Getting Ready to Go - Packing!

What better way to continue to put off packing, than by doing a blog post about it? Truthfully, I've discovered packing for 6 months really does take a LOT of planning. It's really about saying goodbye to the majority of your things for a long time and taking only the essentials.

Anyway, here are a few things I have learned in going back and forth to Germany for the past two years!

In my experience, most airlines allow two checked bags, each with a usual max weight of 50 lbs, and one carry-on bag that is small enough to fit in an overhead bin or under the seat in front of yours on the plane. Usually, women get the benefit of being allowed a carry-on bag AND a purse. I'm guessing most men don't usually mind this, seeing as women are usually the ones trying to take every last thing they possibly can, using all the allotted space available... me not totally excluded. However, I have found that personally, I hate dragging around two bags for such a long commute (about 16-18 hours, including layovers), so I stick with one decent-sized carry-on with a long, over the shoulder strap, so I can keep my hands free when dealing with food, passport, and tickets. And messenger bags can just make you look cool ;D

In your carry-on, include any important prescription medication, obviously all of your ticket and flight information, your passport and identification (along with copies put in a separate pocket of the bag) a good book, mp3 player, and it's usually a good idea for me to buy a good sized bottle of water to take on the flight after you get through security. Staying hydrated with water and not carbonated drinks helps fight jet lag, and can even help you sleep on overnight flights. I also take a fold up toothbrush, a couple face wipes and tiny travel-sized deodorant. Freshening up can really elevate your mood after a 9 hour straight flight from O'Hare to Frankfurt. Don't forget money. Never ever leave this bag unattended and guard it with your LIFE.

My previous trips to Germany have only been for a couple weeks at a time, and I always end up packing more than I need in my checked luggage. Christian always reminds me that Germany is not a third world country and anything I really need I can buy there. So I decided to buy things like shampoo, conditioner and body sprays after I get there, thus saving a little more space.

Since packing for a longer period of time is a new experience for me, I decided to surf the web for some ideas and pointers. As far as clothes are concerned, rolling them seems to be the best way instead of folding the laundry and laying each piece on top of the other. Also, you can pack things that might be breakable by rolling them in a shirt for cushion. Pack once, go through a check list, unpack and then repack, leaving out things you didn't really need in the first place. By the time I'm done with this method, I'll probably have done it about three times. I really need to remember that I will most definitely be bringing things home with me, thus I need some extra room on the trip over.

The struggle I'll deal with the most will be dealing with two separate climates. I mean, it'll be warm initially, but then I'll come back at the beginning of winter. I think the key thing will be LAYERS. and of course, a coat.

OK! I should continue to get ready... Talk to you soon!

Welcome!

Hello!

My name is Lindsay, nice to meet you here in cyberspace. You probably found this site through a plug I put in... somewhere or another. Welcome to this corner of the internet. It's cozy and warm here, isn't it?

This blog, as of now, will mostly document travel and day to day life while I'm living in Germany from early July '09 to late December '09. I am going to be studying at a language school there (aptly named 'German Language School Berlin'. I've taken a year of college German, and oddly enough came to really appreciate it and its similarities to English. I have a fiance who is German and he comes from Gera in old East Germany. Though I have some limited conversational German skills that I could survive on, I am excited to see how much I can learn in this time frame. Seeing as I am minoring in German, it's a great experience.

I'll be in school for 16 straight weeks, four hours a day, five days a week. I'm lucky enough not to have to get a job while I'm there, due to school money given as a graduation present from my wonderful grandparents. Hopefully, I'll be able to fill those otherwise empty hours in the week with travel and simply exploration.

I've been to Germany a number of times, and though many people overlook it for places like France, Spain, England, and Italy, I find it to be a really incredible place. Being American, and fairly well traveled in the states, I can really appreciate the cultural history and significance of the country. I did not expect any culture shock during my stay, I thought that was something you only really experience when going to a country you KNOW is going to be hugely different from normal day to day life, for example, Asia, South America, or Africa. Let me tell you, though they are mainly minor differences, those differences add up to make a sometimes uncomfortable and alien world. I understand how it is to feel isolated there, to feel like a real outsider, especially being an American abroad during the Bush II administration. Not so wonderful.

Germany, however, is in my experience, a wonderful place filled with wonderful people. I can tell you that the majority of people you will talk to are just as friendly as those you would meet here. The stereotypes for Germans are almost always wrong, as are the stereotypes for most groups of people.

Anyway, that's a start! I have been procrastinating on packing this stuff for so long, and I should really get to it so I can start eliminating the things I don't need. It usually takes about a week altogether to be set. I leave in 15 days! Agggggghhhhhhh!

See you soon!