FAQ: How Do You Pack for Living Abroad? (Part 1)

This is a question that will take more than one post and that will only answer how WE pack.  Much of what you decided to pack will be an individual choice of each family depending on the needs, wants and size of that particular family.  I personally keep a Microsoft Word document with a list of all I want to bring overseas with me each year.  Throughout the year if I think of something that I would like the next year, I can add it, so when packing time comes for the next season, it will be on my list that I print out.  The list also contains things I make sure I do before leaving, as well as items to pack.  So here is how my list begins:

The things you need to do before you pack are:
o Make sure all of your clothes are clean and put away.
o The house is in good order: Everything in it’s place.
o Notify post office that you will be out of town and to hold your mail, or asked a trusted person to pick up your mail and newspapers.
o If you are flying make sure your tickets are in order and in your planner or purse. What time do you need to be at the airport? What time do you need to leave the house to get to the airport on time?
o Call credit card company to notify we will be out of the country.

Things to do before you leave:
o Register the trip at http://travel.state.gov.
o Change all the sheets so that when you get home your bed is nice and welcoming. Do this the day before you leave. No time when you are leaving early in the morning.
o Make sure the house is clean and sparkling, so when you walk in the door you are not blown away by a messy house.
o Put Mr. Clean or Pinesol in each of your toilets and pour a little in your drains. Use something you like to smell. This will keep your house from smelling bad from stagnant water.
o Throw the breaker for our hot water heater if going to be gone for 2 or more weeks.
o Also turn the air conditioner up to about 85 degrees or completely off.
o Check your freezer to make sure the door is closed. Then tape it shut.

And now for the actual items we pack. I would say for the most part, we are pretty simple packers. We stick to the allowed number of bags and the allowed poundage per bag. We don’t normally pay for extra baggage and we don’t ship things over. One of our pieces of luggage is always a box with my iMac and now Abby’s school printer. So currently, that leaves us with 8 other bags at 50 pounds each to pack. Joe takes two of those bags for his clothes, shoes, supplements and many books. So the rest of the items on the list, I pack in the remaining 6 bags. Next year, Noami will have a full ticket and we will have a new baby, Lord-willing, so we will then be up to an additional 9 bags after the computer/printer box and Joe’s 2 bags! Can you imagine the site of us moving through an airport? So here is more of what we pack with some explanations, where needed:

CLOTHES (numbers per person)
• ____12-15 changes of clothes
• ____15 sets of underwear (underpants, socks, bras)
• ____4 sleep shirts/pjs
• ____2 dress outfits
• ____shoes (tennis, sandals, dress, slippers)
• ____swimsuits
• ____3 sweatsuits
• ____2 sweaters
• ____1-2 jackets
• ____1-2 heavy coats, mittens, hats, boots
• ____sunglasses

BABY and KIDS
• ____cloth diapers
• ____cloth wipes and wipe solution bits
• ____ bibs, burp cloths
• ____travel nursing pillow (if still nursing)
• ____toys (we try to take small, light toys, like blow-up bouncy balls, Polly Pockets or small action figures, dress-up clothes)
• ____blankets or stuffed animals, any other special things for kids
• ____diaper bag
• ____stroller
• ____car seats (anytime we have traveled, we have been allowed to check an additional car seat for each child, so that we don’t have to take them on the plane and they don’t count as a bag)
• ____Pea Pod
• ____travel high chair

Tomorrow I will list what we bring for kitchen, electronics, and miscellaneous items.