After some contemplation I have decided that explaining my absence and subsequent return would be boring, so....
Packing is undoubtedly the worst part of any trip. Forget sitting in airports for hours eatting beef sticks and cheetos, weighing your dining options (Macdonald's...or Burger King?), or hours crammed in a giant flying sardine can watching movies that went straight to DVD.
Packing is more than just a chore - it a chore, a puzzle, and an exercise in personal values. How many pairs of shoes can you pack into a 9x15x20 carryon without exceeding the 22lb weight limit? If you had to lose half your clothes, which ones would you be willing to sacrifice? Is is normal to carry an extra pair of shoes in your purse in the off chance you just want something different?
You learn a lot about yourself when you're packing. It's not always flattering stuff either. Do I really need 5 pairs of shoes, a couple jacckets, hats, scarves, and sunglasses for two weeks? My head says "no",but my heart says "yes". This is the same principal that tells me that logically you CAN have too many shoes, but I really don't believe that. You can never have too many shoes...unless they are crocs (that's a different blog for a different time).
Interestingly, the airline I will be on doesn't charge a fee for bags, so that's not a factor in my luggage conundrum. My problem is that my host doesn't have a large car and is a bit concerned about getting 4 people and all their luggage from the airport to their home.
The original plan was that each person would take a carryon and share a checked bag with one other person. But this seriously limits space and doesn't leave a lot of room for loot on the way home.
Fortunately, my mother in law has run into the same problem and is now taking a second checked bag, freeing me to do the same without any guilt! (phew) I was already trying to decide which shoes I could throw out to make more room on the way back.
The real irony of this is that despite having a lot of shoes, clothes, and make-up I rarely ever put it to good use. Wearing anything other than jeans and tshirts to my office makes people suspicious and garners way more attention than I care to deal with. When I do break out the real shoes I spend the day fielding requests from people who have "heard about" the shoes from others. (These are just heels mind you, nothing made of lycra or with flashing lights in the heels).
So, honestly, I should probably jsut pack a lot of sweats, tshirts, yoga pants, and sneakers. But I am deeply pained by the idea of A) making that kind of impression on relatives I'm just meeting B) and being the epitome of American Tourism. Sure I'll have the camera, the guide book, the map, and limitted language skills. But do I really need to where worn out sneakers with khaki short and a college sweater too?
Now if only I could justify bringing my wool coat....
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