If you, like myself, consider packing for a long weekend away to be a moderately stressful task, packing for a 2+ years away from home is enough to send one into a downright state of panic.
Luckily, we are not the first, and certainly not the last, to be put into this situation.
At this point, I have lived in Costa Rica as a TEFL Peace Corps Volunteer for a little over two years. After having this time to evaluate what supplies would have been better left at home and what items I wish I had known about prior to my departure, I have narrowed down the eight most useful items that I wish I had brought with me from Day 1.
This list is not exclusive to only Peace Corps Volunteers! Although several of these items are included with longer-term international travelers in mind, I believe this list can be of use to anyone itching to pack up a bag and go somewhere new.
1.Portable Battery
When I was living in New York, the practicality of portable batteries was lost to me. In a world where outlets and charging stations exist just about every 10 feet from wherever you are, it never occurred to me to need one. However, this changed for me, rather abruptly, when I found out that my community is an 8 hour outlet-less-bus ride from the capital city.
While there are dozens of different portable batteries out there, a friend and fellow PCV recommended me this solar-powered and waterproof battery that you can pick up for about $22 on Amazon. It’s cheap, durable, and (when it was new) could charge my phone from 0-100% about 4-5 times off of a full charge.
2. Candles
Did you know that smell, in addition to being highly emotive, is more linked to memory than any of our other senses?
Candles are a great way to combat homesickness by filling a room with fond memories and a sense of familiarity. It’s also a great way to share with those around you the scents, and the stories and culture linked to them, that helped form your experience and upbringing.
The Spiced Pumpkin candle from TJMaxx that played in the background of every October in your college apartment. The Lavender Yankee candle whose fragrance reached every corner of the house on Saturday mornings while you were growing up. The three-wick Balsam & Cedar flickering in the background while you drank hot chocolate and watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. All well-received gifts and great ways to make your cockroach-ridden apartment feel more like a home.
3. Bluetooth Speaker
From listening to your morning podcast regimen to incorporating dynamic listening exercises and music in your classroom, my speaker is with me from dawn to dusk. In addition to unwinding at home and combating the sounds of barking dogs and motorcycles with Lizzo’s newest album, I have found this speaker indispensable in the classroom. For listening exercises and playing videos in classes, its quality is actually better than the speakers provided by the school, which has made it easier to incorporate fun and relevant media in the classroom.
Factoring in quality and value, I haven’t found a Bluetooth speaker that can beat Oontz. Also the unofficially Peace Corps-sponsored speaker, you can find versions that range between $25-$40 on Amazon. I balled out and got the larger version, and my only regret is not getting one sooner.
4. Wall Surge Protector
Tired of getting back from a trip abroad and realizing that your phone can now only keep a charge for an hour after having plugged them directly into the wall outlets? To combat this, I recommend this Belkin surge protector. It’s cheap, lightweight and awesome for charging multiple devices.
5. Hammock
I recommend these cheap portable travel hammocks from Olarhike. Depending on the type of travelling you’re doing, these can be very helpful. For me, when I go on getaways to the beach and I don’t want to spend $10 to rent a chair for the day, having this has been a lifesaver.
6. Headphones and Charging Cables
This one is pretty obvious, so why did I bother including it on this list? Because, particularly during travel, sometimes things get lost, broken or decide to stop working just to throw you off your rhythm. After having the 2 sets of headphones and charging cables I brought with me die and spending $45 on three sets of headphones that lasted no longer than a month each, I really wished I had stocked up on a couple of cheap 5-packs of headphones and charging cables before coming down here. Any extras you can always sell or gift at the end of your stay (this is particularly true for PCVs).
This is more relevant to longer-term travelers, but, in general, just make sure to always bring a spare.
7. Kindle
One of the many benefits of Peace Corps service is having time. For me, a lot of that time has been put to good use by rediscovering my love of reading, sponsored largely in part by Kindle.
8. Christmas Lights
For the longer-term international traveler, Christmas lights are a nice and easy way to make your living space feel cozy. The white Christmas twinkle lights I’m used to from the U.S. aren’t available in Costa Rica, so when I went back home I threw a few packs in my luggage. They’ve done wonders to make my little apartment feel more like home.
On the topic of Christmas, if you’re a baker, toss a couple of Christmas cookie cutters into your bag. I’ve found these rather difficult to find in Costa Rica, which is a country whose Christmas holiday-cooking is dominated by tamales. They take up virtually no space in your bag and, even though you’ll probably only use them once a year, its a great way to exchange culture with your host family/community.
Not much of a baker? Think about other pieces of U.S./your personal culture that you can bring to share. Coming to Costa Rica around November? Toss a can of pumpkin puree in your bag. Easter? Throw some plastic Easter eggs in your bag to host an Easter egg hunt with your classes or host family.
Hopefully this list has been helpful in brainstorming different items to add to your packing list! What’s on your list of favorite must-have travel items?
820 Days of Pura Vida 