Packing, Part II

Hey, friends!

It's been a while since my last post, but I'll be posting a lot more soon: the time is drawing near! Five sleeps, four days, only two of which are work days...

After my vaccinations, I didn't feel well for a few days, but that's understandable, with all those diseases running around for my body to fight off. It was like the Ultimate Fighting Championship for germs vs. antibodies.

As soon as I was feeling better, I decided to get down to the work of some serious packing. Honestly, I will admit I was almost completely packed last weekend, but I have been packing and repacking a bit. Still, this is mostly it.

I am carrying three things with me: my suitcase, which will be checked (it is packed into the belly of the plane with all of the other luggage); my carry-on, which is taken onto the plane and put in the overhead compartment (like a cupboard above the seats); and my messenger bag, which I will use instead of a purse. I will have that with me at my seat, and I'll just stick it under the seat in front of me while we're flying.

So...first let's examine the suitcase.

The little suitcase

This is my little suitcase. It is small, but I want to take as little as possible with me. For one thing, it makes it less likely that my luggage will be searched. Raja says that some customs agents in India are corrupt. They will tell people that they need to pay "taxes" to bring in certain items. However, they will just keep the money! Either that, or they will keep the items they want and can sell for money.
I'm sure not everyone is like that, but why tempt anyone? I am planning to buy one or two bigger suitcases there to bring all of my stuff home, as I am going to do some major shopping. Each of us can bring two suitcases, and each of us is going with only one. I doubt the kids will do much shopping, so I think we are set. Oh, yes, packing... here's the suitcase. What goes inside?

My clothes are in plastic travel bags. You squeeze the air out, and it compresses the clothes down so they take up a lot less room.

My suitcase, full.

My toiletries and stuff

In my suitcase, I have night clothes, underwear, my fancy salwar (to visit temples, for example), socks, my bathing suit (which I have been informed I can not wear in public, but I'll just wear it under a skirt and t-shirt if we go to the ocean), my sari and choli, my extra hat, my big first aid kit, baby wipes, a can of OFF (bug spray) and a can of sunburn relief spray (even though I brought sunscreen and hats, I burn easily), hair ties, my jewelry, my shampoo and other toiletries I don't need to have right on me, and most importantly, gifts for Raja's family.

I am going to have to put those two cans (the OFF and the sunburn spray) in plastic bags, because I've read that sometimes can like those can leak because of air pressure. I don't want that stuff all over my bag!


Next up, my carry on. This bag has everything I might need access to during the trip, such as my extra clothes, toothbrush and toothpaste, makeup, lotion, sunscreen, medicines, hand sanitizer... most of the toiletries (liquids and gels) need to be under 3 oz. and placed in a quart-sized bag. They go through the x-ray machine in the airport.

Neatly labeled in a quart-sized bag.

Here are some other things I might need: a mirror, wet wipes, tissues... this bag had my pills in it, but I later moved them to another bag, labeled, appropriately enough... "Medications."

Here I have gum and powdered drink mix.

Snacks, including cookies, Clif bars,
 fruit leather, and chocolate.

A gift for Aunty, some lavender from a local farm

More gifts: photo albums with photos of me, Raja, and the kids.

A close up of the inside of my bag. On the left is a package of my extra luggage tags. 

The yellow envelopes have pencils I am donating to a local service organization 

that helps girls who live in the slums of Chennai get an education. I hope to visit 

their offices to get more information on how I might support them; not only with 

my money, but with my time. I hope this is not my last trip to India, and I can't imagine 

visiting India without eventually doing some service projects. Next to the pencils 

(and under the purple sox) you can see my green and black/brown casual salwar kameez. 

I'm going to try to change into this when I "freshen up" in Hong Kong. In the center is my 

pair of Keens sandals, and on the right, my small first aid kit, and my toiletries. Also in this 

bag is a book I'm reading, the cords and extra batteries, etc. for my electronics, and the other

 items I posted pictures of above/below.

Cords for all my goo-gahs

This is my steripen. Everyone tells me I won't need it,

but better safe than sorry!

Here I have a light fleece jacket,
just in case I get chilly on the plane .

A variety of necessities. Earphones, earplugs,  a blindfold  (Actually a "Mindfold" which is awesome because you can actually open your eyes while you wear itand it doesn't put any pressure on your eyes or let in any light. ) My iPod goes in here, too, and also my phone, although I won't be using it in India.

Last but not least, my Messenger bag. This bag is chock-full of goodies! After all, from what I have calculated, with flights and layovers, I will be traveling for 34 hours! I'm not sure what to make of that, but I tell you, I am going to make sure I have plenty to keep me busy (besides trying to entertain the kids!)

Here is my messenger bag.
It has the address for this blog on it.
Cool, eh? Maybe we'll go viral! LOL

Crossword puzzles, sudoku, and jumbles. I sometimes do these
in my spare time, and I've saved a bunch for the flight.

OMG, can you say snacky deliciousness?
Nutter Butter cookies, Clif bars, organic chocolate...

...gum, drink mix, and sesame chiki.
(It's kinda like Indian peanut brittle, but
this one is with sesame seeds, instead.
It is AWESOME!)

A book on Chennai (or Madras as it used to be called)
And a book on poetry that I bought at City Lights bookstore
when I was in San Francisco with Raja over Spring Break

I bought this journal last year, before I ever started dating Raja. I figured I would take it with me when I went to teach in India. It's for writing poetry in.

And how can one write poetry or do
crosswords without pencils? Pencils, a
sharpener, pens, sticky notes and Sharpies.
I'm such a teacher!

Cards. They bring joy and ease to those long, boring hours. Thank you, Mr. Chris. You are the best Educational Assistant ever. I'll think of you every time I
cheat at Solitaire. All this is possible because of you.

This folder holds copies of important documents:
All four of our passports, prescription info, an emergency contact list,
a copy of my immunization record, and my medical power of attorney
(a paper that tells who gets to make important decisions for me
if I get very sick and can't decide for myself.)

The inside of the bag has a sticker of the Goddess Durga.
I'm counting on her to keep me safe. She's really fierce!

In this pink bag is my best friend.
I'm typing on it right now.
What would I do with out my MacBook?

These are my notecards for learning the Tamil
language. This letter makes the u sound, as in put.

And, of course, the famous passport wallet. My driver's license, credit and debit cards, insurance and lawyer's cards, my passport, my immunization records, my list of emergency contact numbers, and, of course, money, both American (for traveling) and Indian (for spending once I get there.)

Most of my money has been turned into a cashier's check to give to Raja. He'll deposit it in his bank here, and transfer the funds into his bank in India. Then, when I need rupees, he will give me whatever I need. Because you can't take rupees out of India, he had to order me some money in advance. You can sort of see it up there, but here is a better picture:

This is 2,200 rupees. It seems like a lot, but actually it's 

only about $47.77 in U.S. Dollars. Still, that's a lot, 

considering the average  income in Chennai is about 

$705.00 per YEAR. The amount of money I'm taking 

just to spend could support more than two Indian families 

for an entire year. No wonder Indians think all Americans 

(and other foreigners) are rich. Compared to them, we are!

It's late now, and this post took me a really long time to 

edit. I am starving! I think I'll go get a hamburger, 

as I certainly won't be eating any cows in India!

Be good!