Packing Check List for International Travel

LUGGAGE AND DAYPACKS

SUITCASE. Try to pare down to one suitcase for everything. You will carry your luggage on a lot of rough roads and non-existent sidewalk (not to mention stairs), so practice packing your suitcase(s) and then carry them around your campus or town for a day to make sure you can manage. If you take it, you carry it. Check with the airline for weight limits on luggage for both domestic and international flights. If you will have a domestic flight in your host country , keep in mind that the weight limit will be much less on that domestic flight than the weight allowed on your international flight into the country.

CARRY-ON BAG. The ultimate travel method is to make your carry-on and your suitcase the same bag, so you don't have to check luggage. Bring a carry-on that will fit under the airplane seat in front of you. The size for carry-on bags on most airlines (and enforced by the airlines) is 9 X 14 X 22 inches. Check the website for your airline to verify the size limit for carry-ons and the weight of checked luggage.

SMALL DAYPACK. A small daypack is great for carrying your sweater, camera, literature, and picnic goodies while you leave your large bag at the hotel or train station. Fanny packs (small bags with thief-friendly zippers on a belt) are a popular alternative but should not be used as money belts.
CAMERA BAG. Bring a common-looking bag to hold your camera, film and extra batteries not an expensive-looking camera bag which readily identifies itself to thieves.

MONEY BELT. It's essential for the peace of mind it brings. You could lose everything except your money belt, and the trip could still go on. Lightweight and low-profile beige is best.

NOTE: Label your gear with your travel e-mail address in case it is lost and a good Samaritan finds it before a thief.

CLOTHES
Bring a minimalist amount of clothes and purchase clothes in the country where you serve as part of your souvenirs.

Shirts

Guys: 2-3 t-shirts (no sleeveless shirts, in general), at least one collared shirt (non-collared t-shirts are viewed as low-class in some places), and possibly one dress shirt. Ask your field personnel if you will need a dress shirt.

Ladies: 2-3 t-shirts or blouses (no sleeveless shirts, in general), at least one that you can dress up for a more formal occasion.

Pants

Guys: 1-2 pairs of jeans and at least 1 pair of slacks (Docker-type). Keep in mind that jeans are hot if you are going to a warm climate. Ask your field personnel if you need more than one pair of slacks. If so, exchange one pair of jeans for a pair of slacks.

NOTE 1: shorts are usually not worn by men in many cultures. Check with your field personnel before packing or wearing shorts in your host country.

NOTE 2: In some countries, the clothes you wear as a foreigner indicate your opinion of the host country and people. If you dress sloppily in old, ragged clothes, the nationals will think you have a low opinion of them. The United States college culture is very casual and pop culture encourages ragged, sloppy clothes in many cases. Take stock of the clothes you take with you in order to present a clean, well-groomed, MODEST appearance that indicates you hold your host country and its people in high esteem.

Ladies: 1-2 pairs of pants or jeans and at least 1 skirt. Bring items that will mix and match well with your shirts/blouses.

NOTE 1: In many cultures, polite women do not wear shorts and pants/jeans are even questionable in some cultures. Ask your field supervisor about what clothes are most appropriate in your host culture.

NOTE 2: NOTE 2: In some countries, the clothes you wear as a foreigner indicate your opinion of the host country and people. If you dress sloppily in old, ragged clothes, the nationals will think you have a low opinion of them. The United States college culture is very casual and pop culture encourages ragged, sloppy clothes in many cases. Take stock of the clothes you take with you in order to present a clean, well-groomed, MODEST appearance that indicates you hold your host country and its people in high esteem

HEADGEAR. A hat or bandana can provide protection from sun, dust, and a host of other debris and it keeps your head warm when the weather is cold.

UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS. Bring five sets (lighter dries quicker). You can do laundry by hand when you run out. Throw away worn-out pairs before you return home. Remember that nylon, which doesn't breathe, invites fungal infections in the tropics.

SHOES. Take two pairs only: one well-used, light pair, with comfortable rubber soles and good traction (sturdy, low-profile-colored tennis shoes with a good tread are fine, too), and one pair for dressier occasions like church attendance. Sandals (not flip flops) make a good, light second pair if the climate will accommodate sandals. Don't break in a new pair of shoes on your trip.

JACKET. Bring a light and water-resistant windbreaker with a hood. Gore-Tex is good if you expect rain. For summer travel, you can wing it without rain gear, but always pack for rain in Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia.

TIE OR SCARF. Bring anything lightweight that can break the monotony and make you look snazzy in an instant. As a foreigner, you never know where you will be invited for dinner in some countries!

PAPERS AND MONEY

MONEY. Ask your field personnel what type of money (cash, travelers checks, credit card) works best in their situation. In some places, travelers checks are no problem to cash. In others, you couldn't cash a travelers check if it was your last dollar. Rick Steves of Europe Through the Back Door says, "I rely on an ATM card with a credit card and $400 in cash as a backup."

Debit cards are widely accepted in other countries, but check with your bank before taking it overseas to see if you are protected in case of fraudulent use. Most banks require an investigation period during which time your bank account could be wiped out.

Some ATMs abroad require a 4-digit PIN number. If your PIN is more than 4 digits, you may have to choose a new one to use it overseas.

DOCUMENTS

Passport. Be sure it is signed.

Airline ticket. You must have the paper ticket to travel internationally. Some airlines will require you to show the return flight to prove that you are not going to their country to live indefinitely.

Health Card. If any immunizations were required to enter the country, bring your health card with the record of receiving the immunizations. Staple it in the back of your passport so you don't lose it.

Supervisor contact information (phone and fax numbers at home, the office, and cell/handphone). Also carry a legible copy of the address for your housing and the phone number. If you are entering a security sensitive country, you might bring the phone numbers/addresses without the field supervisors name on it.

Information about how to complete the Entry Card for entering your host county if your field supervisor sent you this information. This card is given to you on the airplane about 30 minutes before landing in country.

Student I.D. and hostel card. only needed if you are staying in a hostel in your host country.

NOTE: DO NOT PACK THESE ITEMS IN YOUR LUGGAGE!

PHOTOCOPIES. Make 2 copies of your passport, visa (if applicable) and airline ticket and health card. Carry photocopies separately in your luggage and keep the originals in your money belt.

EXTRA PASSPORT PHOTOS. 1 extra set of photos (2 photos) (along with your photocopied info) will help you get replacements more quickly if any of your original documents are lost. Also, you many need these photos for other required documents in-country.

TOILETRIES

Toiletry needs will differ from men to women, but below is a general packing list. Bring travel size for each of these items to cut down on packing bulk. Pack all liquids in sealed plastic bags because change in pressure in an airplane often causes leaks.

MEDICINE and VITAMINS. Keep in original containers, if possible, with legible prescriptions using generic drug names. Bring an extra copy of a prescription in order to obtain the same product in your host country.

EXTRA EYEGLASSES, CONTACT LENSES, AND PRESCRIPTIONS. Many find their otherwise-comfortable contacts aren't practical while traveling. Bring your glasses and lens prescription just in case. Contact solutions are widely available in Europe and Australia, but not in a lot of lesser-developed countries.

TOILETRIES KIT. Sinks in cheap hotels come with meager countertop space and anonymous hairs. If you have a toiletries kit that can hang on a hook or a towel bar, this is no problem. Put all squeeze bottles in zip-lock baggies, since pressure changes in flight cause even good bottles to leak. Consider a vacation from cosmetics and perfume.

TOILET PAPER. Bring a small roll of toilet paper or tissue packet. Some non-American bathrooms do not have toilet paper and in some you have to buy it.

ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WIPES. Individually packaged ones are best. These can substitute for a shower for a day or two if the need arises. Liquid hand gel is good, too, but not for substitute showers.

SOAP. Not all hotels provide soap. A plastic squeeze bottle of concentrated, multipurpose, biodegradable liquid soap is handy for laundry and more.

SHAMPOO. Take travel size bottles and leave the empties as you go. Take a shampoo/conditioner all-in-one brand if you need conditioner.

SMALL TOWEL. Ask your field personnel if you need more than a small towel for your housing arrangements. Many travelers recommend thin, quick-drying, synthetic towels that can be bought in Brookstone stores or online on travel websites such as Magellans.com.

DEODORANT.

NAIL CLIPPERS.

RAZOR AND EXTRA BLADES.

TOOTHBRUSH, TOOTHPASTE, AND DENTAL FLOSS. You can find toothbrushes and toothpaste for sale in most countries, but maybe not your favorite brand. Dental floss is harder to find, so take enough for your entire stay.

COMB/HAIRBRUSH.

LIQUID SOAP. Can double as laundry detergent and not as messy as bar soap to carry with you after use.

GLASSES INSTEAD OF CONTACTS. Dry air on the airplane and lots of air pollution and dust in lesser developed countries can cause great eye irritation to contact lens wearers. Plus, there is less to pack if you use glasses instead of contacts (no cleaning solution, etc.) Be sure to bring a prescription for your glasses in case they are broken and need replacing.

EARPLUGS. If night noises bother you, you'll love a good set of plugs such as those made by Sleep-well. Great for the airplane as well as blocking out the noise of the chickens scratching under your window in developing countries.

FEMININE HYGENE PRODUCTS. Bring some and ask your field supervisor if you can purchase more in your host country. Also ask your field supervisor about appropriate ways to discard used products. Tampons are difficult to find in many parts of the world.

ANTIFUNGAL SPRAY POWDER (GUYS). if you are going to a hot and humid climate, a product like Tinactin could help with jock itch.

IMMODIUM A.D. Forty-percent of travelers in developing countries get traveler's diarrhea. For those days when the ministry can't stop, Immodium A.D. or a similar product will be your friend.

ANALGESIC MEDICINE . Aspirin, ibuprofen, whatever, take something to ward of headaches.

MISCELLANEOUS, BUT NECESSARY

CAMERA. For point-and-shoot snappers, put in a new battery before you go and bring another battery along, as well as a trip's worth of film. In addition, serious SLR shutterbugs will want to bring a protective and polarizing lens, midrange zoom lens, mini-tripod, and a cleaning tissue. Digital fans will need plenty of memory storage or a plan for e-mailing images or burning CDs abroad, plus adequate batteries, chargers, voltage and/or plug converters.

ZIP-LOCK BAGGIES. Get a variety of sizes. They're great for packing leftover picnic food, containing wetness, and bagging potential leaks before they happen. The two-gallon jumbo size is handy for packing clothing.

WATER BOTTLE. The plastic half-liter mineral water bottles are reusable and work great. Only take one, as bottled water is available to buy almost anywhere in the world and water is heavy to pack.

WRISTWATCH. A built-in alarm is handy.

TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK. Be sure to set it to the time in your host country.

FIRST-AID KIT. A small kit with Band-Aids, blister kit, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, thermometer in a hard case, Tylenol or equivalent, cold and diarrhea remedies, etc.

CLOTHESLINE. Hang it up in your room to dry your clothes. The handy twist kind needs no clothespins.

SEWING KIT. Clothes age rapidly while traveling. Your flight attendant may have a freebie for you.

SAFETY PINS AND BUTTONS. Add a few of these to the sewing kit and you'll be set for most all clothing emergencies.

LOCKS. Use on your luggage and daypacks in your host country to protect your belongings. Bring sturdy locks (not little suitcase locks), preferably combination locks so you do not have to keep track of a key.

ADDRESS LIST. A list of e-mail addresses and mailing addresses will help you keep in touch. Taking a whole address book is not packing light. Consider typing your mail list onto a sheet of gummed address labels before you leave. You'll know exactly who you've written to, and the labels will be perfectly legible. Or just send mass e-mails as you go (bring a shrunk-down print-out of your e-mail address book in case you can't access it online).

INFLATABLE HANGERS. Take the wire out at home. These pack flat and help dry the laundry you did in your room. The inflatable part is a great lumbar cushion for long flights, too.

COLLAPSIBLE SPRAY BOTTLE. Spray some water on a wrinkled shirt, shake out, and hang to dry. Better than an iron.

"RELIGIOUS" ITEMS TO PACK:

BIBLE

JOURNAL. An empty book to be filled with the experiences of your trip will be your most treasured souvenir. Use a hardbound type designed to last a lifetime, rather than a spiral notebook. Attach a photocopied calendar page of your itinerary. A journal will help you remember the stories to tell when you return home.

GIFTS FOR MISSIONARIES. Ask them what American items they cannot buy in their country and take those items to them.

GIFTS FOR NATIONALS. You will very likely work with many pastors and nationals on the field. Ask your field supervisor about the type of small gifts for them would be good to bring with you.

ITEMS TO HELPYOUR MISSION WORK. If you are leading VBS for children, bring items that will help, such as crayons, Bible story illustrations, and craft materials. Check with your field supervisor to see what can be purchased on the field and what you need to bring with you.

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO PACK:

SUNGLASSES AND SUNSCREEN. Depending on season and destination. You will probably need them.

UMBRELLA. If your host country will be in the rainy season, bring one OR, ask your field supervisor if they can be easily and cheaply purchased in -country and then leave it with a national when you depart.

INFLATABLE PILLOW. for snoozing on trains, planes, and beaches.

PILLOWCASE. It's cleaner and possibly more comfortable to stuff your own.

HAIR DRYER. People with long or thick hair appreciate a hair dryer, especially in cold places and seasons when hair (and laundry) takes a long time to dry. Look for a small, lightweight model with a built-in voltage converter; you'll also need the appropriate plug adapter. Hair dryers are generally provided in $100-plus hotel rooms.

SPORT SANDALS OR FLIP-FLOPS. Good for avoiding dubious shower floors as well as beach-combing. In some countries, flip-flops are standard footwear.

SLIPPERS. Great for the flight and for getting cozy in the place you stay.

FLASHLIGHT. A small one is handy for reading under the sheets if you have a roommate, late night trips down the hall, and hypnotizing street thieves. Don't forget fresh batteries and a set of spares.

MULTI-PURPOSE KNIFE. (such as Swiss Army). Pack this item in your luggage. Do not carry it onto the airplane, or you will end up donating it to the TSA's collection.

BOOK OR MAGAZINE. There's plenty of empty time on a trip to either be bored or enjoy some good reading. Consider bringing some that you can leave with your field personnel - they don't receive the latest magazines from home very often!

POSTCARDS FROM HOME AND FAMILY PHOTOS. A zip-lock baggie of show-and-tell things is always a great conversation piece with Europeans you meet. (Don't bring irreplaceable photos.)

RADIO, CD or MP3 PLAYER, or TAPE RECORDER. Partners can bring a Y-jack for two sets of earphones. Some travelers use microcassette recorders to record concerts, church bells, tours, or journal entries.

TRAVEL INFORMATION (MINIMAL). Rip out appropriate chapters from guidebooks, staple them together, and store in a zip-lock baggie. When you're done, give them away.

MAP. Get a map best suited to your trip's overall needs, and pick up maps for specific local areas as you go.