Hi Caley

Hows the packing going?? i am a bit of a control freak so have found your list to be really useful as my starting point. Still cannot imagine how I will fit everything in and still be under the baggage restrictions. Maybe i'll have to multi layer for the flight lol....

Cheers

Kate. 

take a small suitcase and your backpack and you can either check the suitcase or get one small enough to carry on and you can carry on your backpack. Then just dump the suitcase and use the backpack for your extra travels. Having a little extra room might be nice to begin with... 

Are most people taking suitcases? I have been debaiting about if I should try and ram everything into my backpack (I am looking at travelling after the internship, so figured this would be easier) or if I should just bite the bullet and take a suitcase. I guess I could pack my backpack in a suitcase and then dump the suitcase when im out there? Oh the decisions.

I love that you've thought about packing! it makes me feel so much better... since I infact have an entire fully packed suitcase sitting in my guest room, that will no doubt need to be re-evalutated closer to go time. I am bringing a lot of clothing that I can just leave there and free up room in my suitcase. I love white t-shirts under blazers so I am leaving most of my tanks, t's, long sleeve shirts, pair of jeans, 2 pairs of my flats, and a pair of my boots over there, well tossing out at the end of my journey. I also am hoping to buy an inexpensive blow dyer once I get to china... hopefully for my hair's sake that works out. I was told that if you chose the southern region a small bottle of bug spray is really needed, also, i've heard that their medicine isn't all that great and some of the teachers over there now have suffered a few sore throats. So I threw in some of those candy things for sore throats and some nyquil. Not much else I can think of, but I love that you posted this because it gets me thinking what i'll need... if only we knew what area we were going to be in! 

Good to know I'm not the only one already planning and organising ready to pack. I'm actually going to the USA for a holiday with 9 other people before I travel to china (4 days after I get back!!)

You've listed some good things there. Everything on my list (bar the tampons and other feminine items of course!!)

I was just in Guyana on a medical mission and have a few ideas about what can be useful... Clothesline and clothespins. We probably won't see laundry facilities as we know them, so a laundry brush and soap can be useful too. I brought tons of candied ginger on the Guana trip and it was very popular - we had a lot of bumpy rides and carsickness, and ginger is good for that. Though I guess you can find that in China! Pictures of family are good to have, especially on extended trips. Water bottle is a must-have, especially in the summer. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head, but mec.ca has a fantastic selection of travel tips. Best of luck.

i meant to say (under feminine hygiene products) that "this will require you to bring or buy a 'mini-pot' - some require boiling - and you don't do that with a food pot! seriously I knew someone who does - not nice.

Also forgot to mention pj's and lazy day clothes - who in their right mind wants to sit at home curled with a book in pressed clothing? I for one enjoy track pants and t-shirts for that. - I'll call it my reading requirements!! lol - ttyl!