2009 China Maymester: International Packing Suggestions
Table of Contents
2009 China Maymester: International Packing Suggestions
Note:
As we are developing new partnerships, please think of small gifts for Chinese peer-partners. Especially appropriate are Purdue “logo” items such as small and pack-able key chains or pens. Wal-Mart offers selections as well as campus bookstores. Consider taking 3 or so (Harbin, Ningbo, Zhejiang).
Quantity
Take what can be handily lifted—as when ascending subway or hotel steps. Take what can be easily monitored—e.g., plan how to connect with all bags all at once. For example, one bag on shoulder, second bag (if needed) in other hand or as backpack, leaving (at least) one hand free to handle tickets, food, etc. Additional factor: wheels—consider taking only what fits in a wheeled luggage piece. Small bags (camera!) travel best inside a larger one; bubble wrap is cheap and effective protection.
Leave at least 10—20% unfilled—laundry takes up more space than clean clothes; also, good idea to leave some room for bringing back items.
Consider the “maximum allowable” listed by any airline as far more than is needed for this trip, or perhaps for any trip. Note the “per bag” maximum weight (perhaps 20 kilos or 53 lbs) as well as the total number of checked bags allowable without additional charges (either 1 or 2 for economy, depending on airline). For short trips, it’s a good idea to go for 50% of maximums.
Multipurpose Economies
Take layers—two light ones better than one heavy one, wear rather than pack—jackets are great to sleep under enroute. Sleep/casual gear can serve as warm underlayer around the clock, as needed. Fleece is light, warm, and inexpensive. Harbin is usually significantly colder than West Lafayette (winter goes until April). One jacket offering significant warmth is recommended; an attached hood can be welcome.
To really reduce weight, consider taking laundry detergent—a bar or liquid concentrate (powder can be messy-, tends to escape ziplock plastic bags. If you are ok with doing some sink/tub washing (best timing is first night at new place), number of changes needed can be significantly reduced. For this plan, important to take items that hang dry in a day. Nylon, other synthetics dry quickly, as does sheer cotton; heavy knit cotton is much slower.
Try to find one great pair of shoes. Pay attention to shoe traction and to sole thickness, important for long days in them. If second pair essential to you—pack the dressier, lighter ones.
Take half of what you think you need.
Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter: Individual needs vary greatly. Certainly bring anything used on a regular basis at home—it’s not that it couldn’t be secured via prescription or purchased, but that the inconvenience and time required can be much more than expected. If you wear contact lens, be sure to pack back-ups of essential maintenance items, including antibiotics if you have had trouble with eye conditions in the past. If you wear glasses, consider packing your previous pair as a back-up, depending upon how serious breakage or loss would be.
Additionally, take note of what you use at home for a cold, earache, indigestion, etc. and bring a small quantity with you. If you have any on-going medical condition, e.g., asthma, be sure you have whatever would be needed even for an uncommon or infrequent development (e.g., prednisone and/or a particular antibiotic).
Common additional items related to “travel” follow: Imodium (digestion upset), aspirin, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen (jet lag headache), Dramamine (motion sickness), Benadryl (allergic reactions), sunscreen (excursions), caffeine (Diet Coke and double latte substitution), vitamin C (may help immunity), multivitamins. Alcohol gel (small bottle for pocket, larger for possible refills) and/or wet wipes are refreshing. (The flammable gel has sometimes been disallowed by TSA at security checkpoints, but wipes have not been an issue; if desired, pack gel in checked luggage rather than in “carry-on.”)
If in doubt, bring it—it’s probably small. Note that this list reflects many individual preferences—choose what fits your own comfort needs. Actually being seriously ill is quite rare and has never impacted any of our Purdue trips to China.
Essentials
1. Pack and label two sets of anything absolutely essential to your health and keep one set on your person (e.g., asthma medications).
2. Also, bring your own paper products—compact “camper style” toilet paper (Wal-Mart), tissues, etc. Generally, no toilet paper is provided. Also consider small sport towel and soap bar. Typically these are provided, but there have been exceptions.
3. Arrange for essentials not readily replaced—cash, credit/ATM debit cards (a second card is great security in case the first one would have to be cancelled), passport, driver’s license/Purdue ID—always just carry on your person in a secure “carry pocket” for waist or neck. Please avoid traveler’s checks as they offer no advantage in China and do require significant paperwork to cash, which also involves finding a branch of the state-run Bank of China.
Do not depend on open pockets in clothes or (especially) jackets for anything important; also, do not put anything really important into checked luggage or leave in hotel rooms.
Leave photocopy of passport info page with picture and Chinese visa page with someone you could reach by phone.
Do have the phone number/s you would need to cancel any credit or ATM that you are carrying. Also, carrying a second card is good insurance should you have to cancel a card while away—but that second card needs to be safeguarded just the same as the first—but in a different location. Note that the necessary phone numbers—and those for such resources as the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in China/various itinerary cities—need to be stored where they are not likely to suffer the same fate as credit cards and/or currency.
Cameras—Plan for pictures! And for sufficient digital storage! And, remember to pack the China Maymester Purdue Shirt!
Water
Water bottle—one of the most important travel containers. Keep filled. Drink only water that is bottled or boiled after departure from U.S.—you may prefer your own container, but it’s also ok to just go with the bottle that comes with the water.
Rain plan (required!)—if umbrella, should be travel size; hoods can work if part of rain shedding “adventure gear” garment; consider plastic/nylon poncho “folds into pouch” options—lightweight and functional. “Personal preference” food— small stores are good to have in jacket pockets.
Appliances
Packing world voltage appliances (meaning that both 110 and 220 v. work) may mean that no voltage converters are needed. Check hair dryers and shavers as well as any chargers. Usually cameras, phones and computers are “world voltage,” but good to confirm. Non-world voltage appliances will burn out immediately if subjected to Asian voltages (220 v) as well those “world voltage” appliances that have two settings, low and high, if not set appropriately. If you decide to use 110 v. appliances and therefore to acquire a “transformer,” note three different types: 50W, and “multi” (more expensive and heavier). “World voltage” appliances (e.g., camera chargers, computers) may still require an adapter plug (see next). Appliances that only supply “heat” such as curling irons are less subject to damage from transformers than are those with moving parts such as hair dryers.
Do pack a couple of plug adapters or a “multipurpose” one—look for Asia/China ones which have either small (compared to UK/Europe) round prongs, or flat but slanted ones. Such plug adapters may be needed to get U.S. plugs secured in sockets safely and without damage to the plug. Wal-mart has an “all-in-one” multi-type plug adapter that is works fairly well.
Keeping Time
Please have a watch, PDA, or phone with an alarm that works for you—important “in transit” and at destination. Bring charger or “back up” batteries for that alarm—to save time and anxiety. TSA now limits spare lithium batteries to carry-on luggage (keep in original pack or separate batteries with plastic), not ok in checked luggage.
China is 12 hours ahead of West Lafayette, Indiana Eastern DAYLIGHT savings time: Sunday night at Purdue is Monday morning in China. All China shares the same time zone.
Course Supplies
Bring basic office supplies—notepaper, pens, pencils. Computers not required, but also not prohibited. Internet connections in accommodations are not known in advance.
Phones
Securing a “sim” for China is not necessary, but if desired, can be purchased on line or after arrival and installed in unlocked “quad band” U.S. phones. For short trips, phones are perhaps not essential. Urgent calls can be made via “calling cards” such as AT&T prepaid minutes ($.25). Using U.S. cell phones internationally may run $3 per minute unless a special calling plan is in place. Setting up a calling plan ahead, e.g., AT&T “International Plan” may result in quite reasonable per minute charges—check ahead.
Individual Preferences
Packing units (e.g., for toothbrush, etc.) that hang by hook/s are convenient in tight or shared spaces with limited or wet counter space. One or more “S” hooks are handy (e.g., for rigging clothes lines). A small hanging flashlight can be helpful—good to locate one with the same battery size as used for travel alarm. Packing in “units” also simplifies packing/unpacking and getting through security checks, see next.
Security Checks
Placing liquid/gels, 3 oz. each or less, in one one-quart Ziplock bag (“3-1-1 system”) is TSA requirement for liquid/gels in carry-on luggage at U.S. entry/exit points. It‘s a good precaution to write your name on the outside of the bag as it can become separated easily from your other luggage. Additional requirements may include: removing shoes, extracting computers from luggage for separate scanning, belt removal, etc. Some differences are to be expected internationally. (Also put liquids inside leak-proof zip-lock bags in checked luggage; zippered net bags can compress and can also preserve interior order in larger luggage, e.g., separating laundry, etc.)
Unwelcome Choices
Please avoid unlabeled prescriptions or supplements. Please avoid any sharp points (metal nail files). Pack (or wear) a “day tote” that can hold items needed in flight—e.g., print materials/computer, snack supplies, etc. A “day tote” is also useful at destinations.
Packing Strategies
Completing packing at least one day ahead allows time for at least one iteration. Catch oversights and ditch anything not important enough to carry around for two weeks.
Also pack ahead the “carry or security pocket” and contents (e.g., Passport, checks/credit cards) and also other pockets in departure clothes (e.g., chapstick, snacks).
Prepare “3-1-1 ziplock” for U.S. security that contains “carry on” liquid/gels for in-flight use or for medical necessity (insurance against checked bag loss).
Asiana free baggage: 2 bags, each under 23 kg, dimensions (l+w+h) < 115 cm. Note connecting carriers may have different limits (check ahead). Usually much less luggage is much more fun. Please reconfirm with airline websites near to departure as these limits have been “subject to change” frequently.