This is the information we've received so far:
"We have a minivan type of car that we rent for the month. Inside this car will be all of us (15 travelers) plus a chauffeur and a guide. So, we are each limited to one carry-on size suitcase (it needs to be the size that fits in the overhead compartments on planes) and a carry-on bag (past travelers suggest a backpack, and not a big camping one but a small school-sized one). THIS IS ALL! The suitcases must all fit on the roof rack of the van. The backpacks will go on your laps or under your feet inside the van."
What to bring for our Seminar to Cameroon:
1. water purification tablets
2. swiss army knife for peeling fruit
3. peanut butter / food (pack in an empty shoe box to create space in suitcase for purchases)
4. passport pouch
5. bug spray containing DEET
6. sun screen
7. sun glasses
8. anti-itch cream
9. extra sets of prescription medication
10. eye drops
11. flash light
12. peptobismal
13. camping towel
14. alarm clock
15. baby powder (sweaty areas...)
16. dramamine (motion sickness pills)
17. hand sanitizer
18. wet ones/baby wipes
19. camera!
20. extra batteries
21. extra film/extra memory card
22. power bars
23. vitamins
24. crystal light to go
25. toiletries (anything stowed in carry-on must meet TSA's 3-1-1 liquid guidelines: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm )
26. hat
27. soap to wash clothes (travel size tide or other ideas???)
28. small mirror
29. ****PASSPORT**** and visa (we'll get the visas together as a group in the spring)
30. ****YELLOW CARD**** (with yellow fever documentation marked)
31. Visa/Mastercard
32. second pair of glasses for the visually impaired / extra contacts
33. mosquito net?
34. phone card
35. travel pillow for long plane/train rides
36. water bottle
37. oral rehydration salts (if you become dehydrated from TD)
38. earwear for plane (if you experience pain from the air pressure changes)
39. Immodium or a similar antidiarrheal medication
40. antimalarial drugs
41. 5 - 7 underwear
42. 4 pairs of socks
43. 2 - 3 pairs of pants (1 nicer) (students likes camping ones that zipped into shorts)
44. Raincoat / ponchon or small umbrella
45. 3 - 4 shirts (1 nicer, at least 1 or 2 long sleeves) (I bought camping ones, for men, treated for mosquitos and with air vents)
46. 1 " hoodie" or " running shirts" with long sleeves?
47. pyjamas
48. 1 pair of shoes (sturdy comfortable walking shoes. My one pair was Keen: http://www.keenfootwear.com/ The other was Earth Vegan. I like both now but the Keen was better for the trip (because of the style I chose). Be careful with pure hiking shoes that may not be comfortable. Some also brought sandals, not recommended by our travel clinic but they liked them.)
49. Eyeglass cleaner / Contacts stuff
50. Toiletries (may repeat some of above list). Also, get together and share! One person brings shampoo, etc.
A. Toothpaste / Floss
B. Toothbrush
C. Soap
D. Shampoo / Conditioner
E. Deodorant
F. Shaving materials
G. Comb / brush
H. Baby powder / lotion
I. Hand sanitizers (very important!)
J. Baby wipes / toilet paper / tissues (very important!)
K. Female products
L. Q-tips
M. Sunscreen
N. DEET / bug spray
O. Chapstick
P. Nail supplies
Q. Anti-itch cream
R. Anti-malaria pills
S. Chlorine Dioxide / Iodine pills
T. Immodium / Pepto Bismol
U. Pain killers (Tylenol, Advil)
V. Tide to Go / washing supplies for clothes / "Bounty" dryer sheet to put in suitcase and keep clothes fresh
W. Dramamine
X. First Aid Kit
Y. Prescriptions
Z. Crystal Light / Propel (Water flavoring stuff)
51. International Student ID card (We'll give this to you at the airport)
52. swimming suit?
53. Photos (very important! Your host families will want to see them: you, your family, your house, your school, etc.
54. Gifts (you'll need at least 3 gifts for different families (small things). Also, misc. gifts for kids.)
55. Silverware
56. Dictionary
57. Book to read
58. Journal?
59. Bandana
60. 2 bras / tank tops / undershirts The tanktops ended up being a lifesaver for me. My students recommended the "wife beater" ones (I HATE that name but don't know what else to call them, help!): I brought 4 of these men's undershirts / tank tops and wore them every day under my shirts. It was a wonderful idea!
61. Belt
62. Clothesline / bungee cord
63. Copies of all important documents
64. Notify bank about being abroad
65. Mini misting fan
A few things I brought that I found useful:
66. A sock-sized sleeping-bag sheet insert (sleeping pouch)
67. A pillow sheet cover with a photo of my son and I on it (he had one too that stayed here and he slept with)
68. SteriPen This was my favorite purchase (and most extravagant: cost about $100+). I highly recommend it! The water purification tablets leave a taste. This is a way to sterilize water that worked extremely well (at one point, we sterilized water for a car radiator that we needed to drink!). It lasted the entire trip and I ended up sharing it with anyone who wanted to use it too. A GREAT purchase that saved me!
Does that seem contradictory to anyone else? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? I'll be browsing eBay in the coming months for a Mary Poppins bag, I guess.And of course, while all of the other women are probably worrying about how to pack their clothes and medicines and whatnot, I'm trying to figure out what kind of computer, camera, memory cards, backup batteries and chargers to bring.
Now, don't get me wrong. I have spent several hours browsing Zappos.com looking for the perfect pair of hiking shoes and/or sandals, but that's a post for another day.
So, seasoned travelers, send me your tips. Seasoned shoppers, lets see some shoes! Fellow techheads, what do I need that won't get me robbed blind?
A la prochaine!
Amanda
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