Packing List

These are great things to ask for for Christmas!

Travel Necessities

• Student ID card

• Pouch for passport, cash, and info card

• 55-65 liter backpacking backpack

• If your frame is longer than 22 inches, it may not fit in the carry-on compartment on British Airways (with whom most of us have our tickets). If you have to check your bag, you run the risk of losing your luggage.

• Not necessarily full to begin with (we’ll have group items that people will need to carry, and you'll want space for souvenirs)

• Regular size day backpack

• This will be your “personal item” for the flight

• Pack in here 2 nights of clothing and small toiletries (no liquids over 3.4oz)

• Sleeping bag (very compact, lightweight, warm-weather)

• Sleeping pad

• Water bottle (just a disposable one if you want)

• Towel (not too big! Outdoor stores sell great lightweight, compact towlels)

• Small travel-size toiletries. All liquids must be in a transparent ziploc. Small soap in a plastic bag or travel box is also nice.

• Small bottle of sun-screen

Clothing

• Casual attire

• 6-7 shirts or nice T-shirts

• Light-weight pants

• Skirts must be to the knees

• Modest shorts (if you have doubts, err on the side of conservative)

• 2 layers - jacket/sweater/sweatshirt

• Underwear for 5-6 days, a couple pairs of socks

• Modest swimsuit (again, err on the conservative side)

• Rain jacket or poncho

• Compact umbrella

• Sunglasses

• Hat

• Scarf for women, if you want

• Shoes and sandals for:

• sometimes walking 5 miles per day!

• communal showers

• attending church services (leave the high-heels and loafers at home; sport shoes or sandals are ok, if they’re not too loud, gross, or blinking)

• Therefore, we recommend one modest pair of shoes or hiking shoes (not white or loud colors) that are good for walking/hiking; and one pair of walking sandals (like Birkenstocks or Chacos).

• Note: we’ll have access to washing machines every few days.

Other​

• Bible: that is small or one that is important to you

• Journal and/or pocket notepad to jot vocab or personal notes during daily life, homilies, etc.

• Folder and pen/pencil

• Personal books, preferably relating to the trip! Some books with also be available to borrow during the trip.

• Optional:

• ​flag from the U.S., your state or your college

• small items to exchange with people from other countries; something representative of where you're from of something faith-related you would like to share

• Wrist-watch if you are not bringing your phone

• Plug converter if you are bringing something that needs charging

• FM radio with headphones to hear the translations of talks and homilies

What NOT to bring:

• Large bottles of shampoo, lotion, etc

• Cell phone (It is optional to bring, but think about detaching from it...you’ll thank me later. You’ll always be partnered with someone who has one for emergency purposes).

• Laptop (there will be a computer sometimes available for limited use)

• Camera (Please volunteer to bring a camera/Go-Pro if you have a good one and some experience. A few of us will take photos for everyone)

• Breviary – no need, we'll have booklets

• Hair dryer

• Low-cut collars, tank-tops

• Euros – we will exchange money together, no need to do this ahead of time

Money

Bring $50-$100 to have on you as you travel. Beyond this, pay us the sum of spending money you want to have along. We can keep an account of it, and can settle the leftovers once we are back in the U.S. In this way, we can avoid losing any money on exchanges or pick-pockets. Food will be covered by our budget, except for 6-8 meals ($100), depending on your airport layovers, and your need for snack stops. In general, we'll be living a spirit of poverty which will mean sometimes eating simply or giving up the chance to shop.