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

SaveSave

Week 16/Semana 16

Day 106:
Today I found two gifts at the feria. A vendor named Oscar, who I bought a gift from, struck up conversation with me. He used to be a teacher here and told me that next week he will bring his old curriculum and photos to the feria for me to see.

Day 107:
We have no water in the casita and limited water in the big house. It's like camping, but not as much fun. Today was the last day of community services because Friday is a party. I played soccer with an empty bottle with a couple of the boys  outside. It was a lot of fun to play with them like I used to do with my 3-5 year olds back home at Lion Cub Academy. I miss work.

Day 108:
Still camping.

Day 109:
There's water! Also literature got cancelled, which means I have my birthday off!

Day 110:
I finally got my wish to spend my birthday on the beach. Not a bad way to bring in 23.

My family made my birthday far away just as special as it is at home. Maria made me a cake filled with dulce de leche and covered in chocolate and M&Ms. 

Day 111:
Today was the last day of community services. We had a party with 300 preschoolers. I was glad to be done, but sad that it was over. One little boy asked me if it meant that I was going back to my country. :(

My 5 year olds (there's 100 of them)

They made us all cards 

Day 112:
This morning I received a text telling me not to look in the oven nor eat breakfast. Then I was sent to my room until called. My housemates, Anna in particular made me a wonderful birthday brunch since we didn't get to go to the beach. It was all super amazing.

She made me a pumpkin pie, without even knowing what one was! 

Look at that!

Día 106:
Fui a la feria y compré dos regalos. Un vendedor, se llama Oscar quien me vendió uno de los regalos, charló conmigo por un poco. Él trabajó como maestro y la semana viene va a llevar su matricula y fotos a la feria.

Día 107:
No tenemos agua en la casita y agua limitada en la casa. Es como la acampada pero no tan divertido. Hoy fue el final día de servicios comunitarios porque el viernes es una festita. Jugué fútbol con un grupo de niños afuera con una botella vacía. Era muy divertido para jugar como jugaba con mis niños con 3-5 años en Lion Cub Academy en EE.UU. Extraño mi trabajo.

Día 108:
Todavía estamos acampando.

Día 109:
¡Hay agua! ¡No hay clase mañana por eso tengo mi cumpleaños libre!

Día 110:
Finalmente, paseo mis cumpleaños en la playa. Creo que es un modo tan lindo de dar la bienvenida a 23.

Mi familia me hizo mi cumpleaños en tierras lejos tan especial de en casa. Maria me hice una torta llena de dulce de leche con chocolate y M&Ms afuera.

Día 111:
Hoy fue el ultimo día de servicios comunitarios. Tuvimos una fiesta con 300 niños. Estaba feliz que estoy terminada con la clase, pero triste nunca voy a ver los niños otra vez. Un niño me preguntó si la fiesta significó que voy a regresar a mi país. :(

Mis niños de 5 (hay 100 de ellos)

Nos hicieron cartas

Día 112:
Esta mañana recibí un mensaje diciendo que no podia desayunar ni mirar en el horno. Después Anna me dijo que necesité ir a la casita hasta alguien me llama. Mis compañeros de casa, especialmente Anna, me hicieron un brunch para mi cumpleaños porque no podíamos ir a la playa. ¡Era incredible!

¡Ella me hizo una torta de calabaza sin sabia que era!

¡Lo mira!

Week 15/Semana 15

Day 99:
I went swimming at the beach! Hello summer.

Day 100:
Wow, I can't believe I left home 100 days ago.  Today at community services, we did a lesson on the senses. It was fun and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

Day 101:
Nothing too exciting here today.

Day 102:
Once again, nothing much is going on at the moment.

Day 103:
I was the only one that showed up for literature today. I chatted with the substitute teacher about my wedding for twenty minutes and walked the 40 minutes back home.

Day 104:
Even though my wrist hurts too much to practice, I went to watch anyways.

Day 105:
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...but I'm also sweating in shorts.

Daí 99:
¡Nadé a la playa! Bienvenidos verano.

Día 100:
No puedo creer que saliera de mi casa hace 100 días. Hoy a servicios comunitarios, hicimos una lección en los sentidos. Era divertida y los niños la disfrutaron.

Día 101:
Nada emocionante hoy.

Día 102:
Nada mucho otra vez.

Día 103:
Fui la unica persona en literatura hoy. Hablé con la profesora de mi boda por un poco y caminé 40 minutes a la casa.

Día 104:
A pesar del dolor en mi muñeca, fui a mirar.

Día 105:
Está empezando a parecer como Navidad...pero también estoy cocinando en mis cortos.

Week 14/Semana 14

Day 92:
I went to a big feria and then to the beach. I don't have pictures, but I promise I went.

Day 93:
We made maracas with kids today. They were very excited about it.

Day 94:
Today I did my presentation on maté. I think it went well.

Day 95:
I went to karate tonight and worked out with them. I think  I smiled for an hour straight afterwards. Words cannot describe how happy I was to be back in a dojo. At the end of class the sensei asked me if I had understood the Spanish. His face was priceless when I told him that I had not. I understood the Japanese though.

Day 96:
We had the day off because it was Day of the Dead. It poured rain all day.

Day 97:
I went to jail today. Or what used to be a jail and is now an art museum.

From courtyard 

How bout that for bedroom?

Merman 

3D floor plan. Look close and you can see the markings for furniture on the floors.

Day 98:
I went to the Artisans Market Today. I got a maté purse and a nativity set, along with a couple gifts.

Día 92:
Fui a una feria grande y la Rambla. No tengo fotos pero, fui, prometo.

Día 93:
Hicimos maracas hoy con los niños. Estaban emocionados.

Día 94:
Hoy hice mi presentación sobre mate. Creo que fue bien.

Día 95:
Fui a karate y lo hice. Creo que sonreía para una hora después. No puedo explicar mi alegría con palabras. Estaba tan feliz para estar en un dojo. Al fin de la clase el sensei me preguntó si entendí el español. Su cara era de sorpresa completa cuando le dije que no, pero más o menos el japonés.

Día 96:
Hoy es Día de los Muertos. No había clase pero estaba lluvioso todo el día.

Day 97:
Fui a cárcel. O era un cárcel y ahora es un museo de arte.

Desde el jardín

Un dormitorio para ti

Sireno 

Plano en 3D. Puedes ver los muebles en los pisos.

Día 98:
Fui al Mercado de Artesanos. Compré un nacimiento, cartera de mate y dos regalos.