We are excited for our first tour today. Ready to get outta the hotel for awhile...other than to go to medical clinics or government offices. It is time for FUN STUFF, instead of TB tests, medical exams, and filling out paperwork!
Without being on the island, we are doing much less shopping than last time... so souvenior level is low. Sorry all! Pics and memories will have to do it!
Packing.... To answer the question on how you pack for a trip like this is tricky. You start just like any other trip, getting out essentials. You keep in mind your luggage and weight limits.... which are pretty strict. You also keep in mind that you are going to have two 4 year olds (almost) and that any luggage you bring, you have to be able to move and transport.
Then, you pack scabies lotion, lice shampoo, antibiotics for all, vitamins, malaria pills for all (PS in case you are wondering, Audrie can take pills without chewing now....the disguisting tasting malaria pills made her learn to swallow them!), dimetapp, febreze, phenergan, tums, pepto, PM tylenol, allergy pills, sinus pills, immodium + CIPRO for travelers diarrhea, and pretty much anything else you may carry in your medicine cabinet...was in our suitcases. You pack for about 3-4 days of clothes, but extra underwear and socks. I have done some laundry in the room, and we found a place from the island where we stayed last time that will pick up and deliver laundry here. (Marriott is REALLY expensive for laundry ($10 us for a pair of pants))
I got out a 6 foot table, and put three suitcases out. I put an outfit in each for each person and an extra shirt. I packed an extra suitcase inside of one of them for the trip home. Then, I put some essentials in each suitcase.... you plan, just in case one of your suitcases doesn't make it.... so that you will have all that you need.
This season, we had to pack for layers. The weather is chilly some days and warm and MUGGY others, so it is layering time! You pack some laundry soap in case you do not have access to get laundry done, you pack LOTS of uncirculated 100 bills to pay all fees. You pack snacks - trail mix, suckers, candy, a couple of kids cups to have drinks in, gummies, crackers, pedialite,
You use backpacks that you can take when you go places, and I am borrowing a tiny purse (cause I do not have any) that my buddy Laurel loans me for the trips!
For the one you do not know yet....you pray a lot, that you have the right sizes (we dont...he is smaller than we anticipated and is swimming in 2ts, but I am able to stitch, adjust, roll to get them to stay up! I brought pull ups because I had no idea if he was potty trained (he is not)!
You try to remember to not leave your cameras somewhere, like the airport:-) and bring extra memory cards and batteries. You bring movies for the Americanized one...who LOVES TO watch movies.
We packed a double stroller, which is going to be nice while we tour! Hmmm.. Oh yea, you need power converters and adapters to use the power, wipes because you jsut do not go anywhere without them.... you pack little toys that you really do not care about in case they get left somewhere... I got some great stuff from the church (mcdonalds toys, blow horns for parties, bouncy balls, etc.
Oh, and you do not pack a bible or things just in case... you get searched. You do pack your prayers, and your knees. That is the MOST important part. God is good, he provides what we need, and keeps us safe.
Ok. WAKE UP! It is shower time!
Love ya all!
Without being on the island, we are doing much less shopping than last time... so souvenior level is low. Sorry all! Pics and memories will have to do it!
Packing.... To answer the question on how you pack for a trip like this is tricky. You start just like any other trip, getting out essentials. You keep in mind your luggage and weight limits.... which are pretty strict. You also keep in mind that you are going to have two 4 year olds (almost) and that any luggage you bring, you have to be able to move and transport.
Then, you pack scabies lotion, lice shampoo, antibiotics for all, vitamins, malaria pills for all (PS in case you are wondering, Audrie can take pills without chewing now....the disguisting tasting malaria pills made her learn to swallow them!), dimetapp, febreze, phenergan, tums, pepto, PM tylenol, allergy pills, sinus pills, immodium + CIPRO for travelers diarrhea, and pretty much anything else you may carry in your medicine cabinet...was in our suitcases. You pack for about 3-4 days of clothes, but extra underwear and socks. I have done some laundry in the room, and we found a place from the island where we stayed last time that will pick up and deliver laundry here. (Marriott is REALLY expensive for laundry ($10 us for a pair of pants))
I got out a 6 foot table, and put three suitcases out. I put an outfit in each for each person and an extra shirt. I packed an extra suitcase inside of one of them for the trip home. Then, I put some essentials in each suitcase.... you plan, just in case one of your suitcases doesn't make it.... so that you will have all that you need.
This season, we had to pack for layers. The weather is chilly some days and warm and MUGGY others, so it is layering time! You pack some laundry soap in case you do not have access to get laundry done, you pack LOTS of uncirculated 100 bills to pay all fees. You pack snacks - trail mix, suckers, candy, a couple of kids cups to have drinks in, gummies, crackers, pedialite,
You use backpacks that you can take when you go places, and I am borrowing a tiny purse (cause I do not have any) that my buddy Laurel loans me for the trips!
For the one you do not know yet....you pray a lot, that you have the right sizes (we dont...he is smaller than we anticipated and is swimming in 2ts, but I am able to stitch, adjust, roll to get them to stay up! I brought pull ups because I had no idea if he was potty trained (he is not)!
You try to remember to not leave your cameras somewhere, like the airport:-) and bring extra memory cards and batteries. You bring movies for the Americanized one...who LOVES TO watch movies.
We packed a double stroller, which is going to be nice while we tour! Hmmm.. Oh yea, you need power converters and adapters to use the power, wipes because you jsut do not go anywhere without them.... you pack little toys that you really do not care about in case they get left somewhere... I got some great stuff from the church (mcdonalds toys, blow horns for parties, bouncy balls, etc.
Oh, and you do not pack a bible or things just in case... you get searched. You do pack your prayers, and your knees. That is the MOST important part. God is good, he provides what we need, and keeps us safe.
Ok. WAKE UP! It is shower time!
Love ya all!
That involves a lot of planning and decision making...something I can see that God has gifted you with and given you opportunities to practice before this trip. He is so good - being prepared like that is so your personality. Just more proof that He created this family!
ReplyDeletePS: EVERYONE AGREES THAT JAXON IS THE BEST SOUVENIOR IN THE WORLD! (although my guess is Audrie will question it several times in the next 15 years!)