Take Half of What You Think You Need, and Twice as Much Money

THAT'S a phrase no one likes to hear--especially myself. Those words "Take half of what you think you need, and twice as much money" were written in a cheerful font at the bottom of my grueling, meticulously outlined packing list. They seemed to gleefully mock my imagined vignettes of looking at least put together among beautiful Irish scenery. But alas, a college student studying abroad must travel light (and not worry about being fashionable). It's remarkable how much stress can be generated by trying to condense five months that will be spent in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar weather into two pieces of luggage. With a rain shower guaranteed nearly everyday and a weather range of 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, I needed waterproof and warm. (Sounds simple enough, right? One would think.) So, after mentally packing and repacking for a week and then whittling down my wardrobe for three long days, I ended up with this final set of items.

Better last me five months

Though it looks like a bear, it (surprisingly) all fits into one large suitcase and a 3100 cubic in/52L Kelty hiking pack. (Additionally, notice how I made a nice grid out of all my stuff. A plethora of boots? Maybe. But hey, at least they're organized. See how I trick myself with these things?) And to address the "twice as much money"--well, I have gravely been told that I should really count on spending three times as much as I normally do in the States. That's a fret, the Irish might say. Let's hope those extra work shifts I took this semester pull through.

Anyway, I shove off tomorrow with overstuffed suitcase in tow. Crossing my fingers that my flight in Dulles hasn't been axed by the winter storms (so far it's looking good though). Here's to blowing a kiss goodbye to America, and to finally arriving in Ireland! Cheers!