Departure Countdown

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Nearly There

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The time for our departure is approaching more quickly than we anticipated! Everything has been moving along for us in our preparations. Our bags are packed and we can't wait to get going! We decided to add this journal entry as a kind of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) entry.

What do you pack on a year long trip around the world? Well, not that much really. We have to pack light since we are going to carry everything on board the plane. Most people carry on extra overnight bag on board; we are going to bring everything for a year in a carry on size backpack! You could really travel with nothing more than the clothes on your back. Everything you need (or just want) is avaible everywhere we are headed.

Here is our packing list:

*2 t-shirts
*1 long sleeve shirt
*2 pairs of pants
*3 pairs of socks
*3-4 undies
*fleece pullover
*rain jacket
*sandals
*shoes
*sun hat
*bananas
*water purifier
*malaria meds (nearly $500 worth!)
*toothbrush
*toothpaste
*nail clippers
*comb
*lip balm
*deodorant
*shout wipes
*all purpose soap (shampoo to laundry soap in one)
*sleep sheet (a silk bag to protect from small insects that nest in bedding)
*clothes line/ spare shoelace cord
*headlamp
*insect repellent
*lock and cable for our bags and room
*sewing repair kit
*sunglasses
*camera with batteries and charger
*alarm clock
*sink stopper (to do laundry in sink)
*guide books
*novel or two
*copies of all our documents
*passport
*money belt
*small calculator
*credit card/ debit card

This all fits into a carry on size backpack!

Extra clothes we will get along the way. This allows us to blend in more and not carry so much as well. Plus wearable souvenirs.

We are also often asked how we get more money in route. This is not a simple issue. Many large cities will have ATM’s and often this turns out to be the least expensive and safest way to get more money. Countries like Ethiopia do not have this infrastructure so we take what we will need with us. There is no one way to avoid at times having large sums of money on your person. We negate this safety hazard by wearing our valuables next to our skin in a money belt. Money belts range from around the chest, waist, and even leg. We will use a combo of types to hold our passports, documents, money, plane tickets, and anything else we simply can not loose.

Probably the question we are asked most is "how safe is it"?

The easiest way to answer this is to say that the United States has the highest violent crime rate of anywhere in the world. We will be traveling into developing third and fourth world nations were the basic necessities of life are often not meet. In the U.S. we are conserned with what's on television or what to wear. Eating dinner is as simple as deciding what, not a question of if we'll be able too. We will be a target as walking wallets at times, and petty crime will be something we must watch out for and be prudent about. However violent crime is NOT common in any of the places we are visiting.

Basically we follow the same ideas as if we were in any American city. Not walking around at night, keep valuables out of site, walking with confidence (even if we are really hopelessly lost!), and being mindful of our surroundings. We have added Velcro to our pants pockets and only carry the minimum cash needed for the day. Above all else we are prepared if anything (or everything) is stolen. Not being dependant of any of our things is a vital part of our preparations!

In a nutshell we will be perfectly safe. We are traveling in relatively stable countries that do not have civil unrest or rebellion in progress. We have carefully selected were we are going based on safety as a top priority.

Now that we are within just days reach we are both begining to feel the internal tug of missing everyone. With all the excitement of preparation and anticipation of leaving we have really appreciated everyone's positive words and support! Hopefully this blog will help us keep connected to you all while we are continent hopping.

Katelyn and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Thanks for all your support in helping us get so close to our dream!

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Photos

Packing
Everything we are taking must fit into a carry on. This shows everything I am taking for a year traveling around the world.