Packing List

So I’m cheating a little bit and am actually writing this on the plane because I ran out of time to do it at home.

I was allowed to bring two bags: a hiking backpack and a carry on.

Here’s what I filled them with:

3 skirts (all at least below the knee)

1 work blouse

3 v-neck shirts (not very low-cut)

1 pair of khakis

Lots of socks and underwear

Raincoat

2 light sweaters

2 tanktops for layering

Cold and allergy medication

Hairbrush

Toiletries

Make-up

Chocolate to give as gift to host mom and others

Folders with health, insurance, and travel forms

Laptop

Camera

Lots of AA batteries

Brita filter water bottle

Water Purifying tablets

Bug Spray

Kindle

Computer loaded with scans of visa and passport, music, and movies

Passport

Bathing suit

Jeans

But despite having decided on all these things to bring,, I feel like there should be more preparation on my part. I’ve been sort of lackadaisical about getting everything together. I think its because of the huge difference between this program and my previous study abroad in China. That application process was more complex, the term was longer, and I was younger.  As a result, I felt over prepared.  In this situation, the comparison is so sharp that it makes me anxious that I’m forgetting something important. So, I sit here on the plane torn between trying to go back to sleep and running through lists in my head of things I might later wish I had packed. So keep an eye out for a revised recommended packing list later.