6 Bags...We're fitting our entire lives into 6 50lb. duffel bags. The company that we work for is giving us a flight allowance of 2 bags per person (not including carry-ons), and an "outfitting allowance" for furnishing our apartment. Here's the tricky part. We're moving to a mostly furnished apartment in our city where we'll do 2 years of language school. After we get to the advanced level and pass our exams, then we can move on to actually working with our global non-profit. We DO NOT get another outfitting allowance, even though we'll probably be moving to an unfurnished apartment. So, Brad and I will have to be very careful to save the majority of our allowance for our "job city."
But I have good new!
There's an Ikea in our city...3 to be exact:)
For a girl who has never lived even close to an Ikea...I'm pumped.
Anyway, here are some of the things that we will take with us. Some are "no-duh" items, but some you might not expect.
-Clothes...Brad and I feel pretty comfortable taking as many clothes as we want seeing as how he is 6'3" ish and I'm 5'9". I'm not likely to find a size Tall in anything denim. The good news...both cities have an H&M and one of them has a GAP. However, they don't carry anything above a medium. Not a problem as of now, but it's good motivation to stay skinny! Also, most clothes made for kids ages 0-4 have a hole in the crotch because they don't really do diapers...eek! So, we will also be stocking clothes for Addie.
-Shoes. The shoes over there are not good quality and have very thin soles. Also, they only go up to Size 9 (I'm right at 9/9.5)
-Bedsheets/Cribsheets
-Medicine...not only do we not want to play a guessing game with type/dose when we don't know the language, but, sometimes, medicine is not...ahem...of the same quality. We will be loading up on the stuff, particularly baby meds.
-The "homey" items. I've been told to bring little things that make it feel like home. So, I took this as license to go buy the most adorable set of picture frames from Hobby Lobby:) Also, we'll be bringing all of our family photos and our massive world map.
-Certain spices/mixes. I'll probably do an entire post devoted to food, but we'll be bringing things like Tony's, ranch packets, chili/taco seasoning packets, etc.
-Toys for Addie. While a great selection of toys are readily available over there, we'll pack up her favorites. For Christmas, I bought her a huge pink tent that folds up very small. That way, where ever we move, she'll always be able to bring "her space." Also, there's a pink penguin that she sleep with every night. She might love it more than she loves us...
-Books. Brad will be responsible for doing some teaching/training, and, if you know me, you know that it'll be easier to part with certain humans than to leave my counseling books behind. We're not really sure if they'll come with us on the plane or if we'll have them shipped. But we NEED our books.
-Deodorant. We're packing like, 2 years worth. Seriously, they don't sell it anywhere over there.
-Razors/Razor Blades/Shaving Cream. The selection will be limited and expensive, so we'll probably take at least some of our own.
-Make up. Unlike our side of the globe, pale skin is IN over there. Most make ups have a lightening agent in it. I don't need any help in that area, thank you. I'll be bringing a little Clinique with me:)
****Lastly****
-A sense of humor! I know we're going to find ourselves in situations where we either want to laugh or cry hysterically. I hope we choose to laugh!
I know I've forgotten some things that we'll bring, but this is the majority of it!
Can you think of anything I've forgotten?
