Do the Japanese get stressed? If not, look out b/c they are about to get one stressed out girl on their shores!!
My "To-Do-List" is a mile long! How could this happen? I thought I was planning accordingly. My airline and bus tickets are in the mail (the bus ticket is to be used after crossing the ocean), along with a credit card for emergencies -- either severe or you know, seeing something I just HAVE to bring home with me! :) Those are obviously the essentials, and then there's the issue of packing! I have always tried to convince myself I am a good packer, but if I am honest, I'm really not! When we went to South Dakota my dad said, bring your luggage down, I'm loading up the van. So I said, ok, I'll go get it. Then I shot up the stairs like a rocket and threw everything in sight into this Montana sized suitcase. Ironically it was one of my graduation gifts from him for when I left for college. I didn't realize that although the suitcase could hold practically a whole closet, when I zipped it up I would literally be LIFTING my ENTIRE closet! My dad about had a fit when he lifted that suitcase. Turns out I wore about a quarter of what I packed.
Similar thing happened when we went to Canada. I packed an entire summer wardrobe and when we got up there it was considerably colder than what it was at home. It even snowed once ... the last week of MAY! Needless to say, we had to find a store so we could purchase sweaters, and what not. On the trip home we had more luggage than what we had started with!
I am going around in circles over what I should pack. I don't want to pack too much for several reasons. For starters, I don't want to be getting on and off all these flights on foreign soil with tons of baggage. My luck isn't very lucky, and I have played a million bad scenarios over and over again in my head. So the saying, "Less is More" keeps ringing in my ears. Then there's the fact that I am obviously going to be coming back with souvenirs so I want to leave more than enough room to pack more on my return flight.
I know, in the end everything will work out. Whether I forget my toothbrush, or one of my bags gets lost, I will live through it, and you all will get to read about it right here! I'm sure I'll be able to keep you posted about my experiences over there, pictures included, and then when I get back you won't be required to ask me how my trip was....you'll already have a heads up! :)
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Just to let you know... you can always mail things back to the States from here, that way your suitcase won't be overstuffed with souvenirs and clothing! :) Plus, then you won't have to feel that you can't get something while you're here because there's not enough room in your bag. Oh, and if you forget something, we do have stores here, so you can buy a toothbrush ;o)
Oh, and you should get your tickets and yen really soon! :)
Jason's tip - if you run out of room, just leave behind all your under clothes (at the end of the trip, mind you). He did that once at the end of a missions trips to France.
My tip - Put Arlene's washing machine to good use half-way through your trip. Maybe then you can take half the clothes you normally would!
One tip I read was to take three bottoms and five tops. I'm not sure I would pack that lightly this time of year (w/ both warm and cold temps!), but we (myself included) probably need less than we think we do. Believe me, I'll be needing this tip next month when we travel for over two weeks! I bought little packs of Shout that can be used in the sink. That way if something we really need gets dirty I can hand wash it.
Don't forget! Airlines often have not only a size restriction, but also a weight restriction. We've encountered that problem a few times! One solution for that (if you only take one suitcase) is to carry along an empty backpack. If you need to empty stuff out, just put it in there and check it in.
I want you to come back even if no one else does! :)
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