Travel Log Episode 3: What do I need for this trip? aka Packing and Prep

Timestamps:

Intro: 0:05

Shopping for clothes: 0:33

The perfect backpack & vaccines: 2:43

Visas & Banking: 5:10

Technology & Printing: 7:12

Packing it all up: 9:37

Getting over Anxiety: 10:51

Outro: 11:43

Next on my list is packing for this trip. I’ve started a box of stuff I should bring, and as this pile grows I do wonder how much I can actually fit. Because I picked 4 very different climates, plus the quick stop in Iceland, meant being strategic. What can I wear in both the humidity of Tanzania during the rainy season, but also the moderate temperate of Spain, the cool damp of London, the cold that can be Iceland and the unpredictability of NYC in the spring.

I started with Africa. Because of malaria and such there are suggestions for what to wear. Usually this applies to folks going on Safari but I am heading to a rural village so I felt it applied. The recommended browns and greens and light blues. Long sleeves and pants to keep the bugs from biting you. Well I am a bright clothes girlie and did not own anything that would work. I don’t think I even had any brown in my wardrobe. 

I started with shopping, and anything I bought I wanted to be able to use after the trip. But also worked when I moved on to Spain and London. Nothing should be a one time use. I bought pants and tops in linen and cotton, and some gear, which as a Seattleite, I weirdly had very little of. I also needed new boots. My fat dancer feet needed something that wouldn’t give me foot pain the way my current, stylish but painful current boots do. A bunch of online shopping later (which is not my favorite pastime) I had 4 new outfits I could mix and match. 

I supplemented this with pieces from my existing wardrobe that fell into the blue category. Plus my favorite dress / shoes to wear out when I travel so that I can go out and feel nice when I am in my urban locations.

I also needed to be sure I had bug protection, so I ordered a spray to protect a few outfits, and my backpack, which I applied right before I packed. Picaridin lotion and bug spray for daily use. I needed travel things, like a neck pillow that would double as a knee pillow when I sleep (hello bad back). For months I had a running list of things that needed to be brought on the trip and added to my box of stuff.

The other thing I needed was a backpack. I have been using a swag bag from the VP of Campus Center days that was falling apart and didn’t hold a lot. As a public transportation person I also needed a bag that could withstand Seattle weather, and be great for commuting when I returned from my trip.

I looked at a bunch but narrowed it down to Tropicfeel and Wandred. I found a spreadsheet on reddit (info in the show notes) that showed major travel backpacks, dimensions, and what airlines they were approved for. Using this I went for a Wandred in their new maroon. It arrived about 2 months before I left and immediately started using it for work. It’s been the best purchase in a long time.

Link to Bag Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fSt_sO1s7moXPHbxBCD3JIKPa8QIZxtKWYUjD6ElZ-c/edit.

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The other major piece, health wise, were shots and medications. Malaria as mentioned before, but also some others that are recommended by the CDC. I booked an appointment through Swedish. Overall it was a good experience, until I went to pay. My opinion is health insurance is a scam (if you want to talk about it more let me know, but I won't get on my soapbox here) so I pay out of pocket, and usually right as I leave. Which I did. I went to the desk and asked to pay in full. More than once I confirmed that there would be no other bill. 

Well, about a week later Swedish sent an email saying I owed another $200 plus. I went to dispute and they just said that I still owed for one of the shots. Which makes no sense since I had completely finished with the doctor and I had completed my visit. I did have my receipt but it was not itemized and they are still insisting I owe more. Weirdly they sent a second bill and then it was reduced to $190. 

The same thing happened when I went to CVS to get my flu and covid shots. I paid in full at the time, but went back a week later to pick up extra meds from my GP that would run out while I was abroad and they tried to charge me another $200 plus for the shots, literally asking if I paid a specific amount.

I did look into the act about no surprise billing, but unfortunately that only covers people who are insured, not folks like me who pay out of pocket. I also learned to ALWAYS ask for an itemized receipt.

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The next thing I had to think about were Visas. Spain did not require one but the EU now does, and Tanzania definitely did. The EU was easy. $25 for 3 years. It was an easy online process. Tanzania required more work and money ($100). Specifics on where I was going, who I was staying with, for how long. Proof of flights in and out were required along with a picture that was not the same as my passport. Finding a white background in my house with no shadows was a bit of a challenge but I did manage to make it work. 

I did get approved for the Visa but when I went to download the document I kept getting an error message. I reached out via email with no response. Then in a panic I looked at reddit. Bless those users who faced the same issue. As long as I had my number that connected to my application I should be good to go. In an abundance of caution I was sure to print any correspondence just in case.

My inter Tanzania flight was paid for by my hosts, and I had to pay them back. In TZ they only accept 100 dollar bills newer than 2019 and they had to be not folded or wrinkled. I didn’t think anything of this, but didn't know about Chinese New Year. Apparently money is given for that holiday and they require new bills. I went to my local bank branch and they had nothing, and then suggested the other bank in the complex. I was not one of their customers so they would not help me, and didn’t have any anyway. 

I then stood under an eve in the pouring rain calling every branch of both my banks within easy bus riding distance looking for the right bills. Luckily the Burien branch did have what I needed, so I hopped on the bus over there. They also helped me reset my pin because I could not remember what it was, which considering I did need to take out cash later so glad we did.

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Because of my study procedures, camera and video equipment were super important. I had years (from like 2019) worth of pictures on my Canon Camera which needed to be downloaded and saved. I also have a small cam-corder that had video not only from the trip to Belize when Simon and I got engaged, but wedding video too, which I hadn’t ever actually watched. It was good practice to take everything off and get it backed up on my computer and in dropbox. 

My initial thought was to just bring my camera but it blows through the battery when you take video so I was glad our cam-corder still worked. This way too I can set up the camera to record and still be able to take stills while that runs. I also tested my travel mike (what am I an influencer?) so I can record podcast episodes while on the road, and record interviews on my phone if needed.

Technology wise I also needed some items like a Universal plug since I am traveling to so many different places and would be plugging in all sorts of equipment. I also wanted an e-sim so I could talk to my people, and especially Simon, as well as use a map while traveling. I have no sense of direction and without a map (even with one honestly) I will get lost.

I did a bunch of research and decided on a Global e-sim that should work in every place I was going. There are SO MANY options out there, so again thank you reddit for suggestions on what my options were.

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While figuring out WHAT to bring I also needed to refine questionnaires and prep for interviews. Especially Tanzania. As mentioned in the previous episode, any printing needed to be done before I left, because I did not know when I would have access to a printer. I made QR codes that connected to my digital questionnaires and had them printed so I could make it easy for anyone who wanted to participate.

For Tanzania I had 2 types to print in the end. The request for the prek-2nd graders to draw their favorite activity they do at school and then a short questionnaire for 3rd graders and up about the school. I don’t know if I will use them, but I wanted to be prepared. Worst case they are not used and I free up some space and weight in my luggage.

I do have a questionnaire and QR code for the adults in TZ, but I don’t know if I will use it. It may just be better to talk with people. I’ll decide what works best when I arrive.

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Then I had to pack ALLLLLL this into one no more than 23Kg bag, and my backpack. I also need to be sure I was prepared for my first long haul fight ever. Usually when I fly east I try to stop in Iceland to help with the jetlag. In this case I had a long 14h flight before my first stopover to get through. So that also meant a small bag with essentials, just in case I got stranded without my luggage.

So in my backpack is all my technology; computer, cameras, tripod, ipad (this is where all my books are and I read A LOT when I travel), computer, cords, plugs, battery banks and chargers. My emergency kit, meds, travel cross stitch, my junk journal and the tape pens that go with it, plus anything else I might need on a long flight.

For the suitcase itself I dug out my hardshell that had not been used in over a decade. I had three pairs of shoes (boots, slides, and nice dinner flats), plus undergarments and socks, and the clothes mentioned before, my printed collateral and my toiletries bag. I managed to squeeze it all in and keep it under weight enough that I have room for a few items to bring home.

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The last thing I really had to do was get over my own anxiety about leaving, being away from Simon and Neelix (the pug butt). No matter how bad I want to go on a trip I always get the last minute need to not go. Part of me wants to just cancel it all and never leave and I have to remind myself I DO want to do this, no matter how much it scares me. No fear going on stage, terrified to travel by myself.

I was all ready to go…and then I hit a minor…eh major snag. Which I’ll talk about in the next episode.

Design Over Drinks is Hosted by Kendra Shea

Produced and Edited by Kendra Shea and Simon Shea

Season 3 Graphics and Cover Art by Tano Design

Season 3 Music is by Qreepz

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