistant jacket (wore)
  • Coat
  • 15 pairs of underwear (wore 1)
  • 7 bras (wore 1)
  • 10 pairs of crew socks (wore 1)
  • 8 pair of no-show socks
  • 2 tanks
  • 2 camies
  • 2 pairs of pajamas
  • Boots (wore)
  • Flip flops
  • Tennis shoes
  • Chacos




Hygiene:
  • Full sized face soap
  • Full sized shampoo
  • Full sized conditioner
  • Full sized body wash
  • Full sized deodorant
  • Bar of soap
  • Razor
  • Scrubbie
  • Travel sized face soap
  • Travel sized shampoo
  • Travel sized conditioner
  • Travel sized body wash
  • Travel sized deodorant
  • Travel sized toothpaste
  • Travel sized fluoride
  • Travel sized mouthwash
  • Travel sized lotion
  • Eye drops
  • Contact solution (two bottles of each)
  • 4 tubes of Burt's Bees chapstick
  • Glasses
  • Extra set of contacts (only 1 because I wear hard lenses that don't need replacing)
  • 2 Contact plungers
  • Coconut oil
  • Electric toothbrush 
  • Full sized toothpaste
  • Manual toothbrush
  • Retainers
  • Flossers
  • Small toothbrush pick
  • Face lotion
  • Brush
  • Comb
  • 2 big hair ties
  • 2 small hair ties
  • Headband
  • Extra razor blades
  • Diva cup
  • Cover stick
  • Tweezers
  • Pimple tool
  • Nail clippers
  • Bug spray
  • Sunscreen
  • Multivitamin (enough for whole trip)
  • Vitamin C (enough for the whole trip)
  • Small hand lotion
  • Cotton swabs
  • Panty liners
  • Pads
  • Extra contact case
  • Bandaids
  • Prescription medication (enough for the whole trip)
  • Cold & flu medicine (DayQuil/Nighquil)
  • Ibuprofen
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Triple antibiotic ointment
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Allergy relief
  • Antidiarrheal
  • Laxative
  • Emergency C






Electronics:
  • Computer & charger
  • Kindle & charger
  • Ipod with 2 cables
  • External hard drive
  • Screen protectors for phone
  • Card reader for computer
  • 2 sets of earbuds
  • 2 outlet adapters
  • 2 battery packs & charging cables
  • 2 flashdrives
  • 3 phone cords
  • 2 wall plugs
  • Electronic picture frame
  • Power strip
  • GoPro
    • Clamp mount
    • Bendy tripod
    • Handle 
    • Hat mount
    • Extra battery
    • Battery backpack
    • 4 backdoors
    • Remote
    • Chip reader
    • Wall plug
    • Charging cords




Other:
  • Sleeping bag
  • Pack towel
  • Wash cloth
  • Sprinkles
  • Ace wrap
  • Reminders of home
  • Wallet
  • Flip belt
  • Money belt
  • Passport cover
  • Jewelry
  • Books
  • Journal
  • 2 luggage locks
  • Tide-to-Go
  • Glasses wipes
  • Umbrella
  • Pencils
  • Folders
  • Notebook
  • Paper
  • Pens






Changes:
  • Add
    • Raincoat
    •  Aloe vera
  • Skip
    • Only take 1 swim suit if you are going during the spring semester (August-December)
    • Gloves
    • Unless you plan to travel skip the sleeping bag, flip flops, and wash cloth
    • Screen protectors
    • Cameras
    • Card reader
    • 1 flash drive, as long as 1 is large is no need for 2
    • Pick either the money belt or flip belt
    • Warm hat





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